08/06/2021
World Oyama Karate
Before the World Open Knockdown Tournament, the fighters from Japan came to train with Soshu S. Oyama in New York and also with Saiko Shihan Y. Oyama in Birmingham, AL. This picture was taken at the Birmingham Zoo.
On one of their off days, they went to the zoo to relax and refresh. As they went around to the various exhibits, they would remark on which of them most closely resembled particular animals--like the hippos, crocodiles, tigers, etc. In those days, the gorilla enclosure was an open outdoor space that was surrounded by just a couple rows of fences. When they got there, they all leaned on the fence and watched the gorillas and teased each other about who looked the most like a gorilla.
One of the gorillas was sitting nearby the fence. He was eating an apple out of his hand. He turned away from them, smashed up the apple he was eating and suddenly hurled the pile of mushed apple into all of their faces. Although they were all world-class fighters, none of them could react quickly enough to avoid receiving a face full of mushed apple.
All of the members of this group went on to build up and make tremendous contributions in the world of full-contact Karate. Pictured here are:
Saiko Shihan Y. Oyama (Center), and from Right to Left--
** Soeno (Kancho of Shidokan Karate)
** Ninomiya (Kancho of Enshin Karate)
** Miura (Founder of Miura Karate... behind Saiko Shihan)
** Kiishi (Founder of Kiishi Karate)
** Goda (Vice-chairman of Kyokushin Karate)
** "Big" Sato (Founder of Sato-juku Karate)
** "Little" Sato Pokaż mniej
