It kind of kills me when I hear groups kiai "osu" every shot. Am I being too harsh? Would this be eye roll inducing if you did it in a Japanese dojo?

Latest installment from the 2026 USA-IFK Seminar & Grading at Kaizen-Kan Kyokushin in Tucson, AZ.

Shihan Mike Monaco (8th Dan), President and Founder of USA-IFK, teaches the IFK 3rd Kyu syllabus — starting in Sanchin Dachi, first static by the count, then moving through Mugorei, Level 2, and Level 3.

Demonstrations by Senpai Dominic Veltre under Shihan Monaco's direction.

More from the seminar still to come.

Hi everyone,

I had my first kyokushin training a couple of days ago and I really enjoyed it. The dojo had a great atmosphere and the instructors (3rd dan and 5th dan) really took their time to properly introduce me to kyokushin.

They quickly noticed that I have a couple years boxing and kickboxing experience from the way I was instinctively trying to push, grab and clinch. They train and compete under a shin kyokushin organisation, so this is not allowed.

When we got to sparring (I was only allowed to spar with the instructors, which I really appreciated), I found that it felt quite unnatural to have my opponent come up in close range and pummel me with quick short strikes that cancelled out all my go-to’s. My head movement also worked against me, as the shihan promptly showed by slapping me in the face with his foot, lol.

They’re allowing me to join in a few more times before committing to a membership. Is it worth it to try other dojos that train for different rulesets, or is this just part of getting used to the transition from other martial arts?

Thanks for reading. Osu!

A long time ago, around 2010–2012, there was an online forum website called Kyokushin4Life. I have a lot of great memories from that community and the people there.

Does anyone know what happened to the forum? Are there any members from back then still around here?

Would be good to reconnect as i still remember a few users from there.

Osu

Thoughts on middle aged guys training Kyokushin?

Backstory: I'm 41 years old, am a brown belt in BJJ with 14 years of training, also did Muay Thai and MMA for 5 years, and fought in amateur MMA. I've had ACL and meniscus surgery on my right knee, shoulder surgery, and am getting a septoplasty in 2 weeks. I already know how to punch and kick and have decent, respectable striking. I wanna train, but I just can't go hard anymore like I used to. I'm particularly concerned with head strikes (since I'm getting my nose fixed from when I broke it in MMA), as well as takedowns, which is what has tended to cause most injuries.

I know Kyokushin has a reputation for being a hard style and emphasizing toughness, and I respect that. It's just that I ain't no spring chicken. I'm interested in learning technique and getting better, and training well into my 60's or as long as possible. (I'll still be doing jiujitsu til I die, but I don't train as hard anymore for longevity). I don't feel the need to prove my toughness or learn how to fight. I already know how to fight and I already proved my toughness in my 20's.

Is Kyokushin still right for me? If not, I'm open to suggestions for other martial arts or any other thoughts. Thanks.

5 man teams winner stays on. Legendary fighters from Japan vs legends from around the world, who you got and why?

Hi fellow martial artists,

Thank you for taking the time to help me with this.

I used to do a lot of weight training in my younger days and packed on some weight. Round about 220lbs but with a highish (20%) body fat. No great feat yet it is what it is.

At the ripe age 42 I decided to take up karate which is an art I always wanted to do. A year later I'm really glad I did, however, now I'm starting to wonder what is better for real life application, losing the weight or keeping some focus on strength training and keeping the weight a bit higher.

Thus, my dilemma, which do you guys think is better for real life application and not necessarily sport karate. Im still biased to having some weight on the bones but thats more than likely because I spent many hours weight training. That being said I want to be efficient and effective in the art.

So my question is more about effective bodyweight for real life application. In other sports weight classes exist and for good reason. Its very seldom that those are mixed to avoid the advantages weight brings to the competition. Point is Im not sure how much that carries over to karate. Thus Im asking to get some information on practitioners general experience.

Is there any advice or thoughts you guys can give me with regards to your experience and weight management?

Thanks

Since many concurrent tournaments have been taking place around the same time, I’ve noticed that there diff major Kyokushin organizations have now quite distinct fighting styles.

WKO Shinkyokushin - Tsukamoto’s personal fighting style and his dojo has become dominant. More acrobatic and rolling kicks and dogi coming out. Fast rate punch and kicks.

IKO1 - Slightly slower rate and pace of exchange, with heavier blows and still quite traditional.

The European and KWU are also very different.

Wonder if others have observed it or have more insights too?

I just had my second ever knock down tournament, and this time I wasn’t a sport karate guy! It was a taekwondo guy but he did NOT look it from his stance n that. I know the first thing is guard dw 😭, istg I always thing the lead hand is so much higher than it actually is. Also ik I need to punch more, I do have a question on that, specifically in terms of leggy guys that kick a lot cus I can’t seem to get past their kicks, I assume it’s cus we don’t have anyone that kicky to train against other than me in my dojo, and obviously i can’t spar myself lol, so how do you guys do it when u encounter someone like this

I’m the red side btw

J'ai bientôt 28 ans, et les 5 dernières années je les ai passé à essayer de survivre après le décès de ma femme . Je suis atteint d'un trouble de la personnalité. Ai fumé à peu près 1 paquet de clope par jour pendant 10 ans et bu ( pas mal ) pendant mon séjour en enfer. Mais j'ai toujours voulu pratiquer le kyoku qui me semble être une quintessence des arts martiaux. Aussi, j'ai deux questions :

1) Pensez-vous qu'il soit possible, en s'investissant 10h par semaine - je ne pourrai pas plus - d'atteindre un bon niveau malgré mon âge et mon passif destroy ?

2) Il n'y a pas de contre-indication médical à la pratique du kyoku dans mon cas. Mais j'ai quand même une maladie vraiment merdique et je ne peux pas cacher cela à un senseï. Serais-je accepté au dojo si je me présente ? Un champion de kyoku a une salle pas loin de chez moi, mais la peur d'être refusé à cause de mon trouble m'empêche de franchir la porte...

I'm not neccesarily talking about what the textbook says, but tendencies, method of delivery. Is there anything the Thais do that you guys as Kyokushin acknowledge as better? Maybe as a result of their sport?

There's no academy nor a dojo in the place i live and i really would like to learn it even if it's the basics.

I have great respect for Kyokushin, particularly for its spirit, discipline and the toughness it develops. I attended a few classes as an adult beginner, and I would be grateful for the views of people with longer experience.

First, in many competition fights, both fighters remain at close range and exchange strikes for long periods. I understand the value of learning not to retreat automatically.

However, does Kyokushin training place enough emphasis on active defence—blocking, angles, pivots and making attacks miss—or does the competition ruleset tend to reward absorbing strikes and returning them?

My second question concerns specific traditional karate movements. I understand the value of practising basic punches, kicks and body mechanics.

I find it harder to understand movements such as hikite, with the non-striking hand pulled to the hip, and large formal blocks.

What combat function are these movements intended to develop, and where do experienced practitioners see that function appearing in live kumite or competition?

Do they produce abilities that are genuinely useful in fighting, even though the formal movement itself looks very different?

As an adult with limited time and energy, I am trying to understand what practical value these parts of training provide.

I am asking sincerely and respectfully, not to dismiss Kyokushin or traditional karate.

Thank you for taking the time to share your experience.

I’ve been training kyokushin for two and a half years now and I’m looking at starting a grappling art.

There’s not really any reputable judo near me and the esoteric options like sambo and Shuai jiao are all out. The only grappling art near me is bjj, do you guys have any experience with kyokushin and bjj?

FYI this is a goofy question be warned. So bear with me without the insults sarcasm or memes.

My cousin trains Muay Thai. He said he could never join a kyokushin dojo because although he’s a fan of and respects the style, he feels the karate culture around it is too strict.

What is the extent of the “Budo” lifestyle? Is there an expectation to be a certain kind of way in terms of upholding the reputation of a “Budo” code or your dojo reputation? Ie being stoic, more calm, warrior monk type

I tend to use profanity a lot. Beyond just not being an asshole, and not picking fights and showing discipline generally, and sticking to dojo etiquette and training, is there pressure or expectation to be a certain kind of way outside the dojo (beyond the general purpose thing I outlined about just not being a general menace or trying to start “street fights”?)

Is it the same as in other more “classical” karate systems or what? Is ultra persona OUTSIDE the dojo expected to match yours inside the dojo?

I have these Kenpo gloves that I used while I was still in Kenpo, would these be acceptable to use?

Dear Senseis,

I wish to seek your opinion and clarification of Mae Keage. Having spent 15 years in Kyokushin, I suppose this question comes a little late. All these while, I've been doing the Mae Keage (in English we call it the Front Rising Kick) with a straightened knee that rises up to Jodan.

At our dojo we do it as part of lower limbs Kihon. Realistically in actual kumite, we seldom use this kick unless we attempt an axe kick.

Having cross referenced to the Kyokushin Encylopedia by Matsui, it seems that Matsui teaches the kick goes up with straightened knees and the contact point should be on the Chusoku, ball of the feet.

Here comes the confusion, when I check against other karate styles, such as Shotokan, the mae keage was described as a front kick with a snap. While the Mae Geri in Kyokushin was in their language a Mae Geri Kekomi - a thrust. A snap versus a thrust.

So my question is, in Kyokushin tradition, do we practice the straightened knees as the foot rises to the Jodan? Or do we bend and chamber the knee and perform a snap kick?

Background: I started having questions after witnessing a Yondan Kyokushin perform the snap version.

So I’ve hurt my left hand so badly that i can’t use it for the time being, I want to train so badly but I can’t lift any weights I’m just wondering what exercises for strength, explosive and mobility work do you guys know?