One of Mas Oyama’s closest students, Shihan Bobby Lowe, was a big proponent of Kyokushin Budo training. He was the son of a Kung Fu master, held Black Belts in Judo, Kenpo and Aikido and was a powerful welterweight boxer. He was incredibly impressed by a karate demonstration performed by Sosai Masutatsu Oyama in Hawaii.
Shihan Lowe joined Sosai Oyama in 1952 to work with him as his teacher. They quickly became lifelong friends and Shihan Lowe ventured to Japan to join Sosai Oyama at his Tokyo dojo, becoming the first Kyokushin “Uchi Deshi” (apprentice student) and Sosai proclaimed that Shihan Lowe was his spiritual brother. Shihan was first person to open a Kyokushin school outside of Japan in Honolulu.
Shihan Lowe served Sosai Oyama from the outset of the International Karate Organization, from promoting Kyokushin in the United States, Canada and around the world and travelled often throughout the world giving seminars. He hosted the first international Kyokushin match outside of Japan. He served the IKO tournament circuit around the globe as Chief Referee, serving as contributor to the current IKO Technical Syllabus and IKO bylaws for the Kyokushinkaikan. He wrote three renowned books on the Kyokushin system. Kyokushin practitioners travelled large distances to attend his seminars in Hawaii where he focused on Goshin-Jitsu (self defense). He never neglected teaching daily Kyokushin classes in his native Hawaii until his death in 2011. The Hawaii Branch continues to operate under the supervision of Shihan Herb Ishida who began training with Shihan Lowe in 1962 and continues to carry on the dedication to the principles that makes the practice of Kyokushin Karate special. The Hawaii Branch is currently the oldest continuously operating international Branch of the Kyokushinkaikan in the world. Shina Lowe’s Budō spirit will continue to live through the many Yudanshas (black belts) he trained in more than five decades of teaching.
Daigo Oishi
Daigo Oishi Hanshi began training in Kyokushin Karate in 1969 at the age of 19. In 1971, he participated in the 3rd All Japan Open Karatedo Championship and finished in 3rd place. He continued his competitive career and in 1974 participated in the 6th All Japan Open Karatedo Championship where, despite having an injury, he set a record of ippon wins in 4 matches in a row, finishing in 6th place In 1975, Mas Oyama held the 1st Open World Karatedo Championships where some of the world’s best competed. Hanshi was selected to represent the Japan team and was one of eight competitors selected for Japan. After 3 days of competition he finished 4th in a field of 128 competitors, representing 32 countries, many who were much larger opponents.
In 1976, he was appointed by Mas Oyama as the Branch Chief of the Kyokushinkaikan Yamanashi Branch, and later 1977 he established the Shizuoka Branch. Since then, he continues to spread and develop Kyokushin Karate pure to its origins, and practices leadership by example. In 1998, he completed 70-man Kumite. Many Kyokushin practitioners from around the world travel to Japan to receive training from Daigo Oishi Hanshi. In November 2012, he withdrew from the All Japan Kyokushin Federation and established the International Karatedo Federation Kyokushin Kaikan Sekai Sokyokushin.