You have probably also wondered how to correctly spell the style name — «Kyokushin» or «Kyokushин». Why does this difference in pronunciation exist?

If you are on this page, you have likely asked yourself the same question: how do you correctly name the style — «Kyokushin» or «Kyokushін»? Why does this difference in pronunciation exist?

In the early 1990s, many athletes and instructors began traveling regularly to Japan, where most martial arts — including Kyokushin karate — originated. As a result, those who encountered Japanese culture and language discovered that Japanese has no sibilant sounds, and instead of the «sh» sound, an «s» sound is used.

Competing organizations developing this branch of karate registered their national federations using both the «sh» spelling and the «s» spelling. When the Ministry of Justice asked federation founders, «Why are you registering this discipline when such a federation already exists?» the reply would be: «No, this is a different karate. They have Kyokushinkay karate, and we have Kyokusinkay» — done purely to distinguish themselves from one another.

In essence there is no real difference. In Japanese it sounds like «Kyokushin,» while reading the English spelling «kyokushin» produces «Kyokushin.» Nothing changes within the style itself — it is one and the same karate.