Sosai Mas Oyama's Special Secret Techniques

Lonewolf · 07-23-2006, 08:43 AM

OSU! Exactly 30 years ago, Sosai Oyama was interviewed in an American Martial Arts magazine called "OFFICIAL KARATE". Sosai is even pictured on the front of that issue doing Seiken Chudan-Tsuki. This particular magazine is being sold on EBAY from time to time. Anyway, in this interview Sosai Oyama speaks of some "Special Techniques" that he said would only be shown to the world after his death. Has anyone ever heard of these techniques Sosai was referring to? I remember thinking even back then that this was extremely interesting. I'd really like to know some details of such "Special Techniques". Were they only taught to his upper level Japanese students perhaps? Do any of the high ranking Shihans know about this? I've been curious about this for 30 years. Any input? Thanks. OSU!

**smoothsake** · 07-26-2006, 04:47 AM

Could this be the "Touch of Death" ala Bart Simpson? But on a serious note, this sounds pretty awesome if such a "special technique" exists.

Aunty Ichigeki · 07-26-2006, 05:37 AM

I've had it hinted to me by a Japanese Shihan that certain applications of high grade kata he demonstrated were hush hush! There was no mystical chi blast but from what I observed the common danger was severe joint damage. This would explain why they weren't taught in the general class - you could never trust some noddy not to try them out on their little sister!

**Shokei Marcsui** · 07-26-2006, 02:52 PM

Severe joint damage for the practitioner or the little sister?

Shura · 07-26-2006, 07:43 PM

Maybe he was referring to the "soft" elements of Kyokushin. Too many people emphasize on the hard aspects, maybe Sosai felt that his students needed to know the other side of martial arts as well.

Lonewolf · 07-26-2006, 10:56 PM

OSU! Here's the deal. I read in a magazine interview where Sosai Oyama mentions these "special techniques" and how they would never be shown to the World until after his death. Sosai stated this himself, I did'nt hear about this from someone who knew someone who mentioned this. I was just curious about this as I remembered it for over 30 years. I was wondering if any of the high level Shihans knew about these special techniques and what exactly they were. I should have figured alot of people here would be sarcastic and make jokes about this, but I posted anyway out of my overall curiosity. Now, does anyone have any useful information regarding this that they could share? Especially anyone in Japan, the birthplace of Kyokushin Karate. I mean, in Sosai's book "ADVANCED KARATE", there are many techniques shown that are not the regular things you learn in Dojos today. Perhaps these special techniques are along those lines, I don't know. Just extremely curious. OSU!

Aunty Ichigeki · 07-26-2006, 11:40 PM

Settle dude! My post wasn't sarcastic & the Japanese Shihan I referred to is from Japan! Also he's in an excellent position to have knowledge of secret techniques & did infer that what he was demonstrating was 'secret'. I hadn't seen the techniques before and they were simply dangerous, not in an instant death way but in as much as they were joint locks applied via strikes, ie. not in the slow, controlled manner that most responsible instructors teach you to apply a joint lock. They were pretty cool to see out of curiosity's sake especially if you're into bunkai but not something I'd bother to pass on to students. Maybe there are other more exciting techniques someone else knows about?

Lonewolf · 07-27-2006, 05:59 PM

OSU! I was not referring to your post when I said someone was being sarcastic. You made the most sense on here of anyone so far. Thank you so much for your replies. I was just curious about these so called "special Techniques" Sosai Oyama referred to in this interview that's all. Kyokushin has so many influences from not only Karate, but many different martial arts from other countries. These special techniques could have origins in any number of places. If I can find it I will post that part of Sosai's interview where he was discussing these special techniques and how they would only be shown to the world after his death. Still curious.

**smoothsake** · 07-27-2006, 09:16 PM

Humble apologies if my above post caused any ill feelings. Osu!

killer_kicks88 · 08-01-2006, 08:38 AM

i wonder how cool it actually is

Lonewolf · 08-01-2006, 06:13 PM

OSU! That is what I think. That's why I'm extremely curious just what exactly these "special techniques" really entail. I just wish there was more information on this subject. I would hate to think that Sosai was just being controversial or interesting when he made mention of this. But, I really believe he was serious and that maybe these techniques are exclusive to his upper level Japanese Shihans only. Any thoughts on this? OSU!

KDA · 08-15-2006, 03:59 PM

Contact Shihan Farrell through www.kyokushin-tezuka-grp-usa.4t.com he would have a great deal of information on this...

Martin H · 08-15-2006, 04:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by USA Tezuka Group

Contact Shihan Farrell

Farrell is tech advisor for the Tezuka group, Collins is the tech advisor for the Midori group (the group Im in). The other groups has people of note in that position aswell.
The question is how much of this "secret techniques" they, being ganjis, has been taught. And that is hard to say since we simply dont know what secret techniques Sosai refered to. We dont even know if any of the active japanese shihans know any of these "secret" techniques. We especialy does not know if anyone knows the compete set of them as opposed to bits and pieces.

Frankly, we will never know unless someone who is respected by all, like Kurosaki steps up and says "this is what Sosai meant" -although he left kyokushin long ago and probably would have taught his kickboxing students everything already if he taught it could have added their fight skills) .
Same thing with Shigeru Oyama, Tadashi Nakamura, Joko Ninomya, Hideyuki Ashihara, Katsuaki Sato and many others. If the techniques were usefull and effective, why do we not see anything in their new styles that could be those secret techniques. surely if they knew (and with their positions in kyokushin before they left, they would have) and would have taught it in their own styles.
And if they didnt know, who were high enough or important enough to learn the secret techniques?

Lonewolf · 08-15-2006, 05:31 PM

OSU! Exactly, Martin. That's what I think. Only the highest ranking Shihans could possibly know about these so-called "special techniques". As I stated earlier when I started this post, after reading about Sosai stating this in a magazine interview over 30 years ago(in OFFICIAL KARATE), it has stayed in the back of my mind. I was so curious about this and I would hate to think all of this is just propoganda because Sosai Oyama was one of the few Masters of the martial arts who I had faith in when he stated something. Back in the 1970s, there was so much B.S. floating around when it came to the martial arts, alot of gullible people got caught up in all of that and they still are to this day. I was always a practical, rational person who seeked out real, legitimate fighting techniques and training methods from the beginning. For example, I knew about the awesome power and effectiveness of Thailand's Muay-Thai before it become mainstream and fashionable, as far back as the 1960s. Other people told me, Muay-Thai is too simple and not fancy enough, it will never become popular. Well, look at what Muay-Thai is today in K-1 and PRIDE competitions. That's because these are real fighting competitions, not fantasy fighting like alot are styles are today. I really wish one of the high ranking Shihans(either still in Kyokusin or gone) would address this issue about those special techniques if only in a superficial manner. That would really shed light on this whole matter. One other thought: I would hate to think that Sosai didn't have a chance to pass on these"special techniques" and they went with him to the grave. That has happened in martial arts before and is so unfortunate. OSU!

CameronQ · 08-16-2006, 12:06 AM

Three possibilities:
1. He didn't find the 'right' person to teach them to.
2. He taught most of what he had to teach technically.
3. He died too early and unexpectedly, so didn't do a lot of things he had planned.

The other consideration is that Sosai often reiterated what he thought were the two keys to the secret of karate:
1. The only secret is sweat
2. Everything will be revealed through concentrated training.

Martin H · 08-16-2006, 01:06 AM

Welcome to the forum Shihan.

regarding your options.
1&3 realy amounts to the same thing. It would be very unfortunate, but also very strange that Sosai would hold of teaching the inner secret of the art to anyone until too late. Still it could be that way.

2. puts sosai in a bad light from the point of view that he then talked nonsense in the interview Lonewolf referes to. Like him, I hope it was not the case.
A variation is ofcourse that he did teach these secret techniques to select others, but then we get to my earlier point, why have we still not seen a hint of them? Not from current high ranking kyokushin shihans and not from those who has started their own styles and would have a interest in teaching it there from the moment they founded their styles.

There is ofcourse a additional option. That Sosai realised that his secret techniques were unrealistic or ineffective in jissen kumite or as goshin jutsu, and that he gave them up. Just playing the devils advocate here.

To be honest I long ago lost faith in "secret techniques" that would make a martial art significantly better. I could see the techniques being realistic and effective bunkai/oyo (something sorely lacking in kyokushin -and in most karate realy), but not anything realy revolutionary new.

kakatootoshi · 08-16-2006, 02:33 AM

Dear CameronQ,
Welcome to this community Shihan Quinn!
If my memory is right (from one of your interviews), "the only secret is success" was Sosai's answer to an tv interviewer as to what secrets in martial arts there were.
Please visit more often and tell us more firsthand stories on Sosai Oyama and Kyokushin.

OSU!

kyokushin4life · 08-16-2006, 02:58 AM

Osu! Shihan CameronQ, it is a great honour to see you on this board. Osu.

Quote:

Originally Posted by CameronQ

Three possibilities:
1. He didn't find the 'right' person to teach them to.
2. He taught most of what he had to teach technically.
3. He died too early and unexpectedly, so didn't do a lot of things he had planned.

The other consideration is that Sosai often reiterated what he thought were the two keys to the secret of karate:
1. The only secret is sweat
2. Everything will be revealed through concentrated training.

Bloke · 08-16-2006, 10:44 AM

Welcome to the Forum Shihan

spanky11 · 08-16-2006, 08:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kakatootoshi

Dear CameronQ,
Welcome to this community Shihan Quinn!
If my memory is right (from one of your interviews), "the only secret is success" was Sosai's answer to an tv interviewer as to what secrets in martial arts there were.
Please visit more often and tell us more firsthand stories on Sosai Oyama and Kyokushin.

OSU!

actually, it was "the only secret is sweat"...

Shihan signed that in my Budo Karate of Mas Oyama in 1992.

Sponsored Links