Kyokushin karate

[Meguro]

This site lists the winners of the various knockdown tournaments of the main kyokushinkai groups:

http://www.kyokushinresults.freeserve.co.uk/Pages/Updates.htm

[lovekarate]

so may I ask which fighters you like the best?

[Meguro]

In no particular order, Ryu Narushima, Sergey Osipov, Shokei Matsui, Gary O'Neill, all of IKO 1. From IKO2, Tsukamoto.

[June1]

When starting this style of karate, do they just make you jump in and fight, or are you eased into it? The full contact stuff sounds a little to me like no holds barred, which sounds kind of intimidating.

[Meguro]

When starting this style of karate, do they just make you jump in and fight, or are you eased into it? The full contact stuff sounds a little to me like no holds barred, which sounds kind of intimidating.

It's a myth that newbies are thrown to the lions in Kyokushin. It is true that you do start fighting at the white belt level, but it is more of a learning experience, as all kumite can be, than a fight to the death. A daily diet of "full contact" as you put it is rare. There's hard contact with pads or controlled (not point) contact without pads as much if not more than no-pads-knockdown karate. The tournaments are of course knock-down rules.

[lovekarate]

In no particular order, Ryu Narushima, Sergey Osipov, Shokei Matsui, Gary O'Neill, all of IKO 1. From IKO2, Tsukamoto.

I have heard of Ryu Narushima. I recently found Ryu Narushima's new highlight by daisukey on a website but I couldn't view it as I havn't posted enough or something

[Shokei Marcsui]

No one mentioned Francisco Filho?? But yeah I agree with most of your choices minus Gary O Neil. Hajime Kazumi is good too.

[Shokei Marcsui]

When starting this style of karate, do they just make you jump in and fight, or are you eased into it? The full contact stuff sounds a little to me like no holds barred, which sounds kind of intimidating.

It's just like any karate, they don't expect you to be able to take repeated blows to the body right when you walk in the door and introduce yourself. Conditioning is the key and just like anything new you work up slowly. White belts do kumite, but the black belt's don't use them as punching bags. We probably spar 3/4 to 1/2 speed. Doing this allows them to practice

- breathing

- relaxation

- technique

so that way when it comes down to a full speed kumite they are not

- holding their breath the whole fight

- tensed up during punches and kicks

- and their kicks and punches aren't all over the place

I would say that kyokushin is 70% conditioning and 40% basics, kata (110%). Kumite is the real part of kyokushin and when the time comes you will be prepared.

[June1]

That sounds really good. I might look into that sometime. Thanks for the help, everyone.

[lovekarate]

hi guys, I found a new HL of Ryu Narushima.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r0pMyMnXDkQ&search=narushima

I found it via http://www.kyokushin4life.com/forums/index.php

They have nice videos.