Karate_John

Here is how I understand it, also from the top of my head. Yamaguchi was given permission to teach and empowered by Miyagi to spreed Goju in main-land japan, and ultimately around the world. Gogen Yamaguchi founded the International Karate-do Goju-Kai Association (IKGA) among others for this reason. His son Gosei Norimi Yamaguchi Founded the Goju-Kai Karate-Do, U.S.A organization. N. Gosei Yamaguchi is now the head of both. Goju-Kai is synonymous with Japanese Goju-ryu, while Goju-ryu is more synonymous with Okinawan Goju-Ryu. @rthompson In any case Goju-Kai is one of the largest Goju Ryu organisations and is very well respected in the US and Japan. It is just one of the many different branches of the same tree.

Seisan Kuro Washi Shisochin Tensho dai ni Kankaku Hira Benso Tenchi Seipai Kururunfa Hakutsuru Suparinpai Genkaku Chikaku

Also Goju, But in my dojo it's a bit different: 9th Kyu (white) Taikyoku Jodan Ichi & Ni Taikyoku Chudan Ichi & Ni 8th Kyu (white) Taikyoku Gedan Ichi & Ni 7th Kyu (white) Taikyoku Kake Uke Ichi & Ni 6th Kyu (Green Belt) Taikyoku Mawashi Ichi & Ni Sanchin dai ichi 5th Kyu (Green Belt) Gekisai dai Ichi & Ni 4th Kyu (Purple Belt) Gekisai dai san Sanchin dai ni Tensho Saifa 3rd Kyu (Brown Belt) Sanchin dai san 2nd Kyu (Brown Belt) Seiyunchin 1st Kyu (Brown Belt) Sanseru And many others past shodan.

Na, It's a tool like any other and has it's place. The key is using it appropriately for the desired results.

Hmm, Well if you want the opinion of this lowly brown belt (Adult student), I think the best student is a teen... They are old enough that they have discipline when needed, but they have nearly the same enthusiasm, imagination, and fearlessness, as a kid. on the negative side they learn fast and are always asking for more regardless of how sound the techniques are, and you can run into the issue of puberty between your guys and girls. All, in all I think every student as an individual has pros and cons, As an instructor you need spot them and correct, workaround, or embrace the differences.

Well in my GoJu dojo no white belts are permitted to spar at all, and we officially use pads with controlled contact during sparing class... It's an insurance thing with the kids. But after class the BB and a few adults tend to stick around and spar controlled with no pads with enough force to get a bruise here and there... We however do pull head shots and the like. You have to remember we are in a dojo to train with each other not to hurt your fellow karateka, it helps no one if someone suffers an injury from training.

"This may sound like a McDojo and I'm inclined to think it may be. The style of teaching is very different although the techniques are much the same as what I learnt. Probably because they are basics though. My questions are, can dojos that seem like McDojos actually be as good as their more traditional counterparts. I would prefer to have trained in seido in Sydney but it is just not possible. " Wood floors and bits and pieces of twinkets everywhere does not make a dojo more or less traditional. or lack thereof a McDojo. A contract can mean it's just a commercial dojo. And rubber matting might just be a safety or expense thing. It's what the Dojos teach and the ease of gaining rank, that makes it a McDojo or not. I would be more concerned if there were 13 year old black-belts running around in the adult class and trying to teach. From the bit i'm reading, I do not think it's a McDojo. "is budokan a recognized style" If it's the Chew Choo Soot Budōkan, Yes it's a recognized style by the World Karate Federation so it might be more sport focused then traditional.

I've been following this for a while, Showed it to one of my sensei's and he loved it. Can't wait for the next session.

Hey all, I'm a long time lurker and first time poster. I'm a freshly minted Brown Belt 3ed kyu in Goju Ryu as of tonight. I kind of made a deal with myself that if I passed i'd make an account... so here i am I'm from Long Island NY and been training on and off since I was a small kid. I'm now trying to make a push to my first black belt. I love the articles and information posted on these forums and they are really helpful. I really hope I can contribute with my knowledge, and continue leaning from you guys and girls.