Origins of Goju Ryu Karate

Master Noguchi Michiro, Head Instructor Goju Ryu Etsukou Kai

Goju Ryu was founded by the legendary karate man Miyagi Chogun (1888-1953) of Naha village.

Master Miyagi learned Karate in Okinawa from one of the greats: Kanryo Higashionna (1853- 1961).

Master Higashionna had trained for many years in China and had combined the skills of Chinese boxing with his native Okinawan to form this distinctive Karate style.

After acquiring a sound grounding in Karate under Master Higashionna, Master Miyagi retraced his teacher’s steps and journeyed to China, where he trained for many years under a Chinese Boxing Master Wu Ku Chan (Ryu Ryuko).

On his return to Okinawa, he developed Goju Ryu Karate. Goju Ryu Karate is characterised by both hard and soft techniques, circular movements, infighting techniques (including trapping and controlling techniques), the famed Sanchin Kata and Ibuki breathing.

Kakurin Kan Karate is real Karate-do, a synthesis of 40 years of training in the Japanese Goju Ryu Karate system of Goju Kensha headed in Japan by Hanshi Tadahiko Ohtsuka (1940 – 2012).

The preoccupation of competition Karate is not evident in Kakurin Kan, instead a relentless search of original and authentic martial art training methods and principles.

James Sumarac is a six generation Karate Master from the founder of Goju Ryu and is the only non-Japanese to have studied directly under Master Tadahiko Ohtsuka, ever since their chance meeting in Tokyo in 1973.

Sosui Ichikawa
1925 – 2005
The first teacher and great mentor of Ohtsuka Tadahiko