karate international salem MA.

Chojun Miyagi Sensei Goju Ryu founder

Goju-ryu:

Goju-ryu is a centuries-old fighting art that developed on the island of Okinawa. Goju-ryu, 'the hard and soft way', incorporates circular, or 'soft', defense with devastating 'hard' offense. At first, Goju-ryu was passed on in secret, teacher to student, but now is taught thoughout the world. Many karate styles have evolved from Goju-ryu, but at karate International we practice the art as the masters did long ago.

After studying martial arts under Kanryo Higaonno for many years, Chojun Miyagi Sensei, a native of the island of Okinawa, developed the Goju-Ryu, or hard-soft, style of karate. Goju-Ryu combines hard striking techniques such as punches and kicks with softer methods such as open hand blocks, takedowns, throws, and grappling.

 There are 12 kata in the Goju-Ryu system. From the very beginning, students learn kata that contain combinations of techniques that can be used for self-defense. Gekisai dai ichi and gekisai dai ni, the first two kata that students learn today, were developed by Chojun Miyagi Sensei in 1940 to teach both self-defense and physical fitness. As students progress in rank they learn new kata and additional techniques, but the two gekisai kata alone provide the tools that are essential for self defense. To learn more about the kata in the Goju-Ryu system, CLICK HERE.

 Students who train consistently in Goju-Ryu at our dojo not only learn self defense but also become more physically fit while gaining self discipline and self confidence.  Miyagi Sensei felt that, “the ultimate aim of karate-do was to build character, conquer human misery, and find spiritual freedom.”

 Sensei Johnny Polanco, the Chief Instructor has trained for over 30 years in Goju-Ryu. He has trained with a number of the top Goju-Ryu practitioners in the world today, such as Domingo Llanos Sensei 7th Dan, Mike Clarke Sensei 8th, Jean Frenette Sensei 8th Dan, Chuck Merriman Sensei 9th Dan, Tsuneo Kinjo Sensei 9th Dan, Gima Tetsu Sensei 9th Dan, Yurio Nakada Sensei 9th Dan, Mike Mancuso Sensei 9th Dan and Morio Higaonna Sensei 10th Dan to learn more about the lineage of our instructors, which traces back directly to Miyagi Sensei, CLICK HERE.

 If you are interested in learning more, contact us for further details or stop by our dojo to observe a class.