Kyokushin- Organizations
The Kyokushin-Organizational landscape
Kyokushin Karate was founded in 1964 by Sosai Masutatsu Oyama as the International Karate Organization (IKO) Kyokushinkaikan. Under his leadership, the organization grew into one of the largest martial arts associations in the world.
After Oyama's death in April 1994, the succession was not clearly resolved. His will named Shokei Matsui as his successor, but not all high-ranking instructors accepted this decision. In the following years, several independent organizations emerged, each claiming to authentically continue Oyama's tradition.
This page offers a neutral, source-based overview of all relevant Kyokushin organizations. No organization is presented as the only "real" or "wrong" one. Historical and organizational differences are explained factually.
History of the Organizations
Oyama Dojo founded
Masutatsu Oyama opens his first dojo behind Rikkyo University in Tokyo. Originally based on Goju-Ryu, Oyama develops his own style from it.
Name "Oyama Dojo"
Oyama officially names his school "Oyama Dojo". First students receive instruction, Oyama himself does not initially teach the beginners.
IKO Kyokushinkaikan founded
Masutatsu Oyama founds the International Karate Organization Kyokushinkaikan (IKO) under the umbrella of the Kyokushin Scholarship Foundation. The Honbu Dojo in Ikebukuro, Tokyo, is occupied.
First All-Japan Championship
Oyama hosts the first All-Japan Full Contact Karate Open Championship. Terutomo Yamazaki becomes the first winner. The full-contact tournament makes Kyokushin famous worldwide.
First World Open Championship
The first World Open Kyokushin Championship takes place in Tokyo. Fighters from over 40 countries participate. Kyokushin establishes itself as the benchmark for toughness in karate.
Jon Bluming leaves IKO
The Dutch Kyokushin instructor Jon Bluming leaves the IKO and founds the Kyokushin Budokai Kan (IBK). The first organizational split while Oyama was still alive.
Steve Arneil founds IFK
Steve Arneil leads the British Karate Kyokushinkai out of the IKO and founds the International Federation of Karate (IFK) in 1992. Another split before 1994.
Sosai Masutatsu Oyama passes away
Masutatsu Oyama dies on April 26, 1994, at the age of 70 from lung cancer. His will names Shokei Matsui as his successor. However, the succession is controversial and leads to several splits.
Shokei Matsui becomes Kancho
According to Oyama's will, Shokei Matsui is inaugurated as Director of the IKO Kyokushinkaikan in May 1994. He leads the largest organization, but is not recognized by all branch chiefs.
IKO-3 emerges
A group around Nobuhito Tezuka and Yoshikazu Matsushima splits off. IKO-3 (later IKO Matsushima) is founded. Tezuka initially becomes president, Matsushima vice-president.
IKO-2 emerges
Another group splits from Matsui's IKO. Yukio Nishida becomes the first president (1996–1999). Keiji Sampei (1999–2000) and Yasuhiro Shichinohe (2000–2001) follow.
IKO Matsushima forms
After Tezuka's resignation due to heart surgery, Yoshikazu Matsushima is elected president in November 1998. The organization operates as IKO Matsushima Kyokushinkaikan.
Tezuka Group founded
Toru Tezuka founds the IKO Kyokushinkaikan Tezuka Group (also called IKO-4). The organization forms independently after the splitting of the IKO.
Kyokushin Union founded
Yasuhiro Shichinohe, Shigeru Tabata, Kazuyuki Hasegawa, and Daigo Oishi found the Kyokushin Union (IKOKU) in Januaryy 2001. A federation of several independent groups.
Kenji Midori becomes president
Kenji Midori takes over the presidency of the IKO-2 in June 2001. Under his leadership, the organization is renamed WKO Shinkyokushinkai in 2003.
Hatsuo Royama leaves IKO
Hatsuo Royama, Chief Advisor under Matsui, leaves the IKO Kyokushinkaikan on November 19, 2002. He founds the Kyokushin-kan International with Hiroto Okazaki and others.
Kyokushin-kan founded
Hatsuo Royama founds the Kyokushin-kan International Honbu on March 13, 2003. He restores the Kyokushin Shogakukai Foundation and emphasizes the traditional roots of Kyokushin.
WKO Shinkyokushinkai renamed
The IKO-2 under Kenji Midori officially changes its name to NPO World Karate Organization (WKO) Shinkyokushinkai. "Shin" means "new" — a new Kyokushin.
KWF founded
Loek Hollander founds the Kyokushin World Federation (KWF). He was a member of the IKO Kyokushinkaikan until August 2010 and forms an independent international organization.
So-Kyokushin founded
Daigo Oishi and Kazuyuki Hasegawa leave the Kyokushin Union and found the International Karate Federation Kyokushinkaikan World So-Kyokushin in November 2012.
IKOKU goes international
The All Japan Kyokushin Union changes its name to International Karate Organization Kyokushinkaikan Union (IKOKU) in Januaryy 2017. The federation grows beyond Japan.
World Zen-Kyokushin founded
Kazuyuki Hasegawa leaves So-Kyokushin and founds the IKO World Zen-Kyokushin on Februaryy 24, 2019. The organization grows to 25 member countries. Shinzen Dojo Berlin is an official representative in Germany.
Leadership change at Kyokushin-kan
Hatsuo Royama hands over the leadership of the Kyokushin-kan International to Okazaki Hiroto on April 17, 2022. Royama becomes Kaicho (Honorary Director).
Visual Organizational structure
The following structure shows the development from the original IKO (1964) to today's organizations. The presentation is simplified and does not claim to be a complete record of every personal connection, but shows the main organizational lineages.
IKO Kyokushinkaikan
Sosai Masutatsu Oyama
1953 Oyama Dojo · 1964 IKO Founding · 1994 Death of Oyama
IFK (Arneil, 1992), IBK (Bluming, 1980), KWF (Hollander, 2010), Kenbukai (Hiroshige, 2017), IKOKS (Sonoda, 2019), KWU-SENSHI (Masuda, 2023) and other independent organizations.
The most important Organizations
The following organizations have sufficient source material for a separate subpage. Each profile includes history, founder, leadership, development, organizational classification and official sources.
IKO Kyokushinkaikan (Matsui)
国際空手道連盟 極真会館The IKO Kyokushinkaikan under Shokei Matsui is the largest and most widespread successor organization of the original IKO. Matsui was named successor in Oyama's will.
Founded: May 1994 (as successor organization of the original IKO)
Leadership: Kancho Shokei (Akiyoshi) Matsui, 8th Dan
WKO Shinkyokushinkai
NPO世界空手道連盟 新極真会The WKO Shinkyokushinkai ("New Kyokushin") under Kenji Midori is one of the largest international Kyokushin organizations. It emerged from the IKO-2 split and emphasizes international development.
Founded: 2003 (as WKO Shinkyokushinkai; originated 1996 as IKO-2)
Leadership: Daihyo Kenji Midori, 8th Dan
Kyokushin-kan International
極真館The Kyokushin-kan International was founded by Hatsuo Royama, who emphasizes the traditional roots of Kyokushin. It restored the original Kyokushin Shogakukai Foundation.
Founded: March 13, 2003
Leadership: Kancho Okazaki Hiroto, 9th Dan (since April 2022)
IKO Matsushima Kyokushinkaikan
国際空手道連盟 松島派 極真会館The IKO Matsushima Kyokushinkaikan emerged in 1995 as IKO-3 and has been led by Yoshikazu Matsushima since 1998. It is one of the recognised successor organisations of the original IKO.
Founded: November 1998 (as IKO Matsushima)
Leadership: Kancho Yoshikazu Matsushima, 9th Dan
So-Kyokushin
壮極真So-Kyokushin was founded in 2012 by Daigo Oishi and Kazuyuki Hasegawa. Both were previously co-founders of the Kyokushin Union and formed their own organisation.
Founded: November 2012
Leadership: Hanshi Daigo Oishi, 9th Dan
IKO Tezuka Group
極真会館 手塚グループThe IKO Kyokushinkaikan Tezuka Group was founded by Toru Tezuka, who opened the first dojo in Chiba in 1974. The organisation formed independently in 2000.
Founded: 2000
Leadership: Nidai Kaicho Yoshimichi Mori, 9th Dan (since December 2017)
IKOKU — Kyokushin Union
国際空手道連盟 極真会館連合会IKOKU (Kyokushin Union) is a federation of several independent Kyokushin groups. It was founded in 2001 and internationalised in 2017. The chairmanship is elected on a rotational basis.
Founded: Januaryy 2001 (as Kyokushin Union); Januaryy 2017 (as IKOKU)
Leadership: Chief Director Shigeru Tabata, 8th Dan
IKO World Zen-Kyokushin
国際空手道連盟 世界全極真The IKO World Zen-Kyokushin was founded in 2019 by Kazuyuki Hasegawa. Shinzen Dojo Berlin is the official representative of this organisation in Germany.
Founded: 24 Februaryy 2019
Leadership: Soshi Kazuyuki Hasegawa, 9th Dan
Other historically relevant lineages
IFK — International Federation of Karate
Founder: Steve Arneil (1937–2021), 10th Dan · Founded: 1992 (after leaving the IKO in 1991)
Steve Arneil left the IKO as early as 1991, before Oyama's death. The IFK is one of the oldest independent Kyokushin organisations and is strongly represented in Great Britain and Eastern Europe.
IBK — Kyokushin Budokai Kan
Founder: Jon Bluming (1933–2018), 10th Dan · Founded: 1980
Jon Bluming left the IKO in 1980 as the first high-ranking instructor. The IBK is the oldest independent breakaway and emphasises full-contact including ground fighting.
KWF — Kyokushin World Federation
Founder: Loek Hollander (1938–2020), 10th Dan · Founded: 2010
Loek Hollander was a member of the IKO Kyokushinkaikan until August 2010. The KWF has a strong European presence and emphasises international cooperation.
Kenbukai
Founder: Tsuyoshi Hiroshige (1947–2018), 9th Dan · Founded: 5 Februaryy 2017
Hiroshige left the IKO in 2002, was Vice President of the Kyokushin-kan from 2003 to 2016 and founded the Kenbukai in 2017.
IKOKS — Kyokushin Sonoda
Founder: Kaicho Naoyuki Sonoda, 8th Dan · Founded: August 2019
Another independent organisation that formed in 2019.
KWU-SENSHI
Founder: Shihan Akira Masuda, 9th Dan · Founded: July 2023
A younger organisation that formed in 2023 and hosts international tournaments.
Commonalities and differences
What connects them all
- All Kyokushin organisations trace themselves back to Sosai Masutatsu Oyama and the IKO Kyokushinkaikan founded in 1964.
- The technical basis is largely identical: Kihon, Kata and Kumite follow the system established by Oyama.
- Full-contact fighting without protective gear is the common characteristic of all Kyokushin lines.
- The Dojo Kun (Dojo oath) and the philosophy of Osu are shared in all organisations.
- The belt grades (Kyu and Dan system) are structurally identical in all lines.
- The most important Kata (Taikyoku, Pinan, Sanchin, Tensho, Saifa, Seienchin, Kanku, etc.) are widespread in all organisations.
Where they differ
- The organisational structure varies: some organisations are centrally managed, others are organised as a union.
- Tournament rules differ in detail, for instance regarding permitted techniques, protective gear and match durations.
- Some organisations emphasise competition orientation, others Budo tradition and philosophical depth.
- The international presence varies: some organisations are active in numerous countries, others focus on Japan or individual regions.
- The leadership structure differs: some are led by a single Kancho, others have elected or rotating chairs.
- Additional influences vary: Kyokushin-kan integrates Taikiken elements, other organisations remain closer to the original curriculum.
The Shinzen Dojo and World Zen-Kyokushin
The Shinzen Dojo Berlin is an official representative of the IKO World Zen-Kyokushin in Germany. This affiliation is communicated transparently without devaluing other Kyokushin organizations.
The World Zen-Kyokushin was founded in 2019 by Soshi Kazuyuki Hasegawa and is active in several countries. It is one of the younger Kyokushin organizations and sees itself as an independent lineage in the tradition of Oyama. The name "Zen-Kyokushin" is derived from the character 全 (zen = all, total), not from 禅 (Buddhist Zen). It expresses the aspiration to encompass the entirety of Kyokushin.
Sensei Anh Son Le founded the Shinzen Dojo in 2019 as an official representative of the World Zen-Kyokushin in Berlin. The organizational affiliation is significant for dojo practice regarding examinations, tournaments and international seminars, but does not change the technical basis, which is identical in all Kyokushin lineages.
Get to know Kyokushin in training
Anyone who wants to get to know Kyokushin not just by reading about it but in practice can visit the Shinzen Dojo Berlin training sessions. Adults train in Berlin-Schöneberg, children and teenagers in Berlin-Steglitz.
Organizations explained
Read more
Sosai Mas Oyama
Life, philosophy and legacy of the Kyokushin founder.
Open Central pageWhat is Kyokushin?
The complete guide to Kyokushin Karate.
Open HistoryHistory of karate
600 years of Karate history from Okinawa to the present day.
Open TechniqueKarate techniques
Stances, strikes, blocks, kicks of Kyokushin practice.
Open GradingKarate belt system
From white belt to black Dan.
Open CurriculumExamination regulations
All techniques per belt grade documented.
Open PhilosophyPhilosophy & Values
The 7 Dojo Kun and the meaning of Osu.
Open HubKarate Knowledge Hub
The central knowledge archive of all topics.
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