History of Goju Ryu Karate
Karate is a martial art that originated in the Ryukyu Islands based on Okinawan indigenous fighting methods and Chinese Kenpo. It is primarily a striking art using punching, kicking, knee and elbow strikes and open-handed techniques, locks, restraints, throws, and vital point strikes.
Karate began as a common fighting system known as "ti" (or "te" which means hand) among the pechin class of the Rykyuans. After trade relationships were established with the Ming dynasty of China by King Satto of Chūzan in 1372, some forms of Chinese martial arts were introduced to the Ryukyu Islands by the visitors from China, particularly Fujian Province. A group of 36 Chinese families moved to Okinawa around 1392 for the purpose of cultural exchange, where they established the community of Kumemura and shared their knowledge of a wide variety of Chinese arts and sciences, including the Chinese martial arts. The political centralization of Okinawa by King Shō Hashi in 1429 and the 'Policy of Banning Weapons,' enforced in Okinawa after the invasion of the Shimazu clan in 1609, are also factors that furthered the development of unarmed combat techniques in Okinawa.
There were few formal styles of ti, but rather many practitioners with their own methods. Early styles of karate are often generalized as Shuri-te, Naha-te, and Tomari-te, named after the three cities from which they emerged. Each area and its teachers had particular kata, techniques, and principles that distinguished their local version of ti from the others.
Members of the Okinawan upper classes were sent to China regularly to study various political and practical disciplines. The incorporation of empty-handed Chinese wu shu into Okinawan martial arts occurred partly because of these exchanges.
Traditional karate kata bear a strong resemblance to the forms found in Fujian martial arts such as Fujian White Crane, Five Ancestors, and Gangrou-quan (Hard Soft Fist; pronounced "Gōjūken" in Japanese). Further influence came from Southeast Asia— particularly Sumatra, Java, and Melaka. Many Okinawan weapons such as the sai, tonfa, and nunchaku may have originated in and around Southeast Asia.
Goju Ryu was particullarly determined from Monk Fist (Luohan Quan), Crane Boxing (He Quan) and Tiger Boxing (Hu Quan) as it became gradually formed by Kanryo Higaonna and Chojun Miyagi.
In 1881 Higaonna Kanryō returned from China after years of instruction with Ryu Ryu Ko and founded what would become Naha-te. His student Chōjun Miyagi was the founder of Gojū-ryū. Chōjun Miyagi taught such well-known karateka as An'ichi Miyagi (teacher of Morio Higaonna, I.O.G.K.F Chief Instructor), Seko Higa (who also trained with Higaonna), Meitoku Yagi, Miyazato Ei'ichi, and Seikichi Toguchi.
Major Influence
Sensei Graham Ravey
When Sensei Ravey was 14 years old he became very interested in studying Karate. Eventually Graham found a style called Wado Ryu. When he was 18 years old he changed over to a style called Goju Kai. At the age of 20 years Sensei Graham Ravey decided it was time to go to Japan and seek out some of the old values of traditional Karate. He arrived in Japan and within the first week he was introduced to Sensei Higaonna. Graham was so impressed with Sensei Higaonna that he immediately changed over to studying Goju Ryu. For one whole year Sensei Higaonna made Graham train every day for about six hours a day and after this time Graham was allowed to take his Black Belt 1st Dan. (By this time Graham had been training for over six years). Graham only intended to stay in Japan for one year but that one year eventually stretched into twelve years. Graham worked his way through his grades to 4th Dan - all grades being examined by Sensei Higaonna and all grades being taken in Japan. Graham is the only foreigner to do this.
In 1987 Sensei Graham Ravey was appointed Chief Instructor of Australia (I.O.G.K.F.) and he left Japan to take up permanent residence in Australia.
Association Head
Sensei Simon Golland - Chief Instructor of Goju Ryu Kyokai
Sensei Simon Golland started training in Martial Arts over 19 years ago, studying a variety of different styles such as Shotokan, Jujitsu and traditional weapons. He first discovered Goju Ryu Karate at Greystones Karate Club (Sheffield's oldest Goju Ryu Karate Club) and has trained in this style ever since, believing Goju Ryu is a complete system. In 2006 Sensei Golland competed in the ‘I.O.G.K.F World Championships, Canada’, as a member of the O.T.G.K.A England squad.
Continually developing his skills Sensei Golland has received instruction from renowned martial artists across the globe such as Higaonna Sensei (I.O.G.K.F), George Andrews Sensei (O.T.G.K.A), Martin Paul Watts (White Crane Kung Fu), plus regularly trains with Graham Ravey Sensei (T.O.G.K.A) to mention a few.
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Karate began as a common fighting system known as "ti" (or "te" which means hand) among the pechin class of the Rykyuans. After trade relationships were established with the Ming dynasty of China by King Satto of Chūzan in 1372, some forms of Chinese martial arts were introduced to the Ryukyu Islands by the visitors from China, particularly Fujian Province. A group of 36 Chinese families moved to Okinawa around 1392 for the purpose of cultural exchange, where they established the community of Kumemura and shared their knowledge of a wide variety of Chinese arts and sciences, including the Chinese martial arts. The political centralization of Okinawa by King Shō Hashi in 1429 and the 'Policy of Banning Weapons,' enforced in Okinawa after the invasion of the Shimazu clan in 1609, are also factors that furthered the development of unarmed combat techniques in Okinawa.
There were few formal styles of ti, but rather many practitioners with their own methods. Early styles of karate are often generalized as Shuri-te, Naha-te, and Tomari-te, named after the three cities from which they emerged. Each area and its teachers had particular kata, techniques, and principles that distinguished their local version of ti from the others.
Members of the Okinawan upper classes were sent to China regularly to study various political and practical disciplines. The incorporation of empty-handed Chinese wu shu into Okinawan martial arts occurred partly because of these exchanges.
Traditional karate kata bear a strong resemblance to the forms found in Fujian martial arts such as Fujian White Crane, Five Ancestors, and Gangrou-quan (Hard Soft Fist; pronounced "Gōjūken" in Japanese). Further influence came from Southeast Asia— particularly Sumatra, Java, and Melaka. Many Okinawan weapons such as the sai, tonfa, and nunchaku may have originated in and around Southeast Asia.
Goju Ryu was particullarly determined from Monk Fist (Luohan Quan), Crane Boxing (He Quan) and Tiger Boxing (Hu Quan) as it became gradually formed by Kanryo Higaonna and Chojun Miyagi.
In 1881 Higaonna Kanryō returned from China after years of instruction with Ryu Ryu Ko and founded what would become Naha-te. His student Chōjun Miyagi was the founder of Gojū-ryū. Chōjun Miyagi taught such well-known karateka as An'ichi Miyagi (teacher of Morio Higaonna, I.O.G.K.F Chief Instructor), Seko Higa (who also trained with Higaonna), Meitoku Yagi, Miyazato Ei'ichi, and Seikichi Toguchi.
Major Influence
Sensei Graham Ravey
When Sensei Ravey was 14 years old he became very interested in studying Karate. Eventually Graham found a style called Wado Ryu. When he was 18 years old he changed over to a style called Goju Kai. At the age of 20 years Sensei Graham Ravey decided it was time to go to Japan and seek out some of the old values of traditional Karate. He arrived in Japan and within the first week he was introduced to Sensei Higaonna. Graham was so impressed with Sensei Higaonna that he immediately changed over to studying Goju Ryu. For one whole year Sensei Higaonna made Graham train every day for about six hours a day and after this time Graham was allowed to take his Black Belt 1st Dan. (By this time Graham had been training for over six years). Graham only intended to stay in Japan for one year but that one year eventually stretched into twelve years. Graham worked his way through his grades to 4th Dan - all grades being examined by Sensei Higaonna and all grades being taken in Japan. Graham is the only foreigner to do this.
In 1987 Sensei Graham Ravey was appointed Chief Instructor of Australia (I.O.G.K.F.) and he left Japan to take up permanent residence in Australia.
Association Head
Sensei Simon Golland - Chief Instructor of Goju Ryu Kyokai
Sensei Simon Golland started training in Martial Arts over 19 years ago, studying a variety of different styles such as Shotokan, Jujitsu and traditional weapons. He first discovered Goju Ryu Karate at Greystones Karate Club (Sheffield's oldest Goju Ryu Karate Club) and has trained in this style ever since, believing Goju Ryu is a complete system. In 2006 Sensei Golland competed in the ‘I.O.G.K.F World Championships, Canada’, as a member of the O.T.G.K.A England squad.
Continually developing his skills Sensei Golland has received instruction from renowned martial artists across the globe such as Higaonna Sensei (I.O.G.K.F), George Andrews Sensei (O.T.G.K.A), Martin Paul Watts (White Crane Kung Fu), plus regularly trains with Graham Ravey Sensei (T.O.G.K.A) to mention a few.
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