“Sempai to both Richard Kim and Mas Oyama”

So Neichu 1908 -2001

“Sempai to both Richard Kim and Mas Oyama”

Master So, Japanese/Korean living in Japan, was one of the highest authorities on Goju Ryu in Japan. He was renowned for both his physical and spiritual strength. It was he who encouraged Mas Oyama to dedicate his life to the Martial Way. It was he too who suggested that Oyama should retreat away from the rest of the world for 3 years while training his mind and body. So Neichu financed his stay in the mountains as long as he could.

So Neichu's after being thrown out of Kyoto University he moved to Ritsumeikan University in Kyoto where he entered a karate club organized off campus and not recognized by the school, which was run by Yamaguchi Gogen.

So joined the boxing club and an intensive weight training program, a regimen that ultimately was responsible for his remarkable physique and his later influence over Mas Oyama.

So Neichu continued to teach and kept the Osaka dojo open throughout the war. During this period, another overseas Korean with a nidan from Funakoshi walked into the dojo and became excited by the emphasis on hard sparring. Soon the young (18-year-old) Mas Oyama was hooked and became a protégé of So Neichu. So also urged him along the path of merging spirituality with his martial arts.

At this time in Japan, all karate styles remained relatively open to interaction with each other, and the Shotokan people in the Tokyo area began to hear about the tough fighters practicing a different style in the Osaka area. Funakoshi Gigo picked 10 of his best competitors and traveled to Osaka to engage in an inter-school match. After they all lost Funakoshi Gigo squared off against So Neichu. The powerful So simply picked up the smaller Funakoshi and threw him against a wall, injuring not only his body but his dignity. It is said that after returning to Tokyo, the Shotokan schools intensified their study of kumite and stepped up its intensity, resulting in their later fearsome reputation in tournament competition.

So Neichu was also responsible for introducing other Koreans to Yamaguchi along with Oyama namely Richard Kim.

At some point, he reportedly was promoted to 9th dan by the Japanese Butokukai.