Every Saturday 4:00 pm to 5:30 pm
Cost: $40 Registration, $50 Uniform, $75 Monthly
What is Kyokushin Karate?
“Kyokushin” means “Ultimate Truth”. Kyokushin Karate was born in the determination for the pursuit of ultimate truth of mind, technique, and body.
Karate was developed over a thousand years ago, not only as a form of unarmed combat, but also as a way to discipline the body in order to strengthen spirit. By practicing Karate, one can increase alertness, self-awareness and self-confidence by conditioning the body.
Kyokushin Karate has been known as “the strongest karate”, not only because of the incredible feats of strength and endurance that founder Mas Oyama performed, but also because of the rigorous requirements of the training and tournaments.
The founder of Kyokushin Karate, Mas Oyama, often said that the difference between sports and the Way of Budo is the path of self-discipline. Sports can always be associated with a game in some form or another where people compete for leisure, money, or fame. The Budo Way is never this, since it was developed from harsh-living situations where one must fight for their life in the midst of human suffering and pain— this can either be of the mental or physical kind.
Today, registered membership of Kyokushin Karate exceeds 10 million, and dojo are located at more than 120 countries, making it one of the largest martial arts organizations in the world.
Shihan Taku Nakasaka
Shihan Taku Nakasaka started Kyokushin Karate in his hometown, Sapporo, Japan in 1982. He rapidly gained recognition throughout Sapporo Japan as a Kyokushin fighter, successively claiming several championship titles. He then served as an assistant instructor of the I.K.O. Kyokushinkaikan Dojo in Sapporo, Japan.
He came to the United States in 1990, at the age of 23, and trained vigorously under Sensei Jimmy Nishimura, former Branch Chief of Los Angeles Kyokushin Karate. Under Sensei Nishimura's vigilant leadership and guidance, Shihan Nakasaka was able to claim one of the top positions among the nine fighters chosen to represent the United States in the 6th World Open Karate Tournament in November 1995. Shihan Taku Nakasaka was placed among the best 32 out of 168 world top fighters.
In 1996, Shihan Nakasaka opened his first dojo in the United States. Today he has dojos in Los Angeles, San Fernando Valley, Rosemead, Torrance, Redlands and three in Orange County. Kyokushin Los Angeles has produced 12 World Championship Fighters since 1995 includes Kumite & Kata total of 5 times Womens' Champion Miruyo Ito, 3rd Place Shohei Yamamoto and 4th Place Sota Nakano.
Shihan Taku Nakasaka, in a joint effort with I.K.O. Kyokushinkaikan, hosts U.S. Weight Category (USWC) Championship events in Los Angeles, California, bringing in the top fighters from all over the world.
Sempai Oxana Ogiwara
Oxana Ogiwara is a long term student of Shihan Nakasaka. She assists him with teaching the Redlands class.