Reportage
Reportage
appreciation for his long devotion and dedication in the promotion of Karate in his country, and his endeavours to overcome all obstacles to help develop the ideology of Kyokushin Karate. International Karate Organization Kyokushin Kaikan. Kancho Mass Oyama ".
Masutatsu Oyama always had a reputation of being a tough, rough, almost unfriendly. I still remember, I don ' t think I ' ll ever forget, when in 1988 in one of my trips to Japan, I asked him for an appointment. At that time, I didn ' t remember that his organization in Spain was was in bad terms with the Spanish Federation of Karate, so I presented myself on behalf of the official journal of the Federation, as it was the case. When Oyama Masutatsu learnt who was I got very angry and told me that if he gave me his explanations of Karate and I ever changed or misrepresented any of his words I would have serious problems with him. Problems? Of course I didn ' t want problems and in that moment the Oyama myth collapsed before my eyes. He then, trying to reach an agreement, he suggested that I should indicated the topics in which I was interested and then he would say. But everything had changed and I no longer had any interest in him. Finally things remained like that. Then it came to my mind that, not long before this... incident, Masutatsu had visited Spain to attend a tournament in Barcelona. I was there, out of curiosity, and I remember the founder being presented as if he was a movie star, surrounded by bodyguards, preceded by portable lights, and... well, a whole paraphernalia that in that moment disappointed me somehow. Instead, just recently I met up in Tokyo with Kikuko( Kuristina), Masutatsu ' s daughter, and she was very nice with me. Of course I didn ' t make any comment with her about the incident I ' d had with his father more than 22 years ago. But, what do... now we are with Shigeru, who justifies the lifestyle of Masutatsu by " the way ohe had trained trhoughout his life. A very intense physical training for hardening."
But Shigeru Oyama is really sympathetic, friendly in class as well as outside class. It ' s made me change my mind about what I expected( I thought of him being harder in his relationship with the world). I ' ve already been surprised in this regard with other teachers throughout my life. With Masatoshi Nakayama it was a very positive surprise; instead Tsutomu Oshima, of Los Angeles( California), despite his kindness... he didn ' t transmitted me what I expected, as well as Hidetaka Nishiyama. About the rest of the dozens of teachers I ' ve met... very well with everyone.
Shigeru Oyama gives his class to a group of people( a small group, to tell the truth), with sympathy and kindness. He scarcely can do much. Perhaps the training excesses and hardness of a lifetime are now charging him a toll. He still moves with ease on the mat, but seems unable to do much physical activity.
We ' ve been for a while with Oyama in his dojo. He is in no hurry... neither are we. Is this the legendary master dojo that has been a center of pilgrimage for the world Kyokushinkai? " We ' ve been here for ten years. Before we were in another place near here, on 6th Avenue. There I spent a long part of my life. But ten years ago they wanted the site to build a new house, they paid me good money.... so we moved. "
Because of the retirement situation of Oyama sensei, the dojo is currently run by Master Daisuke Matsumoto, to whom I want to thank for his help in achieving me an appointment with Shigeru Oyama.
" Matsumoto is in charge of the dojo, and now I only come from time to time." Shigeru Oyama of course has a high regard for Matsumoto.
In a preferential siege in the entrance hall, we can see a couple of photos of Master Oyama, one breaking a bunch of roof tiles( a well known picture in the world of Karate) and another one in which he appears alongside Ronald Reagan in the Oval
Office of the White House. He proudly explains to me... " Ronald Reagan was a student of mine. He is a 5th Dan." " But he was your student in Washington or here in New York?" " Here ".
When Shigeru Oyama moved his dojo to this other place in the " Big Apple ", much of his memories and trophies were taken into the garage of one of his major students. It was there when watching the plate that Masutatsu had given him in 1984 he couldn ' t avoid yielding to melancholy for a moment and said... " I never wanted to leave Kyokushin. I was the oldest student and... I miss my sensei."
Important divisions have occurred in Japan within the Kyokushin, as in every style of Karate, all of them claiming their originality and fair succession. In fact, after the death of the founder it was embarrassing to see all those groups, friction, disloyalty, etc., happening everywhere. " How do you get along with different groups stemming from the Kyokushinkai?"
" It ' s a pity. All schools are divided after the death of the founder. Problems arise continuosly, with wives, children, alumni, involved..." says Shigeru sensei with his eyes now slightly lost on the floor. " There are eight Kyoku groups in Japan. I get along with everyone. In the past there were problems but... not any more." Shigeru always talks to me with a slight and continuous smile. In very specific moments, he face changes to more serious expression. This is one of those moments.
" Sokei Matsui was appointed leader of the Kyokushin by Masutatsu himself. Then there were some problems with the family. I have a good relationship with him. Matsui came to train with me before his World Championship in 1987. I helped him improve his spirit. Then he won the tournement "
It won ' t be me the one to contradict Shigeru sensei, but it seems that the way Matsui received his legacy of a badly damaged Oyama, in hospital, very sick and tired,... was not the ideal way. In fact, later, the court invalidated the famous legacy because of the way it had been obtained. But, who am I to oppose such illustrious characters? Besides... that ' s another story that perhaps another day..
During my stay in New York to see the Master Shigeru Oyama, as I can ' t sty still, I also popped in Tadashi Nakamura ' s dojo, one of the living legends of the Kyokushin Karate, now leader the so-called Seido Karate. A tremendous dojo located in the center of Manhattan! A two story gym, the lower floor with a modern tatami, hall, reception, shop, locker rooms,... and above, my favorite, with a huge wooden mat. Impressive! As Tadashi is now retired from teaching, is his son Nidaime who imparts lessons now. I pay attention to the smallest detail of his teaching session. He is a friendly young man, apparently very respectful and hospitable. I ask Oyama about Nakamura: " We have always gotten along very well. He ' s been like my brother. He ' s six years younger. I think that if he had stay within the core of Masutatsu ' organization, he ' d become undoubtedly his successor ".
Shigeru Oyama is now 75. He ' s had a very active life and has taught Karate in Japan and then in many places in the U. S., Canada, etc.
" I ' ve always practiced karate, all my life, and I never got bored with it. The main thing is the base and then adapt the technique to each one. Then it ' s practice and practice, as if you were climbing a mountain from
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