The kanji (Japanese characters) calligraphy, worn universally on the front of the (uniform) Gi, simply means "Kyokushinkai", which is the name given by Sosai Mas. Oyama to the Karate style he created. It means the society of the Ultimate Truth. Originally there was no name for the style, it was simply; Oyama Dojo, but with the growth of the style he created it became necessary to give the style which had become unique at this time, an official name.

Sosai Oyama chose Ultimate Truth. This was taken from the writings of his hero, the Samurai; Miyamoto Musashi in The Book of Five Rings. Sosai had read this book and it inspired him to train in the mountains like his hero before him, to develop his karate which would become Kyokushinkai. 

The design of the kanji was done with Oyamas wife and is representative of a sheathed Samurai sword, in honour of Musashi. It is composed of three characters:

The symbol of Kyokushin Karate is the Kanku, shown in the badge worn by many Kyokushin groups at the top of the left sleeve of the (uniform) Gi, which is derived from Kanku Dai Kata, the Sky Gazing form. 

In this Kata, the hands are raised and the fingers meet to form an opening through which the sky is viewed. The top and bottom points of the Kanku represent the first fingers of each hand touching at the top and the thumbs touching at the bottom, symbolising the peaks or ultimate points. The thick sections at the sides represent the wrists, symbolising power.  The centre circle represents the opening between the hands through which the sky is viewed, symbolising infinite depth. The whole Kanku is enclosed by a circle, symbolising continuity and circular action.

Note:

Elitian Cubs from age 3 - 6 years

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Seniors from age 16 years +

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