Goju Ryu

[Neil]

For the past week I have been studying the animal styles of Kung Fu. Through the katas like Saifa I can see a little of the resemblence of white Crane, and when I did Sai-Ich-In (I'm not sure how its spelled but thats how it sounds) you can clearly see that it is related to Tiger Kung Fu. I know that there is white crane and Tiger in the style of Goju but is it made up of more than just these 2 animals? Maybe this is how you get a mixture of both soft and hard techniques. Maybe there is some Leopard in it as well as it is a close-combat style. Just guesing here but is there any experianced Goju people here who can shed some light on what animal styles affected Goju and other styles. Such as Shorin Ryu there is a lot of Crane in that style, and you can clearly see the Tiger in Shotokan.

 

thanks,

 

Neil

[Karateka_latino]

hey, that's a good one, Id like to know about that style too

[LeaF]

Well I will try to answer this question as best I can. Firstly I am not very familar with the animal styles of China, so I cannot comment on the presence in great detail. I'll begin with what I do know. Goju ryu karate-do is a combination of Chinese Kempo and Okinawan Te. Chojun Miyagi is the founder of goju. His teacher, Kanryo Higashionna, studdied in China for about 22 years, where he learned Shorinji Kenpo under Ryu Ryo Ko and his assistant Wan Shin Zan prior to this he studied with Seisho Arakaki, who had studied the F.ukien style of chinese kempo. Now Miyagi also had a close friend by the name of Gogenki, who he traveled to china with and this friend was a teacher of Chinese White Crane Kenpo. This must have also influenced the development of Goju.

 

This is all that can be sure of, although I am certain that you will see many different animal styles present since this is such a balenced art

[Neil]

Would I be wrong in saying that in the Karate world of styles Goju Ryu would be the Leopard of the karate? My reason for this is that the Leopard first of all is in the middle between the hardest style (Tiger) and the most Agile and fluid style (white Crane). Secondly leopard style is a close-range fighter just like Goju Ryu. Also it is a complete system like Goju Ryu. Although Goju Ryu has White Crane in it it also has tiger so paradoxly, even if it doesn't have leopard directly the 2 styles make Leopard.

 

Well this is just throry to me.

[Karateka_latino]

it's an interesting theory... but i see Goju ryu more like Hung Ga kung fu.

[Neil]

I spoke to my teacher yesterday and he sais that as far as history dictates there is only the Tiger and White Crane. And if you look into any of the Goju katas you cannot see any resemblence to the Leopard but is was still an interesting theory but my teaxcher sais that there might well be. But thats a cool style, the Tiger and the Crane.

[Radok]

I do shorin ryu, and it has next to no crane style fighting at all. If I had to liken it to a kung fu, it would be dragon. Okinawan Karate came from Chinese Kung fu, and Japanese kickboxing. They blended the hard (Japanese) with the soft (kung fu) to make the Okinawan Karate styles.

[Neil]

well not that I know or anything but my teacher did say that Shorin Ryu was greatly influenced my White Crane.

[ronryu]

From all the research ive seen just about all the Okinawan styles were influnced from the chinese systems . Shorin ryu was also influnced by the white crane style jsut look at there highest kata Hakutsura which is white crane. Also ive read and have had the honor of attending a clinic conducted by Morio Higiaonna and he to states that the goju stykle is influenced by both the white crane and tiger styles . Hope this helps but it sounds like youve got it down.

[Karateka_latino]

Yes, im agree, you can clearly see those animals moves( tiger and crane) in the advanced Katas.