Colbourne
GOJU–RYU HISTORY The beginning of the Chinese Art of Kempo Budhidharma was a well-known monk who spent nine years at Shaolin Temple, in the Sanshan Mountain of China. According to legend, Budhidharma was born in India about 1400 years ago, the third child of King Sugandhain, and a member of the warrior cast. He is believed to have arrived at the foot of the Sanshan Mountains, in Hunan province in China around 520AD to lecture there on Buddhism. He spent his days in meditation facing the wall of a cave, which was located in the vicinity of the temple. After nine years of meditation, Bodhidharma set forth methods of exercise to be practiced by monks to strengthen both mind and body. He introduced a series of physical exercise, consisting of 18 katas. He developed a series of exercises and breathing techniques to enable one’s body to withstand the long hours of meditation and other severe forms of training. He explained in “Senzuikyo” how monks would develop their mental and spiritual strength toward the same end. These instructions are still respected as the most fundamental precepts of present day Karate-do. However, the influence of Bodhidharma is not certain. The Shaolin Monks of that time recognized the importance of physical exercise as part of their daily routine. Several katas of GoJu Ryu are written with numerals. These are Sesan (13 hands), Sepai (18 hands), Sanseiru (36 hands), and Suparumpei (108 hands). Some of these numbers may relate to Buddhism. This suggests there may have been some Buddhist influence on the development of Karate.

The native art of “te” was practiced secretly among the Okinawan people long before Chinese Kempo was introduced into Okinawa. The introduction of Chinese Kempo was first mentioned in a historical document written in 1372 during the reign of King Sato. But most likely, it was with the beginning of trade between Okinawa and China that the Okinawan people first came across the Chinese art of Kempo. When Chinese Kempo was introduced into Okinawa it was taken up as bare handed combat form by the Okinawans as a means of defense and not as an exercise for health. The development of barehanded fighting in Okinawa was directly influenced by the country’s turbulent political history. Many masters of Karate who have studied the history of Asian martial arts believe that the native Okinawan art of “te” was combined with the Chinese art of Kempo giving rise to the art of Karate. In Okinawa, the threat of foreign influences is carefully studied. These influences were woven into the fabric of Okinawan culture. Similarly, the art of barehanded combat was studied by the Okinawans and developed into the sophisticated martial art of Karate.

The development of Karate in Okinawa Historical records provide us with some of the names of those who left their mark on the development of martial arts in Okinawa. In 1683, during the reign of King Sho Tei, a Chinese delegate named Wanshu, who was sent by the Chinese Emperor to Okinawa, stayed in an Okinawan village called Tomari. During his stay there, he taught the villagers a certain kata of Chinese Kempo. After Master Wanshu left Okinawa, the villagers of Tomari continued to practice the kata and named it after him. Today, Wanshu kata is still practiced as a kata of Tomari-te.

Kusanku is another Chinese Kempo master mentioned in the records. Kusanku and some of his pupils traveled to Okinawa in 1756 and taught Chinese Kempo to Okinawans. This is mentioned in a Japanese book known as “Oshima Hikki.” A Japanese, named Tobe Ryoen, who was shipwrecked on the Ryukyu Island, wrote this book. This is the first mention of any Okinawan karate in a Japanese record of any sort. Like Wanshu, the name of Kusanku still remains as the name of Shuri-te Kata.

The founder of Naha-te, the Grand Master Higaonna Kanryo Sensei, went to Fukien province in China to study Chinese martial arts in 1875. Higaonna Kanryo Sensei spent 15 years in China in mastering the martial arts.

As we have seen, three different styles of “Te” existed in Okinawa, namely, Tomari-te, Shuri-te, and Naha-te. These were simply named after the villages where the styles were practiced. As a general term, they were called “Todei” or “Karate,” in Japanese characters, meaning “Chinese Hand.” However, it is important to note that these three villages are in very close proximity.

The difference in the three styles is one of emphasis. Beneath the superficial differences, all of the Okinawan martial artists are one in the same in method and aim. This reflects the fact that all the Okinawan martial arts share the same purpose: “self – defense.” Among the students of various Okinawan martial arts, there exists respect and friendship for each other.

The establishment of Naha-te During the first half of the twentieth century the names of the various karate styles changed. The style, known as, “Shuri-te” and “Tomari-te” were combined under one name known as “Shorin Ryu.” “Naha-te” late became known as GoJu Ryu (The Hard and Soft School). The founder of GoJu Ryu, Miyagi Chojun Sensei applied this name, GoJu Ryu, in 1931, who was a student of Higannoa Kanryo Sensei. Miyagi Chojun Sensei’s senior disciple, Shinzato Jin’an Sensei, gave a performance of kata at the All Japan Martial Arts Tournament, which was held to celebrate the Coronation Ceremony of Emperor Hirohito in 1930. After his performance, a master of Kobudo (Traditional martial arts) asked Shinzato Sensei which school of Karate he belonged to, Shinzato Sensei could not answer that question for at that time there was no need to have a name for each karate style.

When Shinzato Sensei went back to Okinawa, he told Miyagi Sensei about the encounter. Miyagi Sensei thought about this problem for a while. Finally, he decided that it was necessary to have a name for his martial art style in order to promote and spread his system and also in order to cooperate with other schools of Japanese martial arts. Miyagi Chogun Sensei then named his art “GoJu Ryu,” after the precepts of traditional Chinese Kempo. In 1933, the Japanese Martial Arts Committee known as the Butoku Kai recognized the Okinawan art of Karate as a Japanese martial art. Miyagi Chojun Sensei conferred to decide a new name for their art. They decided to call their art Karate written in Japanese characters (Empty hand or weaponless defense art). Some Masters called their art Karate-do that means “the way of karate.”

Later several styles developed from one style. Shorin Ryu diverged into several slightly different styles. But GoJu Ryu remained basically stylistically unified. In mainland Japan, GoJu Ryu developed into an organization called “GoJu Kai.” A style also developed which combined GoJu Ryu and Shorin Ryu called “Shito Ryu.” Karate is no longer an exclusively Okinawan martial art form. Karate today is firmly established as a martial art form in Japan and in the international martial arts community. Consequently, the spread of karate has led to a divergence in methods and objectives in the practice of karate. The four major systems of Karate in Japan are GoJu Ryu, Shito Ryu, Wado Ryu, and Shotokan.

GoJu in the USA Grand Master Peter Urban Ph.D. Sc. D. (1935-) is one of America’s predominant karate instructors and pioneers. Master Peter Urban introduced Japanese GoJu Ryu Karate to the U.S. in 1959, and was one of the firsts to teach Karate in the eastern U.S. He began training at 18, in Japan, with Richard Kim, later with Gogen Yamaguchi and Mas Oyama. Master Peter Urban resigned in 1966 as East Coast GoJu Representative. He later broke away and formed his own American GoJu System and Association, (U.S.A.G.A.). O’Sensei Peter Urban received the academic degree of Doctor of Science in Polemikology, in September 1995, from the Eurotechnical Research University. He’s a member of the International Advisory Board and Chairman of the Educational Advisory Committee. Finally, the Kojasho Institute, (Kojasho Shinkokai) a college within the University structure bestowed him with their highest honor by posting him to the faculty, as a full professor, and member of the Advisory Board of Directors. GOJU SYSTEM The U.S.A. GoJu System was propagated on the basis that the universe is constant change teaching and developing man’s phenomenal ability to adapt to any environment and situation. U.S.A. GoJu teaches that only through systematic logic, will you achieve your goals. Using as a basis Japanese GoJu and Zen Buddhism, GoJu embraces many systems and many philosophies. Zen-psycho therapy is used in that potential to the maximum. GoJu literally means Hard Soft, following the thought that the universe is made up of equal yet opposite matter: man – woman, fire – water, hard – soft, etc., thus, U.S.A. GoJu is in accord with the laws of nature. You can see the laws of nature at work in the block soft, hit hard theory of GoJu. Only through the constant seeking of knowledge and hard work will you know the true meaning of GoJu.

“You must fight with feeling! It is of the utmost importance that you fight with feeling, not just for reason alone. When a fight begins, the reason why it started is no longer important, you must then deal with the here and now. That is why it is vital to draw from all the resources of your being.”

“Always remember, to the true martial artist the words try and impossible do not exist. When you make up your mind to do something, you must do it with everything you’ve got.”

“When you are tired and feel that you cannot go on any longer, that is where true karate begins.”

There are three different opponents you will go against: the inferior, the equal, and the superior. You must train always to meet the superior opponent. You must prepare yourself to bring him down. Never be afraid to die; death is always with us. It is an inevitable part of life itself. Death is our companion, not our enemy. The real challenge that we must all face is found in combating life, not running from death. Remember the power to better yourself in life. We only find rest when we lay down our task of living and finally succumb to death.

A true karate-ka is one with the God-like capacity to think and feel for others, irrespective of his or her rank or position. A mind so delicate that it lifts him above all things ignoble and base yet strengthens his hands to raise those whom have fallen no matter how low. The ultimate aim of Karate therefore lies not in victory or defeat, but in the perfection of the character of its participants.

Pan-American Gojuryu

Founder

Name: Sinclair Thorne, Rank:9th Dan. Fighting Name: The Lone Eagle. Instructor: O'Sensei Peter Urban, Soke. Degree Major: GoJu Ryu. Degree Minor: Kung Fu. Favorite Kata: Foundation. Favorite Technique: Suprise Favorite Book: The Bible Military Service: Retired First Sergeant. 21 Years U.S. ARMY. Quote: "We can do all things in Christ who strengthens us".