The style of Karate taught at the Budokan of Utah is called Goju Ryu Karate. It is a tradtitional style of Okinawan Karate that focuses on strong basics, breath control, body conditioning, and combat application.

Brief Comments on the History of Okinawan Karate

Okinawan Karate is the result of the fusion between Chinese Kenpo/ Kung Fu with the autochthonal grappling techniques of Okinawa. This amalgamated art form was further refined by two weapon prohibitions in Okinawa’s history and the attack in 1609 by the Satsuma Samurai Class. The art form that endured through all the historic struggles became known simply as Te ( meaning"hand"). Stylistic variation within Okinawa occurred at different cities on the island, most acknowledgeable being Shuri, Tomari, and Naha. Each city within Okinawa was uniquely affected by Chinese immigration and travel, this was also reflected in Martial Art forms associated with the respective cities. Variance between the Chinese Martial Art styles were also carried on to the developing Okinawan Martial Art, leading to the growth of the Shorei and Shorin methods within the art. The former emphasizing deep rooted strong stances and focused heavy blows, while the latter emphasized light body movements with fast blows. Later these approaches coupled with the individual emphasis of each city were solidified into Ryu (styles). These Ryu represent either key philosophical ideas within the style or key historical figures associated with the development of the style. The styles still exist in these forms today. The term Karate, as it is used today meaning "Empty Hand", is a relatively new innovation only being developed in the 1920s by an Okinawa Karate practitioner name Gichin Funakoshi. The original usage of the term Karate meant "China Hand" intending to implicate the ties to China historically. Some Okinawan schools still use this older spelling of the term, most do not.

The epitome of Okinawan Karate is a style called Goju Ryu. The term Goju means "Hard/Soft" representing the key philosophical idea behind this particular style. The gentleman who came to name this art was Chojun Miyagi (1888-1953). Miyagi is credited as the "founder" of Goju Ryu although it stretches long into Chinese history. In approximately 1867 an Okinawan gentleman by the name of Kanryo Higashioana (1853-1915) traveled to Fuzhou, China to study the Martial Arts from a master named Ryu Ryu Ko. Ryu Ryu Ko was a master of White Crane and had studied in the legendary Southern Shaolin Temple located in the mountains of Fujian Provance. Higashiona was to study under Ryu Ryu Ko for many years before returning to Okinawa. Higashiona passed on his tradition of maritial arts he called Naha Te to his most famous and gifted student, Chojun Miyagi. After Higashiona’s death Miyagi traveled to Fuzhou to study his arts long history and to pay his regard to Ryu Ryu Ko’s grave. While in China, Miyagi studied White Crane along with a few other Shaolin arts. When he returned home to Okinawa he had an increased level of depth to his art. The name change from Naha Te to Goju Ryu was a result of Miyagi’s fondness of a line in the Bubishi (An ancient Chinese Martial Arts Text) that he felt capture the true essence of the art. Aside from naming the art Miyagi also developed the fundamental curriculum that is taught today and devised many training techniques. He did not believe in sport competition or belt ranking systems within his style, rather he stressed self-defense and intensive personal training.. Chojun Miyagi taught and influenced many student, most famous: Jinan Shinzato, Meitoku Yagi, Anichi Miyagi, Gogen Yamaguchi, and Eichi Miyazato. There are many branches of Okinawan Goju Ryu Karate Do, but all have the lineage to Chojun Miyagi as the founder.

Written by Shaun Devoy

Reference:

The History of Karate by Morio Higaonna. Copyright 1995

What we teach:

The Budokan offers ranking in both Japanese Goju and Okinawan Goju Ryu.

Our methodology regarding Goju Ryu Karate centers around the practice of Basics (kihon), Forms (Kata), Form Application (Bunkai), Self Defense (Goshinjutsu), and Sparring (Kumite)*. The focus of the training centers around body conditioning (which is fairly severe) and the training of breath control.

The Kata we teach are those taught within Okinawa and mainland Japan. The Kata are as follows:

Sanchin (we teach 3 versions of this kata), Geki Sai Dai Ichi, Geki Sai Dai Ni, Saifa, Seiunchin, Shisochin, Sanseru, Seipai, Sesan, Tensho, Kururunfa, and Suparinpei.

Aside from these Kata mentioned above, we also teach several Kata that fall outside the Goju Ryu curriculum, borrowed from Matsubayashi Shorin Ryu, due to their importance historically. These Kata are:

Naihanchi (Shodan-Sandan),  Wankan, Rohai, Kusanku, Chinto, Gojushiho and Passai.  

*Please note Sparring (Kumite) is not taught in a sportive (point based) manner, its focus is on body mechanics and adrenaline control.  

The following are clip is of Morio Higaonna, Okinawan Goju Ryu Karate Master (IOGKF) 10th Dan, performing Sesan Kata.