Origins of Karate-Do: The Roots of Goju Ryu

The founder of Guju Ryu Karate-Do is Chojun Miyagi. He was born in Naha Okinawa on April 25th, 1888 to a noble family. At the age of 14 Miyagi began training under the foremost Naha-te grand master, Kanryo Higaonna. He was his Sensei's disciple for 15 years.

In 1904, after Higaonna died, Miyagi went to China to study other Martial Arts and Zen. He learned different styles of Gung Fu. In Foochow, Fukien Province, Miyagi studied Shao Lin Chuan (hard fist - external style of chi chi) and also Ba Gwa Chang (eight diagram palm -- soft fist style). In 1908 he returned to Okinawa. Using his knowledge of Chinese Kempo he adapted Naha-te to more fully reflect the hard and soft aspects of the original art -- the give and take required to be successful.

The words Goju Ryu mean hard and soft tradition. Go is the Japanese word for hardness and Ju is the word for softness. Ryu means style or tradition. The system is based on the Oriental concept that all hardness and stiffness is not good, and at the same time all softness and too much gentleness is not good. Goju Ryu reflects the concept of Yin and Yang -- that these two opposites should complement each other. It is this complement of hard and soft which gives Goju Ryu its beautiful, disciplined movements, filled with grace, flowing forms, and strength. Actions are sometimes extremely fast and other times slow and majestic. Goju Ryu utilizes an aggressive style of attack with emphasis on delivering blows hard but with easy effort and in rapid succession, maneuvering not only forwards but also from side to side. However an essential aspect to Karate-Do is the emphasis on the use of physical Force only as an absolute final option and of course only for defensive purposes.

Jiu Jitsu Programme

Jiu Jitsu is the technique of suppleness, flexibility, gentleness. The origins of this Art can be traced to the period between 1120 and 1170 with the origin of Daito Ryu Aki Jitsu. The late 17th to mid-19th century is considered the golden age of Jiu Jitsu during which time more than 700 styles appeared in Japan. In those days the vital issue in Jiu Jitsu was effectiveness in combat. Methods were tested in duels and public competitions among members of various schools. These encounters were frequently fatal. Such testing not only improved techniques and ways of employing them, but established the reputations of the survivors.

Jiu Jitsu techniques emphasize throwing, choking, joint kicking, holding, and tying. Most systems emphasized only one or two major techniques. Jiu Jitsu was always a secondary method of combat to the warrior, since he relied so heavily on his sword. Although Jiu Jitsu techniques are initially learned one at a time in a static position, the essence of Jiu Jitsu is the ability to move from one technique to another, quickly and as often as necessary to control an attacker. Each system emphasizes only a few major techniques (waza). Every technique is designed to illustrate and teach a specific principle which can be applied in many different situations.

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