Mas Oyama, the founder of Kyokushin Karate, brought over three of his fighters to the famed Lumpinee Stadium in Thailand

1:48:00 PM Tkd kwan 0 Comments

Kyokushin fighters and direct students of Oyama vs Muay Thai fighters!

In the year 1964, Lumpinee Stadium witnessed a unique event where three bouts took place between Kyokushin fighters and Muay Thai fighters. The outcome was surprising, with the Japanese fighters emerging victorious in two out of the three fights.

What caught everyone's attention was the use of Judo throwing techniques by the Japanese fighters, in addition to their striking abilities. It was not uncommon during that era for fighters to cross-train in different martial arts, such as Judo and Karate.

The first fight featured Akio Fujihira and Huafai Lukcontai, while the second and final fight was between Rawee Dechachai and Kenji Kurosaki. These bouts took place over five decades ago, at a time when kickboxing was still in its infancy. Muay Thai and Karate were the initial forms of striking arts, as fighters tested their skills against each other before the emergence of modern kickboxing.

Mas Oyama, the founder of Kyokushin Karate, organized this event to challenge Muay Thai fighters under modified rules that allowed takedowns and headbutts. Two of the Kyokushin fighters, Tadashi Nakamura and Akio Fujihira, emerged victorious in their fights with impressive knockouts.

Although Kenji Kurosaki faced a different outcome in his bout against Rawee Dechachai, the fight showcased techniques rarely seen in Muay Thai matches. Kurosaki's use of Judo throws and shoulder throws against his opponent demonstrated the influence of cross-training in different martial arts. However, Dechachai's relentless low leg kicks and a well-timed left elbow strike led to Kurosaki's defeat.

After the event, Kurosaki went on to establish Mejiro Gym, where he introduced a new form of kickboxing that combined elements of Karate and Muay Thai. This innovative approach attracted fighters from around the world, including the Dutch, who would later develop Dutch Kickboxing, a style that revolutionized MMA striking.

Overall, the Karate vs. Muay Thai series highlighted the importance of diversifying martial arts training and adapting to different fighting styles. The success of fighters like Kurosaki paved the way for the evolution of kickboxing and influenced generations of martial artists worldwide.