06/23/2024
One of the participants in yesterday's park session was wearing a shirt from an action anime, and I couldn't help but think about the impact that karate, specifically full-contact, Kyokushin karate, had and continues to have on pop culture.
There are numerous characters, shows, movies, anime, manga, video games, and more that are inspired by Mas Oyama, his students, and the karate he taught. There are familiar main characters, such as Ryu from Street Fighter and Jin Kazama from Tekken. There are supporting characters, such as Doppo Orochi from the Baki series, Gun Park from Lookism, and even Zushi from Hunter×Hunter. The list goes on.
The manga/anime series which is often credited to the growth of Karate in Japan, and ultimately the world, in the 1970s was Karate Baka Ichidai, marketed outside of Japan as Karate Master. You can watch the entire 1973 anime on YouTube and other services like Hulu, when it is in rotation.
If you would like to learn more about the history of Kyokushin, Karate Baka Ichidai, kickboxing, or perhaps how a karate master found himself on the set of a blockbuster horror film, and more, I suggest checking out the official World Oyama Karate Organization YouTube channel. Founder and Director Soshi-Saiko Shihan Yasuhiko Oyama has been sharing his journey in an ongoing series of interviews. It is both entertaining and insightful, whether you are a martial artist or not.
If you would like to talk about and learn the karate that continues to inspire many, feel free to reach out.
Osu!
押忍!
#国際大山空手道連盟 #ワールド大山空手 #大山空手 #空手 #押忍 #極真会
