The Path Is the Truth

Kyokushin founder Masutatsu Oyama often said that truth reveals itself through hard training and relentless spirit. In Kyokushin, the body, mind, and spirit are forged together through experience with each moment a lesson that no theory can replicate.

This philosophy echoes the wisdom of Dōgen Zenji, the 13th-century Zen master, who wrote that enlightenment is not something to be found through intellectual understanding but through living the truth fully. Dōgen taught that practice and realization are one and the same. You do not practice to become enlightened—you practice because practice itself is enlightenment.

The Spirit of Practice: Dōgen and Kyokushin

Dōgen believed that truth cannot be captured by words alone.

If you cannot find the truth right where you are, where else do you expect to find it?  Dogen

In Kyokushin, this truth is found in every punch, every block, every moment of exhaustion when you push past your limits. It cannot be theorised or taught in books. It must be felt. It must be lived.

The dojo becomes a space where theory dissolves, and only reality remains – the sharp reality of contact, the raw edge of your own limitations, and the undeniable power of perseverance.

Shugyo: The Path of Hardship and Growth

In Kyokushin, the concept of Shugyo (修行) (austere training) is central. It is through hardship that the practitioner polishes their spirit. Dōgen shared a similar view, emphasizing that every action, when performed with sincerity and mindfulness, becomes a step on the path to realisation.

Just as Dōgen instructed his monks to fully embody the act of sitting (shikantaza, or “just sitting”) with their entire being, Kyokushin karateka embody the act of training with their entire spirit. In both Zen and Kyokushin, the doing is the being, and the path is the goal.

The Ultimate Truth Is Now

The ultimate truth is not a destination or a concept, it is the path itself, walked with integrity, intensity, and sincerity. It is every drop of sweat and blood, every bruise, and every breakthrough.

Do not follow the footsteps of the old masters; seek what they sought.  Dōgen

In Kyokushin, we do not simply mimic techniques; we live them. We test them, refine them, and in the process, we refine ourselves.

Living the Truth Beyond the Dojo

The spirit of Kyokushin extends beyond the dojo walls. In life, as in karate, truth is found not in what we say, but in what we do. Consistency, perseverance, and authenticity are the pillars of Kyokushin and of a life lived in truth.

We believe the path to growth lies not in theory, but in practice, and in living our values with every step.