GOJU-RYU KARATE DO CHOJUN MIYAGI AND GOGEN YAMAGUCHI
GOJU-RYU KARATE DO CHOJUN MIYAGI AND GOGEN YAMAGUCHİ Goju-Ryu Karate Do is one of the Four Main Karate Schools accepted by the World Karate Federation. GO, Hardness; JU stands for softness. Goju-Ryu Karate Do was designed with these two main elements. The first creator of this design is Chojun MIYAGI, the founder of the Goju-Ryu School. He met Master Kanryo Higashionna at the age of 14 and began to study the style of the master next to him. After Higashionna's death in 1915, he went to China and studied with Chinese Kung Fu masters to improve his technique. Today, it is believed that Master Miyagi gave the final form to the Saifa, Seincheen, Shisochin, Seipai, and Kururunfa katas, which express the essence of Goju Ryu, in China. In addition, the character Kesuke Miyagi, played by Pat Morita in the 1984 movie Karate Kid, which was very popular at the time, was inspired by Chojun Miyagi. Cojun MİYAGİ Okinawa 25 April 1888 - 08 October 1953 Chojun MİYAGİ Gogen YAMAGUCHİ, whom he met in 1931 and accepted as his student, has a very important place in the growth and development of the Goju-Ryu Karate Do School. At the same time, he played a major role in ensuring the unity of Karate in Japan and in determining the rules and regulations of how Karate competitions would be held. Gogen YAMAGUCHI was born on January 20, 1909 - May 20, 1989 in Kagoshima city in the south of Kyushu Island, Japan. His real name is Jitsumi. He took great interest in martial arts in his youth. In the early years of his education, he studied the Japanese Sword Art Kendo. He began learning the Goju Ryu style of Karate under the supervision of Okinawan carpenter master Maruta. Impressed by Yamaguchi's dedication, Maruta taught him everything he knew. Gogen Yamaguchi studied Law at Kansei University in 1928 and at Ritsumeikan University in Kyoto between 1929 and 1937. He gave his first Karate lessons at this university where he studied. His dojo quickly became famous throughout the city for its heavy training and strenuous breathing exercises. In those days, there was no possibility of organizing a match as Karate training consisted of Kata and Yakusoku Kumite with a fixed sequence of movements. Yamaguchi created the rules and points system of jyu kumite, known as free combat. Some of these rules still apply in modern matches today. In 1931, at the age of 22, he met Chojun Miyagi, the founder of the Goju Ryu style of Karate. This meeting completely changed Yamaguchi's view of Karate. While he had previously only given importance to physical training in karate, after meeting Master Miyagi, he started to give importance to spiritual development as well. Again, he was given the nickname Gogen (Hard) by Master Miyagi due to his very hard training in Karate. In 1951, he was awarded the honorary level of 10th Dan by Chojun Miyagi and took his place among the Greatest Masters of the Art of Karate. Between 1938 and 1945, he stayed in Manchuria on a military mission. He spent his days doing Karate and mental development exercises at every opportunity. He was captured during the Japanese-Russian war and sent to a camp in Mongolia. He remained under very harsh conditions for two years. He accepted these days as periods when physical and mental abilities were tested. In 1950, he founded the Japan National Goju Karate Federation in Tokyo. In 1964, he played an important role in the establishment of the Japanese Karate Federation, where all karate schools of Japan were gathered under one roof. In those days, there was no possibility of organizing a match as Karate training consisted of Kata and Yakusoku Kumite with a fixed sequence of movements. Yamaguchi created the rules and points system of jyu kumite, known as free combat. Some of these rules are still valid in modern matches today. By regulating the rules of Free Fighting, it caused Karate to become more popular in Japan and all over the world. He created Taikyoku beginner katas, which he named to make the katas easier to learn. In order for Karate to provide mental development, Goju Ryu added elements of Yoga and Shinto religion to its style. He stated that the essence of martial arts can be grasped better with the concentration provided by correct breathing. That's why Goju Ryu Karate has introduced the unique Breathing Exercises (Ibuki) into its training system. He received the title of Cat due to the elegance and speed of his techniques. He was awarded the Blue Ribbon (Ranju-Hosho) medal of merit by Emperor Hirohito in 1969. Yamaguchi; Prince H, President of the Japanese Martial Arts FederationIgashikuni appointed him as the Head of the Karate Department with the title of President (Master). Now, Goju-Ryu Karate Do is practiced by a large number of people almost everywhere in the world. At the same time, many great masters continue to add value to Goju-Ryu Karate Do. Karate is a long-term life partner and a sign of gentlemanliness. In short, Karate is respect. That's why the color of Karate Dress is White. It represents cleanliness and purity. Let us end this beautiful article by saluting it with respect as OSS. OSS… Taner BUZACI Turkish Karate Federation Goju-Ryu Karate 3rd Kdm. Senior Coach Goju-Kai Japanese Karate Fed. Member International Referee Source: Goju-Kai Karate Do Federation Australia I.K.G.A. : Goju-Kai Japan Karate Federation I.K.G.A. : Goju-Kai Swedish Karate Federation I.K.G.A.