The Masters Behind
KKAI.
IFK Certified · Black Belt 5th Dan and above
Pillars of Kyokushin
Masutatsu Ōyama, commonly known outside Japan as Mas Oyama, born as Choi Yeong-eui, was a Korean-Japanese karate master and the founder of Kyokushin Karate, known for its full-contact style.
He trained in various martial arts before developing his own intense and practical system of karate. Oyama became famous for his extreme training methods and powerful demonstrations, which helped popularize his style worldwide.
He established the International Karate Organization, spreading Kyokushin to over 100 countries with millions of practitioners. Throughout his life, he wrote many books and built a strong legacy in martial arts. He passed away in 1994 in Tokyo due to lung cancer, leaving a lasting impact on global karate.
David Pickthall is a highly respected Kyokushin karate master and one of the senior students of Steve Arneil. He began his journey in Kyokushin in the 1960s and became one of the early pioneers of the style in the United Kingdom. As a dedicated member of the organization, he was closely associated with the International Karate Organization under Masutatsu Oyama.
In 1991, he joined the International Federation of Karate alongside Arneil and played a key role in its growth and development. Holding a high dan rank, Shihan Pickthall is known for his technical excellence, discipline, and lifelong contribution to spreading Kyokushin karate worldwide.
Santanu Ganguly began his martial arts journey at the age of seven. He earned his Black Belt in 1980 and excelled in multiple disciplines, including Judo and Karate, becoming State Champion in Judo and National Champion in Karate in 1983.
He joined Kyokushin Karate in 1985 and has since dedicated his life to its growth and promotion. He trained under Steve Arneil and had the honour of meeting Masutatsu Oyama.
With numerous achievements and international podium finishes, he has served globally as an instructor, referee, judge, and coach, continuing to contribute to Kyokushin Karate worldwide.
Karate Instructor
A Karate instructor is not only a teacher, but someone who plays a much larger role than a school teacher. He or she instructs students, watches them grow, and guides them like a guru, standing in front of them while they face difficulties. An instructor must be able to handle harsh situations and carry out responsibilities both inside and outside the dojo.
Sometimes, we instructors are not dutiful and start blaming beginners by saying they are lazy, unfocused, irresponsible, and lack punctuality. We often forget that we live in a glass house — students are always watching us and following our actions.
Therefore, during practice, we must remove the boring atmosphere and create a comfortable environment where students can enjoy the class. We should always bring new ideas by changing practice patterns. In my opinion, an instructor should play the role of a magician and hold the students' attention until the class ends. From time to time, allowing fun activities helps keep their interest alive.
In the field of instructorship, knowledge alone is not enough. What is more important is skill — how techniques are demonstrated and how clearly students can grasp the ideas. I often tell my students:
"Come out of your comfort zone and you will succeed. To maintain success, you must work even harder, because an artist never stops working. Perfection in any field has no end. Your personality should make you approachable yet strong. Never accept defeat for yourself or for your students."
Sosai Oyama once said, "My students are always undefeated" — and I firmly believe it.
My final suggestion to my students: always be honest while learning and practicing Karate. Avoid addictions that harm the body and mind. Keep listening, learning, and observing more — and speak less.
