The Definitive Guide to Mas Oyama’s "Advanced Karate" Masutatsu (Mas) Oyama, the legendary founder of Kyokushin Karate, authored several seminal works that transformed martial arts literature. Among these, Advanced Karate (1970) stands as a technical masterpiece designed for experienced practitioners seeking to transition from fundamental movements to real-world combat mastery. Often searched for in PDF format by modern students, this book remains a cornerstone of the "Strongest Karate" philosophy. Core Philosophy: The Point and Circle
The technical foundation of Advanced Karate is Mas Oyama's Theory of the Point and Circle.
The Point: Represents the directness and explosive power of a strike.
The Circle: Represents the fluid, defensive movements derived from Chinese Kempo and Goju-ryu that allow a fighter to parry and counter effectively.Oyama argued that true karate is serene in movement but stable and refined in form, using these circular motions to create "dynamic waves" of strength. Key Technical Sections
The book is structured into four primary parts that guide the reader through the higher echelons of Kyokushin training:
Background: Explores the history of Kyokushin and the philosophical underpinnings of Budo (the Martial Way).
Free Style Practice Fighting (Kumite): Focuses on full-contact application, emphasizing that techniques are only valuable if they work in actual combat conditions.
Formal Exercises (Kata): Details advanced kata like Tensho, showing how they serve as the "track" for developing the circular movements essential to advanced defense. mas oyama advanced karate pdf
Applications: Demonstrates how to transform the entire body into a weapon, including advanced techniques like covering and seizing an opponent's hand to reverse holds. Legacy of the "Godhand"
Mas Oyama, nicknamed "The Godhand," was famous for extraordinary feats of strength, such as fighting 52 bulls bare-handed and completing the grueling 100-man kumite (fighting 100 fresh opponents in a row) three separate times. Advanced Karate was his way of codifying the training methods that led to such power, specifically targeting instructors and senior karateka. Book Specifications
For collectors and researchers looking to verify they have the correct edition: Original Publication: 1970 by Japan Publications.
Format: Typically a 256-page hardcover (often with a slipcase in original editions).
Visuals: Highly regarded for its clear, step-by-step photography accompanying Oyama’s explanatory texts.
While digital PDF versions are often sought for convenience on platforms like Scribd or Internet Archive, many practitioners still prefer the original oversized volumes for the clarity of their historical photographs.
Are you interested in a specific advanced kata or training method mentioned in Oyama's works? Advanced Karate: Masutatsu Oyama - Amazon.com The Definitive Guide to Mas Oyama’s "Advanced Karate"
Book details * Print length. 256 pages. * Language. English. * Publisher. Japan Publications. * Publication date. January 1, 1970. Amazon.com Sosai Masutatsu Oyama - The Founder of Kyokushin Karate
Advanced Karate (1970) is a seminal 256-page work by the founder of Kyokushin Karate. It serves as a high-level guide for practitioners, focusing on advanced techniques evolved from Chinese Kempo and the foundational Kyokushin theory of the "point and circle". Amazon.com Key Content & PDF Resources
For those seeking the text or related instructional material, several digital versions and summaries are available: Advanced Karate (Full Book):
Digital copies (often ~260 pages) can be found on platforms like Core Advanced Katas: The book specifically details advanced forms including , along with specialized stick techniques. Training Philosophy: It covers the "three fundamental principles of kata": Waza no Kankyu Chikara no Kyojaku (force), and Iki no Chosei (breathing control) Supplementary Works: This Is Karate A massive 368-page reference with over 2,000 photographs. Mas Oyama's Essential Karate A foundational guide for broader levels of practice. Vital Karate
Focuses on basic weapons (hands/feet), stances, and self-defense. Internet Archive Academic & Research Papers
If you are looking for academic analysis or formal papers regarding Oyama's methods: Mas Oyama Advanced Karate | PDF - Scribd
Mas Oyama Advanced Karate | PDF | Yoga | Karate. 90%(10)90% found this document useful (10 votes) 9K views260 pages. Legitimate Access vs
Mas Oyama's Rugged Kyokushin Training | PDF | Karate - Scribd
Before you download:
Advanced Karate is still under copyright (usually held by the International Karate Organization – IKO or related estates). Free PDFs circulating on forums or file-sharing sites are almost always unauthorized copies.
If you are searching for this resource, avoid fan-made blogs. Instead, look for these identifiers:
From legitimate previews and descriptions, Advanced Karate typically covers:
In his writings, Oyama dedicates significant sections to Hojo Undo (supplementary training). Advanced Karate requires a body that is a weapon. This includes:
Oyama recognized that advanced fighters get hit. The PDF details "hard falls" and rolling escapes unique to Kyokushin, allowing a 200lb opponent to throw you without injury.
Week 1–4
Week 5–8
Week 9–12
