Ketsugo Goju-Ryu Karate

Kata

Forms, or kata, are sequences of offensive, defensive and transitional movements that are linked together to illustrate specific self-defense techniques and sometimes hidden techniques. Certain kata are traditional (koryu) kata, which were either brought over from China by Kanryo Higashionna or created by Chojun Miyagi. The remaining Ketsugo Goju-Ryu kata were developed by Shodai.

Kihon Ichi (Basic One)
Gikisai Ichi (Attack and Smash One)
Gikisai Ni (Attack and Smash Two)
Gikisai San (Attack and Smash Three)
Saifa (Destroy Defeat)
Genshin (Anticipate an Attack)
Tensho (Turning Palm)
Juhito (Ten Humans)
Eshoo Ni San (Together Three)
Seiunchin (Calmness Conquer)
Sanchin (Three Battles: Body, Mind and Spirit)
Hente Do (Way of the Changing Hands)
Dobutsu San (Way of the Three Animals)
Bushi Do Rei (Way of the Warrior's Bow)
Yuryoku-Do (Strong or Powerful Way)
Shisochin (Four Direction Battle)
Sepai (#18)
Sesan (#13)
Sanseru (#36)
Kururunfa (#17)
Suparinpei (Pechurin) (#108)

Conditioning

Karate skills have to be learned, practiced and conditioned to the point of automatic response. In Ketsugo Goju-Ryu we employ many routines and training methods to help condition the student's body, mind and spirit.

Beginning Punching and Blocking Routine
Beginning Kicking Routine
Intermediate Kicking Routine
Advanced Punching and Kicking Routine
Heavy Bag Training
Focus Pad Training
Makiwara (advanced rank males only)
Tamashiwara "breaking" (advanced ranks only)

Bunkai

Bunkai is the application of technique. In Kata Kumite, two students perform pre-determined sequences to bridge the middle area between kata and actual fighting. They allow the student to apply and understand the fighting techniques of the kata against an opponent.

In Kumite waza (three step sparring), students train with a partner to perform pre-arranged counters. The counters include many of the kata bunkai techniques such as strikes, throws, take-downs, and joint manipulation.

The Bunkai routine has students paired up going through a basic punching and blocking routine together, emphasizing strength, precision, and technique.

Waza and Self-Defense

Waza (or techniques) are one-step fighting techniques which focus on control, distance, timing and targeting. Over time, as the karateka progresses in rank and skill these waza become more technical. Realism is always central to the technique.

Self-defense is at the heart of everything we do in karate. Every part of training is centered and rooted in self-defense, from kata to sparring. The training provides the karateka with the speed, strength, timing, and distance needed to react appropriately to any given self-defense situation. Specific self-defense training involves evading and countering holds, grabs, and joint locks; and for each rank, there are new self-defense techniques to learn. Self-defense against the knife, gun, and club are also vital to our training.

Sparring "Fight Night"

Every Thursday night all belt ranks spar (other than white belt). Sparring is an essential way to implement various techniques as well as improve hand eye coordination, timing, distance, techniques, and confidence.

Protective gear is worn on hands, feet, head, shins, and groin.

Lower belt ranks (purple and below) are restricted to lighter contact. This helps them develop control before adding more power to their techniques. At green belt students are allowed to begin using sweeps and take-downs.

We welcome visiting martial artists from all styles to come watch or participate in Fight Night! We employ an Iri Kumi style, 2 minutes of continuous sparring.

Weapons

The advanced ranks train with traditional Okinawan weapons including the bo, tonfa, sai, nunchuka and kama. The weapon becomes an extension of the body at higher levels of training. For this reason, weapons training is reserved for advanced ranks only.

Weapon kata include: