September 2007 Newsletter

Goju Ryu Karate Do Kyokai

______________________________________________________

Yamakura Shihan Gasshuku

Springfield Goju Ryu, Springfield, Illinois
By Bill Handren

During the weekend of August 24th, the Springfield Goju Ryu, Springfield, Illinois,
hosted a gasshuku by Motoo Yamakura Shihan. Twenty five GKK members attended
the two days of training.
Friday evening was a brown and black belt only class. Yamakura Shihan reviewed
each person's kata and made corrections where necessary. Sanchin was emphasized.

Saturday's session was open to all students. Training began with a review of the GKK Kihon. Details on the proper
execution of each technique were covered. Yamakura Shihan placed particular emphasis on turning the body into certain
techniques, such as shuto uchi, to produce maximum power. Kihon Ido followed. New, more complex stepping patterns
were introduced to teach the students the importance of varying one's practice.
Shihan Yamakura explained the Japanese philosophy of teacher and student. While the teacher may teach, he is not
responsible for the student's learning, or his / her being prepared for grading. That responsibility is the students'.
A grading examination was held for the lower ranks, followed by lunch.
After lunch, a class was held with the emphasis on more combination stepping patterns with kicks and punches. This was
followed with a grading exam for advanced students.

The results of the day's two gradings are;

Gary Mazzotti - Go Dan, Bill Handren – San Dan, Sheila Leggett – 2nd kyu, Trish Barrington – 2nd kyu, Xavier Camp –
6th kyu ho, Deb Crawford – 6th kyu, Bonnie Patterson – 6th kyu, Amanda Phillips – 6th kyu, James Williams – 6th kyu,
Marci Stevenson – 7th kyu, Shawn Crawford – 7th kyu, Patric Crawford – 7th kyu, Kayla Sharp – 7th kyu, Edwin Boyd –
7th kyu, Cooper Peterson – 7th kyu, Elise Dracos – 7th kyu, Aidan Peterson – 8th kyu, JT Peterson – 8th kyu, Robert Webb
– 9th kyu

The day's last class was devoted to drills on Yamakura Shihan's series of Yakusoku kumite. After a short recess, a dinner
was held at the First Church of the Nazarene, where our two days of training were held.

We thank Yamakura Shihan for spending time with us, and look forward to his returning.

1
 Bedford GKK listed on US Olympic Team Website
The Bedford GKK, under the direction of Mark Cramer is now listed on the US Olympic Team website.
Go to http://www.usolympicteam.com/121.htm
Click on "Summer Team Sites" at the TOP Center of the page and scroll to "Karate".
Click on "Karate".
Click on "Find a School" at the TOP Left of the page.
Click on "Select State Filter" in the middle of the page and scroll to Ohio.
Select Ohio.
Scroll down to the 4th club.
Congratulations Mr. Mark!!!!

Visalia Karate Do, Visalia, California,

Promotion List; August 4th, 2007
By Dan Taylor
Karate Do;
Anamarie Blowe - 9th Kyu, Joseph Gonzalez - 9th Kyu, Becky Zido - 9th Kyu, Payton Ward - 9th Kyu
Ryan Ward - 9th Kyu, Delany Ward - 9th Kyu, Taryn Harvey - 9th Kyu, Alex Vargas - 9th Kyu, Joshua Alonzo - 9th Kyu,
Adriana Vargas - 9th Kyu, Samuel Mitchell - 8th Kyu, Daniel Ramirez (Jr) - 8th Kyu, Daniel Ramirez (Sr) - 8th Kyu,
Mary Reitz -7th Kyu, Saul Velazquez -5th Kyu, Curtis Wilson -4th Kyu, Nigel Faustino-2nd Kyu, Elijah Nevarez -1st
Kyu, Samantha Kellerhall - 1st Kyu, Mathew Prillwitz - 1st Kyu, Rachel Reitz - Shodan, Madison Cote - Shodan
Michael Reitz - Shodan, Lorena Beltran - Nidan Ho, Robert DaLessio - Yondan, Mark Quesada - Yondan
Jujitsu:
Rachel Reitz - 1st Kyu, Michael Reitz - 1st Kyu, Brandon Wainright - 1st Kyu, Lorena Beltran - 1st Kyu, Dominic Quinzon
- 1st Kyu, Robert DaLessio - Nidan, Mark Quesada - Sandan

Promotional Results
By Ed Myers

On August 5th 2007 a promotional testing was held in Whitehouse, Ohio. Rick Smith was promoted to San Kyu. Rick is a
long time member of the GKK. Judging this testing was Ed Myers, Ron Henderson and Mike Galose.

Birth Announcements
Congratulations to Eric Naujock; Congratulations to Aleojin Rios
Emma Elizabeth Naujock Isabella Sofia Rios Quezada
Born Tues. Aug 14 10:02 P.M. Born August 2nd, 2007
Wt 6 Lb 10 Oz
Length 19.5 Inches.

Address Correction
By Bill Handren

In last month's Newsletter I mis-entered the email address for Deb Crawford, our new GKK Business Manager. It should
have read; sharpda71@msn.com. Hope it didn't create any problems for our members.

USA Karate Federation Nationals

The USA Karate Federation has changed the date of the Nationals to November tenth to avoid conflict with the United
States Jujitsu Championships on November third. For information and registration please go to their website;
www.usakaratechampionships.us.

2
 A Brief History of Goju Ryu
By Mark Cramer

Gekisai dai-ichi Attack and Smash Number One: The standard Japanese reading. Geki
means to attack, and Sai means to smash and as a compound Dai-ichi
means the first, or number one.

Gekisai dai-ni Attack and Smash Number Two: The standard Japanese reading. Gekisai
means to attack and smash, and Dai-ni means number two.

Saifa Smash and Destroy, or Break and Tear: The same reading in both
Chinese and Japanese. Sai means smash or break, and Fa means to tear.

Seyunchin To Control and Pull In Battle: The Okinawan pronunciation of Mandarin

reading. Sei means to control, Yum means to pull, and Chin means to do
battle.

Sanseiru Thirty Six: Okinawan pronunciation of Mandarin reading. San means

three, Sei means ten, and Ru means six.

Shisochin Four Directional Battle: The Okinawan pronunciation of the Mandarin

reading. Shi means four, So means direction, and Chin means battle.

Sanchin Three Battles: The same reading in both Chinese and Japanese. San
means three and Chin means battle.

Tensho Rotating Palms: Standard Japanese reading. Ten means turning, or

shifting, and Sho means palm.

Seipai Eighteen: The Okinawan pronunciation of the Mandarin reading. Sei

means ten and Pai means eight.

Seisan Thirteen: This is the Okinawan pronunciation of the Mandarin reading.

Sei means ten, and San means three.

Kururunfa Control for a Long Time and Suddenly Defeat: This is the Okinawan
pronunciation of the Cantonese reading. Ku means for a long time, Ru
means to keep in place, or stop from moving, Run means immediately, or
suddenly and Fa means to break or defeat.

Suparenpai One Hundred and Eight: The Okinawan pronunciation of the Mandarin
reading. Su means one, Pa is a hundred, Ren means a zero and Pai means
eight.

3
 What is now known as Goju-Ryu Karate-Do began in
Okinawa, a small island located between Japan and the
large Chinese island of Taiwan. Because of its location
and because of the need to trade for the necessities of
life, the people of Okinawa had a great deal of contact
with cultures of both China and Japan. Today, Okinawa
is part of Japan, but the influence of Chinese culture is
still quite strong.
Kanryo Higaonna
The beginnings of Goju-Ryu can be traced to Kanryo
Higaonna who was born in Naha, Okinawa in 1853.
There he practiced Kara-te, which at that time was
known as "Chinese-hand."1 Then in 1867, Kanryo
Higaonna traveled to Fuzhou in Southern China and
began to learn Chinese martial arts from an enigmatic
figure known as Ryu Ryu Ko. He stayed in Fuzhou for
about fourteen years, and by the time that he returned to
his native Okinawa, he had become a very proficient
martial artist.2
Several years after he returned to Okinawa, Kanryo
Higaonna began to teach his Kara-te (still known as
"Chinese-hand") to a very small and select group of
students. Training under the watchful eye of Mr.
Higaonna was extremely intense.3 Additionally, each
student had to ask permission to study with him and
could be dismissed from Higaonna's tutelage for the
slightest indiscretion.4 Some of his most well known
students were Juhatsu Kyoda and Chojun Miyagi.5
Chojun Miyagi
Chojun Miyagi was born in 1888 and was accepted by
Kanryo Higaonna as a student in 1902.6 All of the
students who trained under Mr. Higaonna found the
training extremely severe and demanding. "Most of the
students didn't have the perseverance to continue such
hard training and many of them stopped."7 However,
young Chojun Miyagi not only persevered the severe
training, he excelled in his martial arts studies and
became one of Mr. Higaonna's most knowledgeable
students. Consequently, "Kanryo Higaonna treated
Miyagi as his own child."8
In 1915 he, like his teacher before him, left Okinawa to
study martial arts in Fuzhou, China. He sought out the
legendary Ryu Ryu Ko only to discover that he had died.
After visiting the grave of his teacher's teacher and
paying his respects, Mr. Miyagi stayed in China for two
months researching the training methods and the kata of
Ryu Ryu Ko. He also learned the Chinese characters
used to write the names of these katas.9
Upon his return from China, Mr. Miyagi diligently
practiced what he had learned from Mr. Kanryo
Higaonna and from the research that he had conducted in
Fuzhou. This would lead him to establish what is now
known as Goju-Ryu Karate-do.
Original Goju Ryu Syllabus
Originally, Mr. Miyagi taught a syllabus that is very
different from the syllabus that we teach today. From the
nine katas that he had learned form Mr. Higaonna, he
4
taught each student only two katas -- Sanchin and one
other kata. "Before the war Miyagi taught one
heishugata, Sanchin, and one kaishugata according to the
needs and abilities of each student." The only way that
students could learn another kaishugata was to learn it
from another student. The rest of the syllabus included
"...hojo undo, uki harai, uda tanren, yakusoku kumite,
(and) kakie."10
Original Methodology
Teaching a standardized karate-do curriculum to large
groups of students is a relative new development. Mr.
Miyagi taught in secrecy, and did not teach to large
groups of students but only to individuals that he had
personally chosen. "Practice was quite secretive and took
place behind closed doors...The martial arts at that time
were taught to only carefully selected students whose
character had been observed by the teacher."
Consequently, before Miyagi would actually instruct
someone, they had to endure a "... long-term testing and
evaluation period of performing chores and learning only
basics. Unworthy members would be weeded out..."11
Additionally, his methodology was individualized and
personal. Mr. Miyagi taught he same kata to many
different students. However, he did not teach the same
kata exactly the same way to each person. Mr. Miyagi
believed that no two students were exactly alike in their
needs and abilities, and consequently they should not be
taught the same thing in the same manner. Mr. Miyagi
explained "Whether we consider factors of age, physical
strength, nature of work, nutrition, etc, each person's
position in life is different. It therefore follows that each
person s physical development will be different."12
This methodology of teaching in secrecy and
individualized instruction is greatly different from the
group classes and standardized curriculum that is used in
today’s modern approach to karate-do.
Recognition Of Student Achievement
Today, Goju Ryu instructors recognize their students'
efforts and achievements with colored belts and a
hierarchy of dan ranks once they have reached black belt.
Miyagi Sensei never did this; he never awarded a black
belt. Miyagi Sensei took this approach because he feared
that his students would be recognized by their belt rather
than for their abilities. "Chojun Miyagi believed that
once a dan rank had been awarded, it would inevitably
lead to trouble. For those reasons Chojun Miyagi
awarded ranks to no one, neither Okinawan nor
Japanese."13 The first Goju Ryu black belts were
awarded after Miyagi's death in 1953.14
The Evolution Of Goju Ryu
Before his death, Chojun Miyagi realized that the world
was changing and that alterations in the Goju-Ryu
syllabus and teaching methodology needed to be made in
order for Goju Ryu to thrive in the modern world. In
January of 1936, Mr. Miyagi delivered a speech in
Osaka, Japan , and he stated "The days of teaching karate
in secret are over. The time has now arrived where
karate-do must be practiced with a commitment to
society...This trend is not limited to Japan; ...it will
spread throughout the world and become truly
international."15 Mr. Miyagi was quite prophetic in his
prediction about the future of karate-do and he initiated
changes that would ensure Goju-Ryu's acceptance by the
international community.
In his in his speech, Mr. Miyagi outlined the five parts
of Goju Ryu syllabus that needed to be taught. They are
as follows: junbi-undo (stretching and strengthening
exercises), hojo-undo (supplementary exercises),
kihongata (Sanchin and Tensho), kaishugata (all Goju
Ryu kata except Sanchin and Tensho), and Kumite
Renshu (sparring training).16
Mr. Miyagi explained that junbi-undo will "strengthen
the body and develop stamina." Hojo-undo will "develop
strength and power in the body as a whole." Kihongata
will "develop good posture and form, correct breathing
methods, and correct harmonization of breath with
movement." Mr. Miyagi concluded by stating "Through
kaishugata and kumite practice, even the smallest details
of karate-do may be absorbed into the body. With
practical applications of attack and defense the true spirit
of the martial arts can emerge."17
These changes, which were initiated by Mr. Chojun
Miyagi, transformed Goju-Ryu from a secretive and
selective Okinawan martial art into an international
martial art that is practiced by millions of men, women,
and children around the world.
The Change Of A Name
As mentioned previously, "Kara-te" originally meant
"Chinese-hand." However, world events would cause
virtually all karate teachers and karate styles to change
the character "Kara" from "Chinese: to "Empty." Japan
was involved in a military conflict in China, and things
of a Chinese origin were considered unpatriotic.
Consequently, changing the name from "Chinese-hand"
was viewed as an act of patriotism.
In October of 1936, a meeting of Okinawa's leading
karate teachers, political leaders, and military officials
was sponsored by an Okinawan newspaper company in
the meeting hall of Naha, Okinawa. There "Chojun
Miyagi and most of the karate-ka were amenable to the
use of the characters for 'empty hand'."18 Hence, what
was formerly known as "Chinese-hand" was changed
into "empty-hand", the same term we use today.
Goju Ryu Today
Today, Goju-Ryu instructors around the world teach a
standardized curriculum which includes junbi-undo,
hojo-undo, kumite, kihongata and kaishugata. The katas
which are taught are the nine katas that Mr. Miyagi
learned from Mr. Higoanna and the three katas that Mr.
Miyagi developed himself. The GKK teaches two
additional katas which were developed by Mr. Seigo
Tada, Mr. Motoo Yamakura's teacher.
Today, Goju instructors welcome students into their
dojos without having them perform dojo chores and
without requiring a long-term evaluation period. Students
5
are awarded colored belts as recognition of their
achievement and their progress, and teaching is
conducted in a manner which promotes the core
traditions of Goju-Ryu in a modern world.
Character Development
Goju-Ryu as a means of developing the character of its
students can be traced at as far back as Kanryo
Higoanna. It is reported that he was "always keeping in
mind the mental training of his students, [and]
immediately expelled those students who had violent
characters."19 This development of character was
continued by Chojun Miyagi who stated "Training the
body and mind in karate results in the cultivation of a
strong character and an indomitable spirit."20
Mr. Eiichi Miyazato, one of Mr. Miyagi’s students,
explains that karate-do must begin and end with respect.
He advises us to never compromise our character by
losing our respect for ourselves and for others. "From
time to time Rei [respect] is lost, mistakes are made, and
lifetime regrets are often the result... The wisest thing to
do in a confrontational situation is to run away."21 It has
been from teacher to student, from one generation to the
next that the ideals of Goju-Ryu and the development of
character have been transmitted.
Mr. Miyazato also tells us that the message that Mr.
Miyagi wished to pass "...on to his students is best
summed up by the words 'modesty' and 'hard
training'."22 Today, the best Goju-Ryu instructors
encourage their students to develop their character, to be
modest, and to train hard. Consequently, the Goju-Ryu
tradition that was begun in the 1800's on the tiny island
of Okinawa lives on in the lives and in the training of
each one of its students.
Goju Katas
Ryu Ryu Ko taught the following katas to Mr. Kanryo
Higaonna, and he taught them to Mr. Chojun Miyagi:
Sanchin, Saifa, Seiyunchin [Seiunchin], Sanseiryu,
Shisochin, Seipai, Seisan, Kururunfa, Suparinpei
[Suparunpei].23
Mr. Miyagi developed the following katas and added
them to the Goju-Ryu curriculum: Geki-sai Ichi, Geki-sai
Ni, Tensho.24
Mr. Seigo Tada developed the following katas and
taught them to Mr. Motoo Yamakura: Kihon-no-gata,
Uke-no-gata
Kobudo
Kobudo is training in old style weapons of China and
Okinawa. Kobudo was taught to Mr. Kanryo Higaonna
by Ryu Ryu Ko,25 but Mr. Miyagi did not include it
when he revised the Goju Ryu curriculum in 1936.
However, the GKK offers instruction and dan
certification in kobudo. Bedford GKK offers instruction
in the kihon and the kata of the bo and the sai.
The bo is a staff which is six feet long for most adults
and five feet long for many youths. The primary black
belt kata that is taught is Tokomine-no-kun-no-dai. The
sai is a short non-bladed three tined sword. The primary
black belt katas which are taught are Tawada-no-sai and 12 Higaonna, Morio: The History of Karate: page 87
Kusanku-no sai. 13 Higaonna, Morio: The History of Karate: page 90
Translations 14 Higaonna, Morio: The History of Karate: page 90
The translations of the names of people and the names 15 Higaonna, Morio: The History of Karate: page 87
of katas is a particularly difficult endeavor. In many 16 Higaonna, Morio: The History of Karate: pages 87-88
instances, the translation must be made from Chinese 17 Higaonna, Morio: The History of Karate: page 88
characters into Japanese pronunciation and then into an 18 Cook, Harry: Cook, Harry: Shotokan Karate, page
English spelling. This process is not easy. Chinese 100
characters are purely symbolic; no matter what language 19 Miyazato Eiichi: Okinawan Den Goju Ryu Karate-do:
you speak, the character has meaning as long as you page 21
understand that character. However, Japanese 20 Higaonna, Morio: The History of Karate: page 87
pronunciation varies with regional dialects. 21 Miyazato Eiichi: Okinawan Den Goju Ryu Karate-do:
Consequently the English spelling will vary depending page 29
on which regional dialect the translator of the Chinese 22 Miyazato Eiichi: Okinawan Den Goju Ryu Karate-do:
characters, or kanji, speaks. page 24
For example, the Okinawan dialect is different from the 23 Higaonna, Morio: The History of Karate: page 16
dialects spoken on other islands of Japan. What can be 24 Higaonna, Morio: The History of Karate: pages 58-59
pronounced "Yobi-undo" in Okinawa is pronounced and 92
"Junbi-undo" elsewhere in Japan.26 These differences in 25 Higaonna, Morio: The History of Karate: page 16
pronunciation lead to a variety of spellings. I have 26 Higaonna, Morio: The History of Karate: page 59
seen"Seiyunchin" as "Seiunchin" and "Seienchin." I have
also seen "Suparunpei" spelled a variety of different
ways. However, the kanji is the same. (At the beginning
of this student Handbook, I have included a copy of the
kanji for the Goju Ryu katas along with a translation of
the meaning of those characters.)
Which spellings are correct? Most of them. The English
spellings are based on a method of translation which is Did You Know?
inherently troublesome. A purely symbolic system of By Rich Stamper
writing can not be consistently translated into a purely
phonetic system of writing which is dependant on Did you know that Yamakura Shihan will come to
variations in regional dialects. No matter how hard we your school to provide a training seminar? So far this
try, a round peg won't fit perfectly into a square hole. year he has held several seminars at our schools through-
out the United States. He has plans for fall seminars in
Canada and Toledo, and is available to visit your school
too. Contact HQ to make arrangements.
Bibliography
Cook, Harry Shotokan Karate A Precise History
(Norfolk, England; Page Bros Ltd., 2001)
Higaonna, Morio, The History of Karate (Norwich,
United Kingdom, May, 1996)
Miyazato Eiichi, Okinawan Den Goju Ryu Karate-do
(Naha, Okinawa, August, 2006)
Footnotes M. Yamakura Ed Myers
1 Cook, Harry: Shotokan Karate, page 98 Chairman CEO
2 Higaonna, Morio: The History of Karate: pages 11-18 3763 Old Creek Rd. 11568 Reed Road
3 Higaonna, Morio: The History of Karate: page 20 Troy, MI 48084 Whitehouse, OH 43571
chairman@goju.com ceo@goju.com
4 Higaonna, Morio: The History of Karate: page 26
5 Higaonna, Morio: The History of Karate: page 43 Rich Stamper Ed Boyd
6 Miyazato Eiichi: Okinawan Den Goju Ryu Karate-do: Assistant Chairman USA Director
Page 22 4450 LuAnn Ave. 6 Skyview Dr.
Toledo, OH 43623 Springfield, Il 62707
7 Miyazato Eiichi: Okinawan Den Goju Ryu Karate-do: gkkhq@goju.com director.us@goju.com
Page 22
8 Miyazato Eiichi: Okinawan Den Goju Ryu Karate-do: Bill Handren
page 22 Newsletter Editor
115 West North St.
9 Higaonna, Morio: The History of Karate: pages 53-56 Dwight, Il 60420
10 Higaonna, Morio: The History of Karate: page 103 yokagawa2002@yahoo.com
11 Higaonna, Morio: The History of Karate: page 133