Hare-Yama Ryu Karate-do Dojo, Karate-do Goju-Kai

The martial art named karate, meaning simply "empty hand", emerged in Japan only in the 1920's. However, karate developed over many years and has its roots deep in the history and traditions of China, and the island of Okinawa.

Centuries before karate was born, Chinese monks whose religion forbade them from carrying weapons, had developed methods of unarmed self-defence. This was the only way they could protect themselves if they were attacked by the robbers who often operated along the travel routes. In time, their self defence systems spread all over China and also blended with other martial arts in Asia, evolving into many forms.

In 1879, Japan annexed the island of Okinawa from the Chinese and the new Japanese rulers forbade the carrying of weapons by the islanders. However, the Okinawan fishermen had learned much about the Chinese unarmed self-defence methods. Therefore, in order to defend themselves against the Japanese soldiers, the Okinawans adapted these Chinese martial arts to include their own experience in unarmed combat. Various schools of self defence emerged and Okinawan-te, or Okinawan hand, began to flourish on the island. The forerunner of karate had been born. More specifically Naha-te, the hand of Naha (the capital of Okinawa), Shuri-te and others defined variations in this new martial art system.

Okinawan-te eventually spread to Japan through the efforts of Master Gichin Funakoshi, who by invitation of the emperor, demonstrated the Okinawan self defence art to the Japanese. The Japanese received this new martial art with enthusiasm and in 1924, Master Funakoshi opened the first Okinawan-te Dojo in Japan. He was followed by other Okinawan-te masters.

A few years later, the name Okinawan-te had changed to karate, "the empty hand", or more correctly karate-do, "the way of the empty hand". Karate grew to be Japan's most popular and famous martial art, and has now spread worldwide.

However, karate-do is not just another sport. "The way of the empty hand" involves more than simply learning to fight or to defend oneself, and brings to the karate-ka (the karate student), many other equally important benefits. Courage, fighting spirit to overcome any problem in life, courtesy, respect, self confidence, self control and self discipline are some of them.

The ultimate aim of karate lies not in victory or defeat
but in the perfection of the character of its participants.

Goju Ryu derived its name from Go meaning hard, and Ju meaning soft (more like flexible or yielding). The concepts of hard and soft, Go and Ju, had probably been learned in earlier times from the Chinese Shaolin and Pa Kua martial art forms respectively. The blend of hard soft, Goju, was developed in Okinawa by Master Miyagi Chojun. Later, after his death, his star pupil Yamaguchi Gogen introduced Goju Ryu to Japan. Master Yamaguchi modified and structured Goju Ryu to make it suit Japanese requirements. He also added his special understanding of the relevance of karate-do (and especially Goju) to our everyday lives. His teachings live on in his many respected students, none less his own children, including Yamaguchi Goshi.

Hare-Yama Ryu Karate-Do Goju Dojo Kun

Through our training, we the students of Hare-Yama Ryu aspire to these virtues:

Photo taken during a visit of Grand Master Yamaguchi Goshi to South Africa.
From left, Yamaguchi Masatoshi Shihan, world champion, Yamaguchi Goshi Saiko Shihan, President and World Chief Instructor of the I.K.G.A., Stan Holroyd Sensei, Instructor at Hare-Yama Dojo, and Peter Brandon Shihan, All-Africa President and Chief Instructor.