The way of
true karate.
I.K.O.N Kyokushin Singapore pursues the true Kyokushin Spirit through exceptional instruction and self-directed leadership, building character, discipline, and esprit de corps among the future leaders of Singapore.
極真
The ultimate truth.
The word 極真, Kyokushin, translates literally as “the ultimate truth.” It is the name given to the style of full-contact karate founded by Sosai Masutatsu (Mas) Oyama, and it speaks to the uncompromising honesty demanded of every practitioner: truth in technique, truth in effort, truth in character.
Kyokushin is famously known as “the strongest karate”, a system that tests its practitioners through bare-knuckle, full-contact sparring without protective gear. But beyond the physical contact, Kyokushin's real pursuit is the forging of the spirit. What is tempered in the dojo is meant to extend far beyond it, into daily life.
Founded by
Sosai Mas Oyama.
Kyokushin Karate was founded in 1964 by Sosai Masutatsu Oyama, a martial artist whose legendary feats, including the defeat of fighting bulls and the completion of solitary mountain training, became the stuff of karate folklore. Sosai Oyama's vision was a karate stripped of pretense: a martial art proved in full-contact combat, not theory.
From the Honbu in Tokyo, Kyokushin grew into one of the most widely practiced styles of karate in the world. Its hallmarks, hard sparring, conditioning of body and mind, and an unwavering code of discipline, have shaped generations of practitioners across more than a hundred countries.
In 1991, our President Sensei Lawrence Poh received his Shodan certificate signed by Sosai Mas Oyama himself, a direct link between the founder's lineage and our dojo today.
I.K.O. Nakamura.
Kobe, Japan.
I.K.O.N Kyokushin Singapore is affiliated to the International Karate Organization (I.K.O.) Nakamura, with its Headquarters (Honbu) based in Kobe, Japan.
Our beloved Founder and Chairman, Sosui Makoto Nakamura, is a two-time Full Contact Karate World Champion. The organization today is led by Daihyo Masanaga Nakamura and Shihan Tats Nakamura, who continue to guide affiliated dojos worldwide in upholding the traditional standards of Kyokushin.
In 2025, our Singapore dojo was honoured to host a tournament graced by Daihyo Masanaga Nakamura, a milestone reflecting the close ties between Singapore and the Japan Honbu.
Our vision
& mission.
To promote goodwill and foster esprit de corps among the future leaders of Singapore, through the development of physical fitness and character.
We pursue the True Kyokushin Spirit through exceptional instruction and self-directed leadership.
Passion. Patience.
Perseverance.
Passion
The fire that brings the karateka back to the dojo, night after night. Passion is what transforms training from obligation into devotion, the spark that fuels a lifelong pursuit of mastery.
Patience
Mastery is not given. Every stance, every strike, every kata is refined across years, sometimes decades. Patience is the willingness to trust the process, to honour the small daily improvements that compound into true skill.
Perseverance
The Kyokushin spirit is forged in the moments when the body asks to stop. Perseverance, to keep going, to push past the limit, to rise after every fall, is the heart of full-contact karate, and the heart of a meaningful life.
“The ultimate aim of the art of karate lies not in victory or defeat, but in the perfection of the character of its participants.”
Step onto the
dojo floor.
Whether you are seven or seventy, the path of Kyokushin is open. Train with us across our Singapore dojos and discover what the pursuit of the ultimate truth means for you.