GOJU RYU KARATE

HISTORY, PHILOSOPHY & PRACTICES

The History of Goju-Ryu

Karate is a martial art and martial art that originated from the island of Okinawa during the Ryukyu Kingdom era and is characterized by striking with fists and feet.

Gōjū-Ryū Karate Karate originated from Okinawara where three styles of “te” (Karate) were formed in the villages of Tomari, Shuri, and Naha. The Okinawarans used the word “Karate” but referred to their training as “Te” or “hand”. These three styles of Okinawara martial arts were Tomari-te, Shuri-te, and Naha-te.

The two main types of “te” developed were Shuri-te and Naha-te the origin of Karate as “empty hand” began.

Kanryo Higaonna created the Na-ha-te style of Karate after the capital city of Okinawa in 1905.

In 1902 Chojun Miyagi became a student of Kanryo Higaonna at the age of 14 and began his training in Na-ha-te. Through hard training and dedication, Miyagi soon became a strong and disciplined person. Kanryo Sensei acknowledged this and chose Miyagi as he became one of his most accomplished students to learn and perfect the art of Na-ha-te.

In 1910 Miyagi was drafted into the Japanese army at the beginning of WW1. Two years later Miyagi left the army and continued to study Na-ha-te with Kanryo Sensei and looked after him up until he died in 1915.

Chojun Miyagi became the leading master of Na-ha-te and travelled to Fujian China to study the principles and philosophies of many Chinese styles to increase his knowledge.

Upon his return, Miyagi Sensei formed his own style of Karate which combined the hard external fighting styles with the soft internal styles into a close-range that became a highly efficient method of self-defense.

In 1929, Miyagi Sensei named his style Gōjū-Ryū Karate-Do, meaning hard and soft style. This name was taken from one of his favourite poems, the Kempo Hakku, or the eight laws of the fist. “HO WA GOJYU WO TONDO SU.” “The way of inhaling and exhaling is both hardness and softness.”

Miyagi Sensei died on October 8th, 1953.

Gōjū-Ryū Karate is a martial art that is focused on short-range combat that has very powerful strikes and blocks. Body strengthening and conditioning, its basic approach to fighting (distance, stickiness, power generation, etc.), and partner drills make Gōjū-Ryū karate a highly effective martial art to start training for all round general conditioning and close-range skills.

As a titled martial art Goju-Ryu stands as the oldest form of Karate in Japan.

THE FOUNDERS OF GOJU-RYU KARATE

From the original founder Chōjun Miyagi, to the current head of Seiwa Kai Goju Ryu.

Higaonna (Higashionna) Kanryo
(東恩納寛量)

Founder of Goju ryu

Higashionna Kanryō, March 10, 1853 – October 1915), also known as Higashionna West, was a Ryukyuan martial artist who founded a fighting style known at the time as Naha-te

Chōjun Miyagi (宮城長順)

Founder of Goju ryu

Chōjun Miyagi (宮城長順, Miyagi Chōjun, April 25, 1888 – October 8, 1953) was an Okinawan martial artist who founded the Gōjū-ryū school of karate by blending Okinawan and Chinese influences. Chojun Miyagi – “when your temper rises lower your fists – when your fists rise lower your temper”

Gōgen Yamaguchi (山口剛玄)

Founder of the International Karate-dō Gōjū Kai Association.

Jitsumi Gōgen Yamaguchi (山口剛玄; January 20, 1909 – May 20, 1989), also known as Gōgen Yamaguchi, was a Japanese martial artist and student of Gōjū-ryū Karate under Chōjun Miyagi. He was one of the most well-known karate-dō masters from Japan and he founded the International Karate-dō Gōjū Kai Association

Shuji Tasaki

Founder of Seiwa Kai Goju Ryu

Shuji Tasaki was well known as Gogen Yamaguchi's most competent fighter having proven himself in the very first All Japan Karatedo Gojukai Championships in 1963 which was basically a days competition of knockout, knock down, break bone and finish them matches.

Born in Tokyo, Hanshi Shuji Tasaki was one of the Head Shihan in the early years of the All Japan Karate do Goju Kai. In 1972 Hanshi Shuji Tasaki founded Goju Ryu Karate do Seiwakai. Yamaguchi sensei was his first and only teacher.

Seiichi Fujiwara

Head of Seiwa Kai Goju Ryu

Seiichi Fujiwara serves as a senior member of the Overseas Committee for the JKF Gojukai and is Vice President of the Gojuryu Karatedo Seiwakai Association, one of the largest Gojuryu Karatedo Associations in the world. He serves as a JKF GK Overseas Director.

Today he has earned the ranks of 8th Dan JKF GK, 8th Dan Seiwakai Goju ryu and 7th Dan Japan Karatedo Federation. Fujiwara Sensei is also a Director and Coach of Akita Karatedo Federation GK.

The Kempo Hakku

The Kempo Hakku is a poem from the Chinese text, The Bubishi.

Around 1930 Master Chojun Miyagi Sensei named his form of “Te” as Goju-ryu from the 3rd line in this poem.

The thoughts contained form the basic 8 concepts of Goju-ryu.

The Eight Laws of The Fist

1. 人心同天地
（JINSHIN WA TENCHI NI ONAJI）
The mind is one with heaven and earth.

2. 血脈似日月
（KETSUMYAKU WA NICHIGETSU NI NITARI）
The circulatory rhythm of the body is similar to the cycle of the sun and the moon.

3. 法剛柔吞吐
（HO WA GOJU WO TONDO SU）
The way of inhaling and exhaling is both hardness and softness.

4. 身随时應變
(MI WA TOKI NI SHITA GAL HEN NI OZU）
Act in accordance with time and change.

5. 手逢空则入
(TE WA KU NI AI SUNAWA CHI HAIRU)
Technique will occur in the absence of conscious thought.

6. 碼進退离逢
（SHINTAI WA HAKARITE RIHO SU）
The feet must advance and retreat, separate and meet

7. 目要視四向
(ME WA SHIHO WO MIRU WO YOSU）
The eyes do not miss even the slightest change.

8. 耳能聴八方
（MIMI WA YOKU HAPPO WO KIKU）
The ears listen well in all directions.

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