Kyokushin politics, or Let's sue Matsui!

**patfromlogan** · Posted On: 12/02/2004 11:18am

YEAR 2001

In June, 2001 Shihan Yasuhiro Shichinohe and Shigeru Tabaka resign from the IKO 2 (JUne, 2001), and join forces with others Kyokushin Branch Chiefs to create a new Kyokushin organization called the "Kyokushin Union".

YEAR 2002

In November 19, 2002 Shihan Hatsuo Royama, was expelled from the IKO 1. He join forces with Dr. Yoshiharu Umeda to create the Kyokushin-kan and also to reestablished once again the "Kyokushin Shogakukai Foundation".

In November 25, 2002 Sensei Hajime Kazumi (World Kyokushin champion and All Japan champion), resigned from the IKO 1. He join shihan Tsuyoshi Hiroshige. After that he also left Shihan Hiroshige to create his own organization with 6 others independent Kyokushin Dojos. the latest rumors are that Sensei Kazumi join Shihan Royana Organization (Kyokushin-Kan).

In November 26, 2002 Shihan Tsuyoshi hiroshige (Sensei Kazumi's teacher), resigned from the IKO 1.

In November 29, 2002 Shihan Koyoma Akio (shihan's Royama student), resigned from the IKO 1.

In December, 2002 Shihan Henri-Oh chairman of the North American Kyokushin Organization (NAKO) resigned from the IKO 2, so the North American Kyokushin Organization become and independent kyokushin organization. Some of theirs members got associated with others groups.

YEAR 2003

In April 19, 2003 Dr. Yoshiharu Umeda after many months of demanding negotiations with the Japanese Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology, finally succeeded in reregistering Sosai's Kyokushin Shogakukai Foundation. The Kyokushin Shogakukai Foundation (Zaidan Hojin Kyokushin Shogakukai) was first registered in the 1960's in Sosai Oyama name to insure that the integrity of his Karate was preserved for all time. Sosai's Oyama wanted all revenue generated through fees and donations to the organization be collected by the Kyokushin Shogakukai Foundation, so that the money was use en benefits of theirs members. This Foundation was suspended temporarily on July 15, 1990, less than four years prior to Sosai's death. According to Shihan Cameron Quinn, It is possible that the tremendous volume of paperwork required by the government to maintain accountability may have ultimately become too much for Sosai.

In, 2003 Shihan Cameron Quinn, Resigned the IKO 1 and join Shihan Hatsuo Royama organization as a General Secretary of the Kyokushin-Kan, Shihan Royama's group, which is recognized by the Kyokushin Shogakukai Foundation.

RESULTS OF LAWSUIT ABOUT kYOKUSHIN'S NAMES AND MARKS

bELOW ARE THE RESULTS OF TWO independent lawsuits MADE AT THE Tokyo district court AND THE OSAKA district court BY 10 SHIHANS AFFILIATED WITH THE ALL JAPAN Kyokushin Uniion

In SEPTEMBER 29, 2003 The Tokyo district court ruled in favor of the CLAIM MADE BY Five regional Branch Chiefs of Kyokushin Karate WHO HAD filed a lawsuit in the Tokyo District Court claiming that their being prevented from using the names and marks of Kyokushin Karate by regional representatives of the Tokyo Honbu was illegal. The lawsuit was filed with the Tokyo District Court, by:
Shihan Daigo Oishi,
Shihan Yasuo Takahashi,
Shihan Shigeru Tabata,
Shihan Yasuhiro Shichinohe and
Shihan Yasuhiro Kuwajima,
All of them member of the All Japan Kyokushin Union.with the Osaka District Court, plaintiffs Mr Yukio Okada, Mr Kazuyuki Hasegawa, Mr Riichi Setto, Mr Jun Miwa and Mr Shigenori Sakamoto, another 5 Shihans from our side. So, we had 2 independant lawsuits going on at the same time, of which by coincidence the judgment came one after the other.

The court found that SOSAI Oyama passed away in April, 1994. Matsui, claiming he had been named the successor in Sosai’s Will, registered the names “Kyokushinkaikan”, “Kyokushin Karate” and so on. As well, SHIHAN Matsui directed that others could not advertise in the telephone directories. As a result, the Branch Chiefs claimed that their member enrolments were affected and so requested compensation.

It was acknowledged that the validity of the Will naming Matsui as successor had been previously been denied in a separate lawsuit (Sosai Masutatsu Oyama's family filed a protest against the Will, as they suspected it to be a forgery. First the Tokyo Family Affairs Court, next the Tokyo High Court and last the Supreme Court ruled that "It cannot be recognized that this Will originates from the real intention of Sosai Oyama). As a result, the court found, it was only natural that it be deemed that SOSAI Oyama did not name a successor while he was still alive. The court also found that SHIHAN Matsui’s demands that the Branch Chiefs could not use the name and logos was an abuse of any rights held by him.

In handing down his decision, Judge Toshiaki Iimura said that (Shokei Matsui) and the regional dojo operators working directly under the (IKO1) Honbu did not hold the rights and privileges of the first Chairman of Kyokushin Karate, Masutatsu Oyama, and so had no right to prevent others from using the names and marks of Kyokushin Karate.

The court found that while the defendant (SHIHAN ATSUI) had assumed the role of the second Chairman upon the death of sOSAI Masutatsu Oyama, many regional Branch Chiefs did not accept him as the successor and in fact the Kyokushin Karate organization had split up. The defendant had registered various names and marks of Kyokushin Karate and had demanded that the plaintiffs (Branch Chiefs) cease from using these marks.

Judge Toshiaki Iimura ruled that the successor to Sosai was never fully determined and ordered that sHIHAN Matsui pay the sum of ¥2.5million in compensation to the Branch Chiefs.

So basically, this means that sHIHAN Matsui can no longer stop anyone who was a Branch Chief under Sosai in Japan from using the Kyokushin names and logos.

In SEPTEMBER 30, 2003 The OSAKA district court ruled in favor of a lawsuit filed by five karate dojo operators and students of the late Masutatsu Oyama seeking ¥50 million in damages and compensation was decided upon in the osaka District Court. The lawsuit was filed with the oSAKA district court, by:
Shihan Yukio Okada,
Shihan Kazuyuki Hasegawa,
Shihan Riichi Setto,
Shihan Jun Miwa and
Shihan Shigenori Sakamoto,
All of them member of the All Japan Kyokushin Union.

The plaintiffs (the sHIHANS MENTIONED ABOVE) claimed that registration of the name and other trademarks of the school by sHIHAN ShOkei Matsui, Chairman of the IKO 1 Kyokushinkaikan (Honbu in Tokyo), the karate school founded by Kyokushin Karate’s Masutatsu Oyama, as well as actions by sHIHAN Matsui preventing other students of sOSAI Oyama from using the names and marks, was an abuse of his rights.

Judge Kazuo Komatsu, in ordering Matsui to pay compensation of ¥2.1 million, said that there was no real evidence existing to support Matsui’s claim that he was the successor to the karate organization.

It was said that SHIHAN Matsui assumed office in 1994, claiming authority through SOSAI Oyama’s Will. However, this was opposed by many others students of SOSAI Oyama and the organization split into three groups.

In 1997, SHIHAN Matsui acquired trademark rights to 8 different variations of names and marks relating to Kyokushin Karate. SHIHAN Matsui had appealed to NTT forbidding publication of telephone directories in which the plaintiffs had inserted dojo advertisements which included registered names and trademarks.

In relation to his judgment, Judge Komatsu pointed to the fact that the validity of SOSAI Oyama’s Will had been denied by the High Court in 1997. He stated, “Any claim by SHIHAN Matsui that he was the rightful successor was lost then.”

The court also declared that the defendant (sHIHAN mATSUI) had no right to prohibit others from using the name and marks of Kyokushin Karate.

In October, 2003 Shihan Pedro Pino The Reprentative and founder of the Kyokushin Karate in Chile (IKO 2), and others Branch chiefs in South America left the Shinkyokushin Organization (IKO 2) and Join the Kyokushin Union.

Year 2003 Sensei Kenji Yamaki, left the IKO 1 to teach his own style of knockdown Karate, which he called "Yamaki-ryu". Sensei Kenji Yamaki, became very well known in Kyokushin Karate for his achievements.
In 1989 and 1994 he won the "All Japan Open Karate Tournament".
In 1993 he won the "All Japan Weight Class Karate Tournament".
In 1995 Sensei Kenji Yamaki, successfully completed de 100-Man Kumite. Also in 1995 he became the iko 1 world champion in the "the world open karate tournament".
Sensei Kenji Yamaki, moved to the United states (U.S.A.) where he opened his own Dojo in the "Los Angeles suburb of Culver City".

YEAR 2004

In April, 2004 THE aLL JAPAN Kyokushin UNION announce that they will be presenting another lawsuit against Shihan Shokei Matsui. This time is against the use of the name "Kyokushin Kaikan Kancho" by Shihan Shokei Matsui.
This time THE aLL JAPAN Kyokushin UNION is inviting all Branch chiefs who were under Sosai Oyama, and their sub Branch Chiefs (sub branch chiefs are all the persons who had a dojo under any branch chiefs who received a certificate directly from Sosai Oyama) AROUND THE WORLD. If YOU WERE A BRANCH CHIEF OR SUB BRANCH CHIEFS UNDER Sosai Oyama, AND ARE INTERESTED IN JOINT THE LAWSUIT, YOU CAN SEND YOUR INFORMATION TO Shihan Shihan Yasuhiro Shichinohe. Below ARE THE COMPLETE INFORMATION FOR YOU TO READ.

Calls for Plaintiffs

The All Japan Kyokushin Union will soon be entering into action against Shokei Matsui as the defendant by way of a lawsuit regarding the following content. Accordingly, this notice is a call for all those who agree with the purpose of this lawsuit to join us as one of the plaintiffs.

Purpose of the Claim

(Lawsuit Sought)

The defendant, Shokei Matsui, shall not be allowed to the use the name “Kyokushin Kaikan Kancho” <Director> to diffuse Karate and any other related business activity.

Application Requirements to Become a Plaintiff

Those people who were made Shibucho or Bun-shibucho whilst Sosai Masutatsu Oyama was reigning and are still actively operating dojos, no matter with which Kyokushin Karate faction, as Shibucho or Bun-shibucho, may apply to be one of the plaintiffs.

Deadline for Applications : End of April 2004

Please include the following information in your application:

Name/Address/Telephone no./Date of Birth/Affiliated Dojo/Current Region/Your Position in the Organization/Other Contact Details of Applicant

Contact Details for All Japan Kyokushin Union

Shihan Yasuhiro Shichinohe, Int’l Dept, Kyokushin Union

E-mail : k-o-b@cosmos.ne.jp

Fax: 81/98/833-1378

BELOW YOU WILL FIND THE ORIGINAL LETTER FROM SHIHAN YASUHIRO SHICHINOBE IN REPRESENTATION OF THE
ALL JAPAN KYOKUSHIN UNION, MAKING A CALL TO ALL THOSE WHO WANT TO JOIN THE PLAINTIFF

Calls for Plaintiffs

After Kancho Masutatsu Oyama, founder of the International Karate Organization Kyokushinkaikan, passed away on April 26 1994, unfortunately the Kyokushinkaikan actually split into several factions.

After the leader of one faction, Mr Shokei Matsui, secretly acquired the rights of the trademarks of the Kyokushinkaikan in his name, he declared that he could rightfully call himself the “Kyokushinkaikan Kancho”.

He has also claimed that those people of Kyokushinkaikan not belonging to his own Matsui faction do not belong to the Kyokushinkaikan and has hindered them in the use of the name etc. in their advertising.

As the so-called will of Kancho Masutatsu Oyama, which stated that Mr Matsui would become the 2nd generation “Kyokushinkaikan Kancho”, was rejected by the Supreme Court, means that Mr Matsui’s grounds for using the name “Kyokushinkaikan Kancho” have become completely invalid.

Furthermore, he has no authority to monopolize the rights of use of the trademarks.

In order to restore these unjust circumstances and to return to the original form of Kyokushinkaikan founded by Kancho Masutatsu Oyama, the All Japan Kyokushin Union will start a lawsuit against defendant Mr Matsui in the near future. The main purpose is to see that he cannot use the name of “Kyokushinkaikan Kancho”, as well as to seek compensation for moral damages.

Accordingly, this notice is a call for all those who agree with the purpose of this lawsuit to join us as one of the plaintiffs.

All those people who were made Shibucho (Branch Chief) or Bun-shibucho (Sub Branch chief) whilst Sosai Masutatsu Oyama was reigning and are still actively operating dojos, no matter with which Kyokushin Karate faction, as Shibucho or Bun-shibucho, may apply to be one of the plaintiffs.

Please include the following information in your application:

Name/Address/Telephone no./Date of Birth/Affiliated Dojo/Current Region/Your

Position in the Organization/Other Contact Details of Applicant

Contact Details for All Japan Kyokushin Union

Shihan Yasuhiro Shichinohe, Int’l Dept, Kyokushin Union

E-mail : k-o-b@cosmos.ne.jp Fax: 81/98/833-1378

In SEPTEMBER, 2004 sHIHAN pEDRO bELTRAN, A bRANCH cHIEF AND THE SPAIN REPRESENTATIVE FOR THE IKO 3 IS EXPELLED FROM THE IKO 3. tHE REASON GIVEN IS THAT HE ALSO JOIN THE Kyokushin uNION AND ACCORDING TO THE POLICY OF THE IKO 3 HE CAN NOT BE A MEMBER OF TWO ORGANIZATIONS. dUE TO THIS INCIDENT THE kYOKUSHIN UNION RELEASE A LETTER DIRECTED TO ALL kYOKUSHIN AROUND THE WORLD. bELOW YOU WILL FIND THIS LATTER.

The Kyokushin Karate World and the All Japan Kyokushin Union

It is indeed a pity for the Kyokushin Karate World, but after Sosai Masutatsu Oyama passed away, the Kyokushinkaikan has split in several groups.

Nowadays, it seems that each and every group is having its activities in its own group.

We have heard lately that a person belonging to a group was expelled from that group, for the reason of also having joined the All Japan Kyokushin Union, this is a completely wrong policy.

The person who joined the All Japan Kyokushin Union is an independent autonomous Kyokushin dojo, which the All Japan Kyokushin Union gathers in a collective body, so recognizing each Kyokushin group.

On the other hand, this Kyokushin group that expelled its member does not recognize the other Kyokushin groups.

Doing away with the borders of the groups is exactly the goal of the Union.

However it looks like when belonging to one group and joining also the All Japan Kyokushin Union (so being affiliated with two groups) , there cannot be any interchange, even giving it the explanation that it declines the development of Kyokushin Karate.

Besides, the All Japan Kyokushin Union is not denying the Dan grades of another Kyokushin Organization, and we are of the opinion that getting the Kyokushin Karate World together in tournaments only would be very satisfactory.

Therefore when joining the All Japan Kyokushin Union, it is optional to enroll in the “Kyokushin Technical Dan Promotion Institute” (Dan Promotion Test), however the main goal is gathering people in the “Kyokushin Tournament Institute”.

Don’t you think that the group by expelling its member for the reason having joined the All Japan Kyokushin Union is following a not so good policy?

Is it good to go on organizing little activities limited for one’s own group?

Is it good to gather dojo in Kyokushin?

Which way will be beneficial for the Kyokushin Karate World?

We wish that some more people would think about that.

Kazuyuki Hasegawa, Yasuhiro Shichinohe

General Director of the Board International Department

All Japan Kyokushin Union All Japan Kyokushin Union

**Ronin** · Posted On: 12/02/2004 11:29am

Fucking politics.

**Ronin** · Posted On: 12/02/2004 11:30am

I say bring back the old way of deciding leadership in the MA.
Last man standing is THE MAN.

**patfromlogan** · Posted On: 12/02/2004 11:47am

I see that in Canada they at least get together for tournaments. Are they as friendly as this site http://www.kyokushincanada.com/open_...hin_karate.htm makes them look? Which org are you from? Matsushiima looks cool. This site http://www.musashi.nl/ has a moving banner that reads, "This site is NOTabout political Kyokushin, please take that fight elsewhere." Good Kyokushin site.

I'm interested in the history of the splits and such. I'm not biased personally, other than I keep hearing that Matsui is an asshole.

**Ronin** · Posted On: 12/02/2004 11:52am

I'm a Nidan under Roman, though I haven't been a member of the organization for years so...
My Shodan was under Pedro Roiz (spain).

And all the Blumming off shots ( Mushashi fro example) are part of the Kyokushin Budo-kai, so they have nothing to do with the current kyokushin politics.

**patfromlogan** · Posted On: 12/02/2004 2:56pm

Toru Tezuka's version

Toru Tezuka was born on March 2nd, 1942, in Tokyo, Japan. His sister, Masako, became Sosai Oyama’s secretary while she was a college student. Toru Tezuka first heard of Mas Oyama in 1956, as Sosaï's bare hand fights against bulls made the newspapers and television. Toru Tezuka met Mas Oyama for the first time in 1960 when he was in college. They became very good friends. Sosai soon encouraged Toru Tezuka to join the Kyokushin Kaikan, but Toru Tezuka was too busy doing extracurricular activities. In 1964, after graduation, Toru Tezuka became a business man as well as an industrial designer. He finally answered Sosaï's call and started as one of his students in 1973. After Sosai gave him orders to attend the general meetings, Toru Tezuka also joined the Kyokushin Kaikan as a committee member of the Organization. In 1974, Toru Tezuka established the first dojo at Chiba according to Sosai Oyama's principles and started his teaching.
Toru Tezuka received the rank of Shodan from Mas Oyama in August 1976. He organized the first tournament in Chiba in 1979. Many talented fighters participated in this tournament, including Matsui, a student of the Tezuka dojo. Matsui studied with Toru Tezuka for 13 years. Over the course of the following years, Toru Tezuka became a Shihan at Kyokushin Kaikan, established 12 dojos in the Chiba Prefecture, and held another 10 tournaments in Chiba.

Dan history

1976 : 1st Dan from Mas Oyama
1980 : 2nd Dan from Mas Oyama
1982 : 3rd Dan from Mas Oyama
1985 : 4th Dan from Mas Oyama
1989 : 5th Dan from Mas Oyama
1995 : 6th Dan
1997 : 7th Dan
2000 : 8th Dan

After the sudden death of Sosaï Oyama on April 26th , 1994, the Kyokushin KaiKan organization went into chaos in Japan and worldwide. Mas Oyama had left no testament or official instructions regarding his successor as head of the organization, and the ongoing disputes and divisions within the organization greatly troubled the elder shihans in Japan. After several years of consultation, the council of elder shihans in Japan chose to elect Toru Tezuka as the head of the International Kyokushinkai Karate Organization and asked him to continue Sosai's work.

They felt Shihan Tezuka was the most representative of what they wished the International Karate Organization to become. Toru Tezuka was a wise man, very sincere and honest, and he had been Mas Oyama's closest friend for well over 30 years. Now a highly respected businessman and influential man in Japan, Toru Tezuka was open-minded and understood the trends that would allow Kyokushinkai Karate to develop worldwide in Sosaï's spirit, without deviating from its fundamental mission.

Unfortunately, soon after beginning his mandate in the Organization, Toru Tezuka was hospitalized for many months. When he returned, one of his members had taken over the organization on his own. Again, confusion was overwhelming the IKO which quickly split into 3 groups: IKO1, IKO2 and IKO3, under self-proclaimed leaders. Each of these groups took a different direction in reference to Sosaï Mas Oyama's original teachings and karate philosophy.

In this turmoil, Toru Tezuka did not try to fight for power in the fractured IKO. He wisely kept away from these troubled organizations and continued doing what Mas Oyama had told him to do. In the year 2000, Toru Tezuka was elected IKO Kyokushin KaiKan world representative with the power to officially approve high level representatives throughout the world for the IKO Kyokushin Kaikan Tezuka Group.

For Kancho Tezuka, as well as for all his members, the principles of the Bushido, "Gi", "Yu", "Jin", "Rei", "Makoto", "Meiyo", and "Chugi" constitute a way of life that gives the highest value to respect, and makes it the first duty of the karateka.

Today Toru Tezuka is relentlessly pursuing an international mission whose objective is to gather and unify Kyokushinkai karatekas worldwide in the true spirit of Mas Oyama's teachings. He travels throughout the world and continues to build the KyokushinKai organization according to Mas Oyama's true principles.

"The International Karate Organization Tezuka Group promotes the teaching of Kyokushin Karate to honorable men and women worldwide. It is taught in the spirit of humility, respect, courteousness, and non-violence in accordance with the great principles defined by Mas Oyama, the founder of Kyokushin Karate."

website: International Karate Organisation Kyokushinkai kan Tezuka Group

**Ronin** · Posted On: 12/02/2004 3:04pm

Tezuka is a classy guy, but I doubt that he wil be able to unify anything.
You will always have splinter groups, like every other MA.
And that is not a bad thing per se, as long as there is some sort of "quality control".

The biggest problem in the MA can be lineage, who taught whom, who learned under who's shihan/kaicho/sushi chef.

Personally, I don't get a hamster fart.

Good kyokushin is easy to see, and good kyokushin instructors can belong to any or no organization.

I hate politics in MA, it smells like a room full of hungarian cabbage.

**patfromlogan** · Posted On: 12/02/2004 7:21pm

Originally Posted by ronin69

Good kyokushin is easy to see, and good kyokushin instructors can belong to any or no organization.

I hate politics in MA, it smells like a room full of hungarian cabbage.

True, my instructor was not even a legal (only nidan) but as Bobby Lowe said, "Toughest haole I ever taught." He never bothered with joining any organization, just taught and worked out. I got the impression that Bobby didn't think that was kosher, but **** him if he can't take a joke!

I'm not saying that martial arts politics are a good thing, ofcourse, I'm interested in what happened. You know, it's like they say, politics is the gossip of the intellectual. :rolleyes:

**Hannibal** · Posted On: 12/03/2004 5:36am

Oh boy we need to place a limit on posts.

I pay no attention to politics. All of this ' this guy branched off and started his own thing because that guy said something to that other guys second cousin'. Who cares about all of that ****.

So what if these guys over in Japan with too much time on their hands start going crazy.
Does it make us better fighters ? No.

Just train.