Karate

World Oyama Karate is a classic, full-contact, Japanese style of Karate.

In 1965, Mas Oyama, Director of the International Kyokushin Organization, sent his chief instructor, Soshu Shigeru Oyama, from Tokyo international headquarters to New York to spread Kyokushin Karate worldwide. Then in 1972, Mas Oyama sent another of his Kyokushin chief instructors from Tokyo, Soshi - Saiko Shihan Yasuhiko Oyama (brother of Soshu Shigeru Oyama), to Birmingham, AL to expand the growth of the Kyokushin style world wide.

In 1985, the World Oyama Karate Organization was founded as an independent organization. It was directed by Founder Soshu Shigeru Oyama, and Founder Soshi - Saiko Shihan Yasuhiko Oyama.

The World Oyama Karate Organization experienced astounding growth in the following years. Over 150 official World Oyama Karate dojos were established in 19 countries by the 1990's. An uncompromising dedication to teaching excellence and a well-founded reputation for coaching some of the best international full-contact Karate champions has made World Oyama Karate a phenomenal success in the world of Martial Arts.

K-1

K-1 is a Japanese kickboxing promotion based in Tokyo, Japan founded by Kazuyoshi Ishii, a former Kyokushin karate practitioner, and owned by the Fighting and Entertainment Group (FEG), who organize combat sport events in Japan, and around the world, that include events by the mixed martial arts promotion Dream. K-1 combines stand up techniques from Karate, Muay Thai, Taekwondo, Savate, San Shou, Kickboxing, western-style Boxing, and other martial arts. It's rules are similar to those of kickboxing but they have been simplified to promote exciting matches that may end in a knockout win. K-1's techniques and unique rules have led some supporters to declare it a sport distinct from Kickboxing while others maintain that it is a just style of kickboxing.

There are K-1 Regional Elimination Tournaments which qualify fighters for the K-1 World Grand Prix, along with licensed K-1 Fighting Network events designed to develop new talent internationally and there is also a 70 kg (154 lb) Super Middleweight division called K-1 MAX ("Middleweight Artistic Xtreme"). In 2007, K-1 introduced two new Title belts separate from K-1 World GP Champions, Super Heavyweight World Title for fighters over 100 kg/220 lbs and Heavyweight World Title for fighters under 100 kg/156-220 lbs.