BRIEF HISTORY OF
USA GOJU KARATE-DO
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USA Goju Karate-do had its beginnings in Goju Ryu, a style that originated in Okinawa in 1931, when it was
founded by Chojun Miyagi. Goju Ryu, which literally means "hard, soft" style, combines the soft, flowing blocking
techniques practiced in the Chinese martial arts with the quick, strong counter attacks of Okinawan karate.

Chojun Miyagi, the founder of Goju Ryu, began his karate studies at the age of fourteen under Kanryo Higaonna,
who had studied the art of Te in Okinawa and a form of Chinese kempo known as Shorinji Kempo under Ryu Ryu
Ko for approximately fifteen years before he returned to Naha, Okinawa to teach his art. Miyagi was to become
Higaonna's best student, and over the years both devoted their lives to the art of Naha-te. When Higaonna fell ill in
1916, and died later that year at age 63, Miyagi continued where his sensei left off.

In 1930, following his performance of kata in a martial arts tournament, one of Miyagi's students was asked which
school he was a part of. Being unable to answer the question clearly, he returned to Miyagi and explained his
dilemma. Realizing the necessity to name his art in order to promote and spread his style, Miyagi adopted the
name of Goju Ryu. By giving his style a name, Miyagi became one of the first karate masters to name his art.

Of all Miyagi's gifted students, his most famous was Gogen Yamaguchi, who had studied several other martial arts
prior to Goju Ryu, including Judo, Yoga, and Kenjutsu, an aggressive style of swordsmanship. Yamaguchi's true
love, however, was Goju Ryu, which he later introduced to Japan as Goju-Kai. Over the years he created a system
of Ju-Kumite, or free- style sport sparring, in addition to kata, or pre-arranged movements. To prevent injuries,
traditional kicks to ankles, knees, and spine had to be omitted, which left only Mae-geri or (front kick).
Consequently, Yamaguchi then introduced, Yoko-geri (side kick), Mawashi-geri (roundhouse kick), and Ushiro-geri
(back kick) to kumite. In later years Yamaguchi went on to build his own organization, which is known now as the
All Japan Goju Kai Karate-Do.

Yamaguchi's most famous American student is Peter Urban, who has made such a tremendous impact on
American karate that he has been referred to as the George Washington of American karate. Urban initially was a
student of Richard Kim and Mas Oyama before being introduced to Yamaguchi. He became a devoted student of
Yamaguchi and opened the first Goju Kai dojo in the U.S. in New York in 1960.

In 1964, after approximately 11 years under Yamaguchi, Urban broke away from Goju Kai and created his own
style, U.S.A. Goju. To emphasize the move from Japanese Goju Kai to U.S.A. Goju, Urban made several changes,
the most obvious being the switch from white to black gis.
As he progressed, Urban encouraged his high ranking students to establish schools of their own for the purpose
of continuing the practice of the Goju system. As one of Sensei Urban's higher ranking black belts, Sensei William
Liquori opened a dojo and began teaching Goju in Orlando, Florida in 1964.
Orlando Goju Karate