Everything that you need to know about Goju Ryu Karate

Looking at Karate, it’s fair to say that there are many different styles that use their own philosophies and beliefs. Today, we’ll be looking at Goju Ryu Karate which is one of the original forms of the art. Known as the ‘soft hard’ style of Karate, Goju Ryu is universally popular and is trained by many. However, what is Goju Ryu and how does it differ from the other types of Karate? Read on for more information.

Is Goju Ryu Karate any good?

Goju Ryu is considered as ‘good’ by most people with any knowledge of Karate. In general, the Karate community or even outsiders are very respectful towards Goju Ryu and its principles. This is because it sticks to its roots and isn’t watered down like many other styles and types of Karate. For instance, it still offers kumite and can have very tough strength and conditioning drills. Goju Ryu actually inspired Kyokushin Karate too which is known for its toughness and brutal style, which gives Goju Ryu further credit.

For further proof, ex-UFC champion Robert Whittaker also trained Goju Ryu for several years and can be seen using his Karate stance when fighting some of the best in the world. In other words, it’s safe to say that Goju Ryu is good by most people’s standards and has a solid reputation. Of course, you may rarely get a shady gym or McDojo that claims to offer Goju Ryu, but for the most part, it’s legit, and practically every martial art sadly has its share of bad gyms.

What type of Karate is Goju Ryu?

Goju Ryu originates from Okinawa which is an island off Japan. This is considered the birthplace of Karate and where many of the famous styles were born. This differs from Japanese mainland styles of Karate that are often geared towards point fighting and competition rules. Because of this, Goju Ryu is considered traditional in both its philosophy and also its stance on training.

In literal terms, Goju Ryu is often called ‘hard soft’, and if you train it then you will often hear this term crop up. Basically, ‘hard’ Karate, is when you’re literally hard when sparring or drilling. In other words, you could block a punch with your forearm bone which is quite a physically hard way of training. As for the ‘soft’ aspect, this would mean using momentum and less force to deflect a move and you could do something like a quick dodge instead.

This means that Goju Ryu blends the two styles which makes it quite well rounded. Sometimes, styles of Karate are accused of being too soft which isn’t that realistic, or they’re seen as too hard which is seen as brutal and leads to injuries. As Goju Ryu uses both, it’s a nice blend of the two which gives a solid balance.

What does Goju Ryu focus on?

Goju Ryu is known for being physically demanding at times and can also be seen as quite narrow and precise. It only uses 12 kata, so there’s an emphasis on mastering these moves, rather than becoming broad in all areas. This certainly isn’t a bad thing and is beneficial for some. As well as this, as it’s Okinawan Karate, it means that it has traditional values.

This means that if you’re thinking of training, then it can sometimes have some intense and grueling warm ups and conditioning exercises. As well as this, Goju Ryu generally has quite a close-up fighting style, so it’s not as distance-based as other forms of Karate. Further, it also has some elements of grappling and submissions, but obviously, the bulk of its time is dedicated to learning strikes.

Overall, a good summary of Goju Ryu is that it has a strong emphasis on strength and conditioning and has a small range of techniques to work on, whilst primarily focusing on combat from a close distance.

How long does it take to become a black belt in Goju Ryu?

Like any martial art, earning your black belt is mostly dependent on what dojo you train at and how much work you put in. Really though, it’s tough to give a definitive answer as everyone is different. Having said this, speaking in general terms – most people on average can become a Goju Ryu black belt in around 5 years of training. Roughly speaking, this is the norm for most types of Karate, so in this sense Goju Ryu is not unique or different.

Remember though, your goal of training should be self-improvement rather than a shiny new black belt. Whilst you should be proud of your achievements, ultimately it means little if your main goal was simply to gain the status of the black belt. Realistically as well, most people outside of Karate won’t care about your belt color.

What does Goju Ryu mean in English?

Goju Ryu loosely translates to ‘hard soft style’. As covered previously, this embodies the techniques used in Goju Ryu which are a mixture of hard and soft Karate moves.

Is Goju Ryu good for self defense?

The answer to this is a resounding yes, and actually it’s one of the best forms of Karate to defend yourself with. Firstly, one of the benefits of doing Goju Ryu is that it will physically prepare you for combat. Even if you’re not great at Karate techniques – the physical transformation that Goju Ryu brings is great for fighting. Over time, you will become incredibly strong, with great cardio and mental toughness. All of these attributes are fantastic for fighting.

However, the main benefit is of course the Karate itself. If you do kumite, then you will naturally get better and strikes and know how to defend and be offensive simultaneously. Not only that but Goju Ryu also blends other disciplines such as grappling. Whilst it may not be as comprehensive as Judo, it does offer some takedowns and submissions which also come in handy. In short, it’s a very effective way of fighting that is ideal for self defense.

What are the negatives of Goju Ryu?

As you may have noticed, this article is pretty glowing when it comes to Goju Ryu. Having said this, there are some negatives and criticisms so it’s only fair that we list them. Perhaps the main issue that people have with Goju Ryu is that it can be too repetitive, and dare we say it…boring? Due to the small about of kata involved, it may not be enough to keep the attention of some for that long.

Secondly, its style can be fairly military-like which may be off putting for some. In short, doing rounds of tiring warm ups in a strict environment may be too much and put some people off.

Is there sparring in Goju Ryu?

As Okinawan Karate can vary, this really depends on place to place. Usually, most Goju Ryu gyms will partake in kumite so if we’re talking averages then Goju Ryu does involve sparring. Nevertheless, there will be some dojos out there that don’t spar for various reasons. Often the sparring in Goju Ryu can be quite traditional so it doesn’t involve gloves or head gear. With this in mind, if you’re looking to learn a pure form of Karate that isn’t watered down, then Goju Ryu is a good place to start.

Of course, it’s best to check out with your local gym first. As mentioned, some teachers don’t believe in Kumite and this is their personal belief. However, for the most part, Goju Ryu still involves sparring.

How many belts are there in Goju Ryu?

There are a total of 5 different belt colors to earn in Goju Ryu. These are; white belt, yellow belt, green belt, brown belt, and then black belt. As stated previously, the average Goju Ryu belt takes roughly 5 years to earn. This means that you’re at each belt for little over one year until you earn your black belt. Remember though, every individual and gym has different standards, so this isn’t set in stone.

It should also be added that certain individual dojos may have their own belt system. As Okinawan Karate is quite varied, it does not always have a universal system that is followed by all. For instance, some places will have more belts or use stripes on each belt to show experience within the said belt.

What is the first kata of Goju Ryu?

In total, Goju Ryu has 12 katas to learn. The first kata taught is called Saifa which is a classic Karate stance. Here, you will get into a striking position by crouching, with a lead leg and arm whilst your other arm and resting leg hang back. Saifa is the basis of which many attacks are formed, whilst it also offers a positional, solid defensive framework too. In other words, it acts as a good foundation to use other Karate techniques from.

List of Goju Ryu katas

• Saifa
• Gekisai Dai Ichi
• Gekisai Dai Ni
• Seiyunchin
• Shisochin
• Sanseru
• Sepai
• Kurununfa
• Seisan
• Suparinpei
• Sanchin
• Tensho

Please note, all of these katas use their Japanese names. For instance, Saifa translates as ‘destroy and defeat’ and the other terms have similar meanings.

What Karate does Mr. Miyagi do?

It is alluded to in the Karate Kid movies that Mr. Miyagi actually trains Goju Ryu. During the films, we often see him use a variety of hard and soft styles so it’s very possible that Miyagi was meant to be a Goju Ryu practitioner. For example, the ‘wax on, wax off’ movements were quite soft, whereas some of his striking methods were hard. Goju Ryu was also very popular around this time, so it makes complete sense that Mr. Miyagi would train this form of Karate!

Summary

Overall, Goju Ryu is arguably one of the most effective and best form of Karate that you can learn. It has traditional, hard-working values that will get you in shape and maintains its honesty, whilst it also has soft forms of training too which make it very applicable for most people to use. In short, if you’re looking at starting Goju Ryu then it’s probably one of the best forms of Karate that you can learn.

In conclusion, Goju Ryu has a well earned reputation and is appropriate for both self defense as well as use in a sports setting. With this in mind, it’s worth paying attention to.

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