gojupralgo

I see spoint sparring as very dangerous to students that attend class to learn how to defend themselves. Pulling your punches, and being restricted by those rules are habit forming. When confronted by a bully or attacker he or she will get thumped. My advice to anyone looking to learn for self defense. If you find a school with tons of trophies in the window, run in the other direction.

Are you a Japanese GOJU stylist like myslf. Training in the Taikiokos is mostly a Yamaguchi thing.

2-3 years? What kind of quality are these Black Belts?

Hello, I've been posting for a while with no introduction. I have been training in Japanese Goju-Ryu (Gojukai) since 1980. A few breaks in between (College, work, rebellious teenager). I learned at my father's DOJO in NY, and under other instructors that he sent me to. It can be very difficult to train under a parent. Dad is on the of old timers from Peter Urban's Chinatown DOJO in NYC during the early 60s. He trained under Sensei Urban until what is known as the BIG GOJU BREAKUP. When Ameriucan Goju was formed, and the loyalists, including Dad, stuck with Gogen Yamaguchi "The Cat". He and my Uncle then trained with what was then, the East Coast Gojukai. We had a DOJO in Brooklyn, NY for many years. My Uncle is now one of the highest ranking Americans in the IOGFK (Okinawan GOJU). Although I never trained with him, I use videos of him doing various GOJU kata. He's amazing to watch and learn from. My training has been exclusively for street situations and self defense. No point sparring. Large empasis on Kumite, and bunkai. Sometimess my opinions may be very strong. Please do not be offended. I am very opinionated, but have plenty of knowledge. Unfortunately growing up in Brooklyn, and having a father own the local DOJO my skills had to be tested more often than I liked. Many of the local thugs wanted a piece of me. Unfortunately for them, they got it ..LOL. I was very fortunate to have a family in this business Thank you all so far for some information that you have shared so far. Patrick, thanks for having this website.

We don't completely remove a rank, but they may be bumoed down a bit. For example, a Shodan, might get a white stripe on the belt, temporarily holding the rank as Shodan-ho. An interim rank. That interim rank can be removed at discretion. It usually doesn't last very long. Other ranks may get the white stripe as well. It's just used iuntil they get back into shape. It also may be used when someone comes from another DOJO. It depends on where the student had studied before in the same style, and how good they seem to be. Ranks from other styles are not accepted.

You say it works well in sparring. Has it in the street? Or in a real situation? If so, then more power to you. In my experiences anyone that throws a kick above chest level against a decent fighter in a street situation, they get dragged down. Unless the opponent is already stunned or intoxicated.

We have an interesting reputation. We don't teach point fighting, so as you can imagine lot's of disqualifications if and when we compete. We sometimes compete in KATA or breaking. There is to much cheating in breaking, and boards don't fight back. So it's not to often. We normally hold self defense demonstrations at tournaments. Our school is geared towards the street. So we go for networking mostly.

I would never conduct a children's class without at least one other adult present. This protects you and the child.

Some of the Mssters listed on the site had more than one instructer from the upper portion of the tree. For Example: Mas Oyama trained in GOJU under Gogen Yamaguchi (student of Chojun Miyagi). Kyokoshin is influenced greatly by Goju. T. Shimabuko trained with Chojun Miyagi.

It's a footwork pattern in Cat Stance. Long workout. I have only seen it taught to Black Belts in Goju-Kai. Many AMERICAN black Belts have never even herard of it.

Some good advice. Here some from me. Avoid the following: 1. Storefront Windows filled with trophies. If you want the real deal for real life situations, avoid schools that teach you to fight with points. 2. More colors of belts than you can count on one hand. Traditional Karate only has White Green, Brown, and Black Belt. When Karate came over from Asia, money got in the way. 3. Any claims of an American having higher than an 8th degree black belt. There are more 10th Dan Americans than in all of Japan and Okinawa.

Your not to old, but I have a very unpopular opinion about this. Make sure that your son isn't to young. We normally don't accept children under 6. They need to have more of an understading of what it's all about.

As a General rule, we don't accept children under 6 years of age. I myself have a 4 year old daughter. She isn't ready. We took her to dancing school, and have gotten similar results. They don't have enough understanding for this sort of thing. Unfortunately this of course doesn't help you now. Altough it isn't exactly the same, I noticed when taking my daughter to dancing school, the more experienced places have at least one more person helping out. This is to keep the kids from getting distracted. Good luck

Your Sensie's first teacher, Jack Coleman headed the Midwest Goju-Kai. I'm a product of the Goku-Kai. My Father has a 6th Dan from Gogen Yamaguchi. But it now looks like your Sensei is now teaching Okinawan GOJU based on his bio and what I have read from your posts.

I have been in this business for a very long time. I have seen many Karateka try to go that route. What you end up with is a very poor fighter, who can now make some nicve fancy high flying kicks. I cannot explain how bad it could get, without my post being removed.

There used to be one called Karate Illustrated.

All of your instincts would go out the window.

It's hasrd to say who your DOJO is affiliated with. There is much mention of the Jundokan, but there are no DOJOs located in Texas listed as an affiliate on the Jundokan website. The JKF GOJUKAI logo is displayed on the website as well. That is an offshoot of the Yamaguchi family, that my Father and I are affiliated with. I'm not sure if the JKF GOJUKAI tains in the GOJUKAI way or now. Base on what you have said in the past, you study in a JUNDOKAN way.

I do believe that various stylesof Karate, can be used along with a grappling style. Sepending on which ones. I however would not attempt to Mix GOJU with TKD. I'm not a big fan of TKD to begin with, but that opinion is for another post.

Is the DOJO you train at affiliated with a particular Organization?

GOJU did not have that many ranks until long after it hit the US. Americans seem to need more incentive (and to make a few bucks) For a long time, it was just White, Brown, and Black. The IKGA (International GOJUKAI) now has many of those colors as well. Not GOJUKAI USA. Gosei Yamaguchi has kept it more towards the old ways. Unfortunately many of the newer organizations, or organizations with newer and younger leaders have expanded the number of ranks. For example, there are teachers that originally were ranked White, Green, Brown, And Black belt in the 1960's. They now gives ranks, that they never had to go through (or pay for) back then. Unfortunately the organizations that they are now affiliated with have those ranks.

As long as there are Americans ready to make money and INVENT their own style, more and more will keep appearing.

But there are some things that do not go well together.

IOGKF is very good. I was asking, bacause my Uncle has an IOGKF school in Soiuthern California. I'm familiar with what you would be training in. The advice you have been receiving in response is very good. Your Sensei is not holding you back in any way. Concentrate on improving what you have been taught. The rest will come soon enough.

4 or 5 years for Balck Belt sounds about right. There are some advanced Kata, that you will not be ready for for a long time. Is it an IOGKF school?