|
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
USAGF
Organization:
USAGF (United States of America Goju Federation)
History:
Goju Ryu karate had its origins in the Fukien Providence, of China. In the
late 1800's, Master Kanryu Higashionna (1853-1917), brought the art (known as
Shorin Ryu), to the island of Okinawa. After training for a time in Chinese
Boxing, Master Higashionna developed a self defense system called Naha-Ta; a
combination of Naha (an Okinawan city), and Te (a bare-handed fighting technique).
One of the master's famous students, Chogun Miyagi, studied with the Master
while on Okinawa, and later on, traveled back to Fukien Providence for additional
study. Miyagi returned to Okinawa in 1917 (about the time of Master Higashionna's
death) Miyagi then further modified the art, adding katas, and formalizing the
system.
Realizing that the theory of a "One Strike Kill" would not be well accepted
in the educational programs of the day, Sensei Miyagi began developing an art
that combined soft movements (breathing katas) with dynamic tension exercises
(hard movement). In this manner, karate was used not only for spiritual enlightenment,
but for exercise, and for self defense.
Around 1930, Master Miyagi also gave the style the name, Goju, (meaning 'hard-soft
style'). This is one of the first systems possessing the name not denoting it's
place of origin. Master Miyagi died in 1953. Among Master Miyagi's better known
students are: Seiko Higa; Seikichi Toguchi; Meitoko Yagi; and Gogen Yamaguchi.
Sensei Yamaguchi went on to become the Headmaster of the Japanese Goju System.
Meitoku Yagi became the recognized leader of the Mei Buken school of Okinawan
Goju.
USAGF (United States of America Goju Federation)
1953 was also the year a young sailor was introduced to karate, in Yokohama
Japan. His name was Peter Urban. After training for one year with Richard Kim,
Peter Urban traveled to Tokyo and was introduced to Gogen Yamaguchi, where he
was accepted as a student. In 1957, Peter Urban opened a small Dojo in Tokyo,
and competed in the all-Japan College Championships that same year. In 1959,
Urban moved to America, and opened his first American Dojo, in Union City, N.J.
The following year, he opened another school on 17th street in Manhattan.
Peter Urban was reportedly one of the men responsible for establishing structured
tournaments in America, one of the first of those being the North American Karate
Championships in 1962, held at Madison Square Garden. Three years later, at
the age of 31, Urban's first book; The Karate Dojo, was published. Urban opened
his famous Chinatown Dojo in 1967, making Japanese karate open to the public.
In the early 1970's, Urban returned to Japan to ask of Gogen Yamaguchi permission
to establish in America, a karate system separate from Japan's. Yamaguchi refused,
saying the rules of Bushido stated that no white man could achieve Nirvana.
Urban, dissatisfied with the decision, retorted that these same rules stated
that Japan could never lose a war. This statement offended the Sensei Realizing
this, Urban prepared to follow samurai custom, to cut off his pinky finger in
apology.
He was stopped by Yamaguchi's oldest son. However, the damage was done. Urban
returned to America, and incorporated himself as the founder of American Goju.
Chief Grand Patriarch of all American Goju Systems, Peter Urban is credited
with training some of the greatest martial arts traditionalist in this generation.
Master Urban, while stationed in Japan for eight years with the united States
Navy, trained with Prof. Richard Kim, an authority of Okinawan Karate Systems.
Prof. Kim introduced Peter Urban to Masters Yamaguchi (Japanese Goju) and Mas
Oyama (Kyokushin Kai). Receiving his master in both system, Peter Urban, the
first American Tenth Dan with his creation of USA GOJU and for being the original
propagator of he Goju style in the United States.
United States of America Goju Federation Karate is a style of Goju Karate
developed by Master Joe Kelljchian.
USAGF Training
The word karate is a combination of two words, "kara" which means empty and
"te" which means hand. Karate is an "empty hand" form of self-defense.
The style of karate we practice is Goju.
The word Goju is a combination of two words, "Go" which means hard and "Ju"
which means soft. Our style is a mixture of both hard and soft.
Like the elements of the world we live in, Goju is both hard and soft, yet
it is one. For example, we are soothed by the softness of the candles glow,
yet the same element of fire can completely devastate an entire forest. The
gentle patter of rain on our window can put us to sleep, while the relentless
rains of a hurricane can topple the strongest buildings. Each of these elements
has the properties of hard and soft, yet they are still the same element.
Our Sensei (teacher) shows us how to harness these elements that are within
each of us. We are taught how to be soft when softness is called for. We are
taught how to be hard when hardness is required. Most of all, we are taught
discipline. Without discipline there is no control. Without control, we are
no better off than those who would attack us.
One of the cornerstones of training is courtesy. Courtesy in training helps
break down the ego.
In our Dojo (training hall), and all the Dojo's of the USAGF, we have three
simple rules:
- Everyone works
- Nothing is free
- Everyone starts at the bottom
These three rules come to us from Grandmaster Peter Urban and the United
States of America Goju Association.
(Contributor: Unknown)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
