A brief history of the Kyokushin Challenge

The first Kyokushin Challenge was organized by Sensei John Adams, 4th Dan and Northwestern United States Branch Chief of IKO-Matsushima. It was a small tournament aimed at bringing together the different martial arts groups in the region to compete full contact. Its success brought about the 2nd, 3rd, 4th, and now 5th Kyokushin Challenge. Sensei Adams personally hosted the first three tournaments and then asked his senior students Sensei Ian Quitadamo and Sensei Keith Hill to host the 4th (Ellensburg, WA) and now the 5th (Seattle, WA) Kyokushin Challenge tournaments respectively. In the tournaments that he has hosted, Sensei John Adams has served as guest of honor and head referee except when 7th dan Shihan Roman Szyrajew has presided. The tenacity, hard work, and dedication of Sensei Adams has been instrumental in promoting and organizing each tournament, and has been in major factor in their success.

Goals

What makes the Kyokushin Challenge tournament so unique is that it that ignores the politics that have plagued the IKO groups since Mas Oyama's death and lets anyone, regardless of affiliation or style, compete. Its is the only full contact tournament of its kind in this region of the United States. We believe that the Kyokushin Challenge lives up to Mas Oyama's legacy by adhering to the ideals he traveled the earth to promote. It is the sincere hope of the promoters, organizers and participants that all who attend this event will witness the budo spirit that is Kyokushinkai Karate.

Osu!

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