Goju Ryu Karate & Martial Arts: You’ll get a kick out of it!

What are we training?

Our main focus is a traditional karate style called Goju (Go-no, Ju-no) that translates to hard and soft. By hard we emphasize on physical and mental conditioning, to be strong in both body and mind. By soft we learn how to develop empathy and understanding for our fellow humans and we learn how to be humble in difficult situations. By soft we also learn that you don’t have to meet strength with strength in combat and to fight might not always be the best solution, even if we learn how to defend ourself, “karate-do ni sente nashi (In Karate there is no first attack)”. The style is a mix of hard and soft martial art.

We also incorporate  Sanda in the training, a competitive part of wushu/kung fu. Sanda focus a lot on down-takes, sweeps, kicks, punches, throws.

Though you can compete in this style it is not most Goju karatekas goal in life to win tournaments (The person who can defeat others is strong but the person who can defeat himself/herself is invincible.). This is a self-defense art and the techniques we practice should always work in a real situation. We focus on Kata (forms), Kumite (fighting in different forms), Bunkai (applications), Kakie (push-hands) etc. When we train we always keep an open mind and aim to learn new aspects of martial arts.

Karate is a life-times work so there is no rush. That is the beauty of it that as life changes then so will your Karate. It is very much like music; you start slow and then build it up as time goes!

Where does it come from?

The style was developed in the city of Naha, Okinawa. At the beginning it was simply called Naha-te, which translates to the fist of Naha. Founder of the Goju ryu style was Chojun Miyagi (1888-1953) that studied under Higashionna Kanryō. Today Goju Ryu is one of the biggest Karate styles in the world.

About coach Fredrik:

Coach Fredrik has been practicing martial arts from age 9. When he was growing up he practiced many different styles like Aikido, Karate, Wushu, Muay Thai. He graded to 1st Dan 1996 in Karate and took 2nd Dan 2004. 1998 he started to study wushu at Beijing Sport University and in the year of 2007 he graduated with a bachelor degree within this field majoring in Sanda (Chinese fullcontact), first western person in the world doing so. Fredrik continued his development with a Masters degree within Traditional Chinese Sports (sanda) at CUPES.

 

2nd Dan Goju Ryu Karate Do

2nd Chinese national level in Taolu (form)

1st Chinese national level in Sanda (full contact)

BA-degree in Traditional Chinese Sports (martial art), BSU

Masters degree in Traditional Chinese Sports (martial art), CUPES

 

There are 9 grades before black belt:

 

White Beginner
Red 9th Kyu
Yellow 8th Kyu
Orange 7th Kyu
Green 6th Kyu
Blue 5th Kyu
Purple 4th Kyu
Brown 3rd Kyu
Brown + 1 Stripe 2nd Kyu
Brown + 2 Stripe 1st Kyu
Black 1st Dan etc