History of the Goju Karate School
Origins of Karate
The origins of the Karate are not completely certain, though many trace it to two centres: China and Okinawa. In China a well-known centre for martial arts is the Shaolin Temple, where monks practice such exercises as part of their routine for health and meditation.
Chogun Miyagi
The martial arts of the monks filtered throughout China and were imported into Japan via the Prefecture of Okinawa, where Chojun Miyagi began his study in martial arts in the late 1800's. His mentor, Kanyro Higashionna/Higaonna, had studied Chinese boxing in Fukien province in 1873, and his example inspired Master Miyagi to travel to China. Master Miyagi made several short visits to Fukien Province, allowing Master Miyagi to expand his knowledge with his exposure to the hard school of Shaolin Chuan, and the soft school of Pakua Chuan. Master Miyagi returned to Okinawa, and commenced teaching in Naha. Thanks to his contribution, the benefits of Karate were recognized by the Department of Education and became part of the physical education and culture curriculum.
Later, Master Miyagi would officially name the system, choosing the name Goju, meaning Hard-Soft. In 1933 the Japanese Martial Arts organization, the Butokukai, accepted the registration of the Goju Ryu Karate. In 1934, Master Miyagi visited the island of Kauai in Hawaii after a Hawaiian newspaper sponsored him, making Master Miyagi the first to propagate Karate as an art in the West.
Recovery
Gogen Yamaguchi
Another important figure in our Club’s history is Gogen Yamaguchi from Retsumeikan University in Kyoto.Gogen Yamaguchi became the leader of Goju Ryu on the Japanese mainland. After World War II, Yamaguchi sensei returned as a prisoner of war from the Manchurian campaign to find the Goju school non-existent: many of the instructors and students were casualties of the war, and Allied occupational forces had restricted the practice of martial arts. Yamaguchi sensei travelled throughout Japan and consolidating the Goju School in Japan and creating the Goju-Kai, contributing greatly to the rebuilding and reorganization of Goju-Kai.
International Recognition
In the era following WWII, Masaichi Oshiro, a first generation Hawaiian born of Okinawan heritage established the Hawaiian division of Goju-Kai when he returned home after a short but intensive training period with Master Yamaguchi. Previously, Masaichi Oshiro was a senior student of Master Yagi Meitoku of Okinawan GojuRyu. The high standard of Hawaiian karate attracted visiting martial artists such as Master Mas Oyama, Master Nakayama and the Japan National team instructors. In 1966 Master Oshiro invited Master Yamaguchi and his son Goshi to Hawaii. During this visit, a student of Master Oshiro, Tino Ceberano, was graded to 3rd Dan by Master Yamaguchi.
Hanshi Tino Ceberano
After many years of training with famous figures in Asian martial arts, he would relocate to Hawaii and devote himself to Goju after travelling and learning for many years. In the late 1960’s, Master Ceberano was given the opportunity to migrate to Australia (after having visited it earlier) and to propagate Goju-Kai. Under his guidance and leadership, Goju-Kai became a premier organization in the Australian Karate scene.
After the death of the Grand Master Gogen Yamaguchi in 1989, a meeting of senior officials of the Goju-Kai was conducted. The meeting granted Tino Ceberano, who was then a Shihan, his independence as a propagator of the Goju School and allowed him to form his own organization: the International Goju Karatedo (I.G.K). This is also recognized by the Okinawan Goju Ryu Renmei.
In February 1992, a long time friend and colleague, Master Tadashi Yamashita of Okinawan Shorin Ryu, a world renowned master of weapons and karate invited Shihan Ceberano to formalise connections with the Masters of the All Okinawan Karate fraternity. Shihan's standing and technical excellence resulted in an invitation to be tested for his 7th degree (Nanadan-Kyoshi) grading. Tino Ceberano became the first westerner to be graded to this level under the auspices of the Okinawan Budo International (O.B.I).
It is from this history and the I.G.K. that the UQ Karate Club draws its proud heritage.