The Dojo is a sacred place where we train ourselves physically and mentally. The student should respect the Dojo and observe the following etiquette.

The following is taken directly from Higaonna Sensei’s Volume 1 of Traditional Karate-do, Okinawa Goju Ryu Karate.

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The Dojo Kun is a set of statements repeated at the end of each training session.

These statements are intended to guide not only our training but also our everyday lives. Each statement is preceded by the Japanese number 1, Hitotsu. This may seem odd, but it …

The term “grading” in Karate means “examination”. As with most martial arts around the world, a belt system is used in Goju Ryu to show the progress and proficiency of students. A belt, or obi,” is earned through dedication to training in combination with …

What is Karate?

Karate is a Martial Art developed in the Ryukyu Kingdom. The Japanese “Kara” means empty, and “te” means hand. Therefore, karate translates as ‘empty hand’, the art of self-defence without a weapon.

It developed from the indigenous martial arts of …

Kata is a Japanese word for detailed choreographed patterns of movements practised either solo or in pairs. The term form is used for the corresponding concept in non-Japanese martial arts in general.

Kata is used in many traditional Japanese arts, such as theatre …

Kanryo Higaonna was born in Naha, Okinawa, in 1853. He was one of eight children. His father made his living trading firewood between the local islands. Kanryo Sensei helped his father from the age of ten, and the hard work made him very strong. From childhood, …

Chojun Miyagi was born on April 25, 1888, in Okinawa. At the age of five, he became the heir to the Miyagi family. His training in karate began at the age of eleven under Ryuko Aragaki Sensei, who practised and taught Tomari-Te. When he was fourteen, his teacher …

An’Ichi Miyagi was born in Okinawa on February 9, 1931. When he was fourteen, both of his parents died. He was then left with the task of bringing up his two younger brothers. He began his karate training with Chojun Miyagi Sensei in 1948. Such was his devotion …