Masutatsu Oyama (Kanji:大山倍達; 1923-1994) was a Korean born Japanese karate master. His Korean name was Choi Yeong-Eui (Hangul: 최영의; Hanja: 崔永宜), but he liked to be called Choi Bae-Dal (최배달; 崔倍達).

Born in Gimje (Near Gunsan), North Jeolla province, South Korea, he enrolled at JIA (Japanese Imperial Army) at 15. Masutatsu Oyama studied various styles of martial arts and trained in the mountains of Chiba, Japan. It was said that he shaved one of his eyebrows so he would not leave the mountains. He stayed in the mountain for 14 months after his sponsor stopped supporting him.

Masutatsu Oyama founded Kyokushinkai Karate, a hard style of karate, which stresses that its students should submit to vigorous training.

One of Oyama's inspirations was the famous Japanese samurai Miyamoto Musashi.

To show the world his strength, he frequently fought bulls unarmed. He usually used his knife hand to strike off their horns.

Oyama travelled around the world to fight other master martial artists.

See also

• Sosai

External links

• Masutatsu Oyama's Life
• Masutatsu Oyama's Life in Japanese (It says he was born in Tokyo, it could be a mistake.)
• Another biography in Japanese (Part 1) (Born in Tokyo)
• Another biography in Japanese (Part 2)
• Another biography in Japanese (Part 3)
• Another biography in Japanese (Part 4)
• Another biography in Japanese (Part 5)
• My Friendship with Mas Oyama
• Interview with his son in Korean