Founder of the International Karate Organization, Kyokushinkaikan, often referred to as "Power Karate" or "The Strongest Karate".

Born on 4th June 1923, Sosai made his style of karate famous through various demonstrations and challenges across the USA and Japan. Sosai illustrated the power of his new karate by (amongst other feats of amazing speed and power) dehorning bulls with a single knife hand strike. Sosai is revered for his tameshiwari (breaking) techniques and many of his unique breaks such as cutting the top of a freestanding bottle, breaking large natural rocks, bricks and bending copper coins with his bare hands have rarely, if ever, been emulated.

Not only is Sosai Oyama famous for his unparalleled feats of tameshiwari, he was just as renowned for his fighting ability. One US journalist who saw him in one of his many challenge matches against all comers labelled the young Japanese/Korean karate-ka "Godhand", a label which has stuck to this day.

In challenging other martial artist, Sosai Oyama fought with more than 270 men, most being defeated by a single ultimate punch. This is the very essence of Sosai's Karate: one strike, certain death.

Sosai lived life as an accomplished Budo-ka. He sadly passed away suddenly on 26th April 1994. He left behind the legacy of karate.

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