blog:Oyama Dojo
In 1953, Mas Oyama opened his first “Dojo”, a grass lot in Mejiro in Tokyo. In 1956, the
first real Dojo was opened in a former ballet studio behind Rikkyo University, 500 meters
from the location of the current Japanese honbu dojo (headquarters). By 1957 there were 700
members, despite the high drop-out rate due to the harshness of training.Practitioners of
other styles came to train here too, for the jis-sen kumite (full contact fighting). One of
the original instructors, Kenji Kato, has said that they would observe those from other
styles, and adopt any techniques that “would be good in a real fight”. This was how Mas
Oyama’s karate evolved. He took techniques from all martial arts, and did not restrict
himself to karate alone.The Oyama Dojo members took their kumite seriously, seeing it
primarily as a fighting art, so they expected to hit and to be hit. With few restrictions,
attacking the head was common, usually with the palm heel or towel-wrapped knuckles. Grabs,
throws, and groin attacks were also common. Kumite rounds would continue till one person
loudly conceded defeat. Injuries occurred on a daily basis and the drop out rate was high
(over 90%). They had no official do-gi and wore whatever they had.
