The Beginning

Thousands of years ago, in a Shao Lin Monastery in China, a monk named Dharma (Bodhidharma) taught his students in a way that was different from the norm.  In conjunction with meditation, he taught his students physical exercises which were modeled on the movements of animals (ex. tiger, monkey, leopard, crane and snake) so that they could build endurance and strength to fulfill their religious training -- for example, the monks would have to sit for hours in zazen, seated meditation, in order to calm the body and mind.  Dharma further developed and adapted this training (ch'aun fa), which is the precursor of Karatedo.  In addition, not only were these exercises beneficial to strength and agility, they also provided various forms of self-defense for the monks, which have remained at the heart of the art today.

From these temples the art was taken south to Korea, west to India and east to Japan.  As the art was introduced in these countries it naturally integrated local beliefs, customs and ideologies.  These new forms were many and each village had its own particular version of the art.

There is no written record of whom exactly brought any of these arts to Japan or Okinawa (which was called Ryukyu until 1870).  However, it is said that in 1340 the Okinawans established tributary links with the Chinese Emperor of the Ming Dynasty, and until 1866, delegates were sent back and forth from each country -- among these delegates were masters of Chinese Kempo who taught their art to the Okinawan nobility.  

As tribute, the Okinawans sent ships filled with valuable gifts to the Chinese Emperor.  To protect this precious cargo, all the Okinawans on board were well versed in Martial Arts.

In 1470, under the monarch Sho Shin, all weapons in Okinawa were banned and confiscated.  This political move led directly to the development of two different fighting systems: Te, and empty hand combat learned and developed by the nobles(emphasis on closed fists); and Kubodu, a weapons system developed by the farmers and fisherman based on the use of farming tools and implements (grinder handles, sickles, horse bridles and even boat paddles became lethal weapons).  In both systems, training was conducted in strict secrecy (in remote places and mainly at night or before dawn) and largely confined to their respective social classes.

Soon, dirrerent styles began to emerge in different  parts of Okinawa; these differences were due to having been influenced by different Chinese traditions.  As a result, the different styles of Te (i.e. Naha-te, Tomari-te-Shuri-te) were named after the villages where they were practiced.  For example, Naha-te, from which Goju Ryu would eventually come, developed in the city of Naha.

The Meeting of the Masters

In the late nineteenth century, the word Karatedo was not yet in use and Te was the name to refer to all Martial Arts.  However, in 1935, a multi-style commitee of masters sat down to discuss a single name for their art.  They called it Karatedo (Kara = empty and Te = hand).  Some masters and schools of Karatedo believe in adding the Japanese appendage of "Do" (the way) to represent one's commitment to both physical and spiritual development.

Today, Karatedo masters are amongst the most honored dignitaries of Okinawan society, and Dojos are abound in the built-up areas of Naha and Shuri.  Even though there are no overall masters of each style of Karatedo, there are many frienships and little competition between today's leaders of the art.

Okinawa (The roots of Goju Ryu)

The roots of Goju Ryu Karatedo can be traced directly back to Okinawa, which was called Ryukyu until 1870.  In 1871, this small island officially became a prefecture of Japan.

The Goju means 'hard and soft'. 'Go' is the Japanese word for hardness and 'Ju' is the word for softness, which is based on the Oriental concept that all hardness and stiffness is not good.  At the same time all softness and too much gentleness is not good.  Instead, the two should complement each other.  Combining the two gives Goju Ryu Karatedo is beautiful, disciplined movements, filled with graceful flowing forms and strenght.  Actions are sometimes extremely fast and other times slow and majestic.  Goju Ryu relies on a forceful style of attack with emphasis on delivering blows 'hard' but with easy effort and rapid succession.  The maneuvering is not only forward and backwards but from side to side, aiming from outside in and inside out and straight on.

Tradition and Standards (The Roots of Karatedo)  Adapted from O'Sensei Richard Kim

Early historic tradition has it that the martial arts go back 4000 years in Chinese history.  Traditional martial arts encompass all forms of external and internal, hard and soft, weapon and weaponless systems of fighting.

Legend has it that the origins of the martial arts can be traced back to the yellow emperor, Huang Ti, who wrote his classic treatise on internal medicine, the Nei Ching.  He also developed military practices involving the use of weapons and weaponless fighting.

The spiritual path with the advent of Confucianism and Taoism, developed from a physical to a spiritual path of existence, and a philisophical code underlying the arts it took from.

The core from which the modern martial arts developed emerged with Dharma (Bodhidharma) when he went to China from India - here, he introduced Zen Buddhism with the philosophical principle of "empty mind" and satori.  At this point the martial arts moved into the realm of religion as only monks practiced them.  The arts reached their most perfected form of expression within Buddhism.  It was within these Buddhist eras that the most important forms of training were either innovated or notated for prosperity.

By the 16th Century A.D., Shaolin martial arts rose to prominence with the guidance of Master Pai Yu-Feng - it is during this time that the basis of white crane kung fu greatly influenced the basis of all Okinawan Karatedo, including Goju Ryu.

With embedded influences of Confucianism, Taoism, and Zen Buddhism, it becomes clear that the mastery of the martial arts, back then and still today, is not only a physical endeavor, but also a philosophical and personal accomplishment.