The Generations of Kyokushin Karate

[Bloke]

I'd like to see more on Tadashi Nakamura. I have read "The Human Face of Karate" and am currently reading "Technique and Spirit".

[Lonewolf]

OSU! Yes, the book "The Human Face Of Karate" is a very good read. Mr. Nakamura's writing style seems honest and genuine to me. It really does show the "human" side of Karate and that nothing goes so perfectly in a non perfect world. I also know that Mr. Shigeru Oyama was writing his English language biography called "The Bouncer" a few years ago. There were portions of it posted on his World Oyama Karate website at one time. After that, I have heard nothing else about this. He did say that he was planning to release it in book form in the future. Does anyone have additional information on this? It was very good, the chapters I did read. Chapter 3 I remember was about the first time he came to the United States to teach Kyokushin and the students here didn't respect him because of his size then(Although he was tall at 5 Feet 11 inches, he weighed only 130 pounds). So, he took on all the Brown and Black Belt males and knocked them out. After that, the respect level for him and his ability rose up considerably. The students really trusted him, but alot of them quit due the intensity of his hard training. The Dojo closed down temporarily and he found employment as a Bouncer in a night club. He had some interesting experiences, one time a man pulled a gun on him and he hit that man so hard the man almost died. Mr. S. Oyama was one serious dude you just didn't mess with. I really wish that book was completed and on the market available. It is very unique and exciting. OSU!

[spanky11]

I've read all of The Bouncer that was posted on his homepage around 6 years ago. I think it is meant to be taken with a grain of salt - especially the gun story.

He is no doubt a VERY tough karateka, but some of those articles were in dire need of a decent editor.

[Roadrunner]

I believe you have missed a lot o names on your generations such as Bobby Lowe , Don Buck and Jon Bluming

[Shaolin Bushido]

Has this project been postponed or completed elsewhere? Very good reading.

[Spirit]

How about setting generations up by when they received shodan and in what decade.
First gen; starting in 53, 60's, 70's etc...

Also you may wish do donate transfed B/B's like Buck and Lowe to name just a few, who where not Kyokushin students but Kyokushin B/B... meaning they where already yudansha, and converted to Kyokushin, many 2nd, 3rd generation yudansha of Kyokushin fall under this heading.

We should not forget those that may not have had great fighters out of their dojo's or themselves not be great fighters or written books on Kyokushin... Their are many who have sweat for 4 and 5 decades under the Kyokushin banner that do not get the proper respect and notice do to their quite history,please remeberthem too!!!

"Great men are not always great people, though great people are always great men"

You could also set up a generation map for Kyokushin4life members too in the same manner, award them points based on the years as a Yudansha in Kyokushin (and in the offshoots IF they received shodan in Kyokushin first)...

[Roadrunner]

I think on your list of 1st generations you missed a few such as Bobby Lowe and Don Buck