The Art of

Goju Ryu Karate-do

At Hare-Yama Ryu. we study

the true art of karate-do,

the Way of the Empty Hand,

as a way of life with countless benefits. Read on ....

What is Karate?

Karate simply means "empty hand". Karate emerged in Japan only in the 1920's but had been evolving over many years from other martial arts with roots deep in the histories and traditions of China, and the island of Okinawa.

Through the efforts of Masters like Gichin Funakoshi and Gogen Yamaguchi, this new Japanese weapon-less self-defence system spread quickly. Karate, or more correctly karate-do, the Way of the Empty Hand, continued to evolve and grow and other styles (ryu) formed, each with its own approach to self defence techniques and related training forms. Karate-do has grown and spread worldwide, and is Japan's most famous martial art.

The founders of karate-do never intended it to become a sport, nor even just a fighting system. Karate-do involves much more than simply learning to fight or to defend oneself. Indeed, it is primarily an effective physical self-defence system but when taught correctly and studied consciously, offers countless other equally important benefits that help equip the karate-ka (the karate student) to deal with all kinds of situations in everyday life.

The Way of the Empty Hand - is suitable for All

Karate-do was never developed only for the fit, young and strong. The approach to training in Goju Ryu at the Hare-Yama Dojo (see next page) allows anyone, male or female, and regardless of age, to participate and reap the benefits of karate-do training. The only restriction is on young children as some level of understanding and self-control is necessary. Consequently, the Hare-Yama Dojo only accepts children from the age of 5 ½.

What are the benefits of Karate-do training?

There is no magic in karate-do, just imaginative and effective technique. Nothing is free, and all benefits are only earned through the training efforts of the karate-ka. But ultimately, the dedicated karate-ka will be richly rewarded with more than just an effective self-defence system.

What are these additional benefits that the dedicated karate-ka will acquire?

A sound and healthy body
Karate-do training is a complete-body exercise that benefits strength, flexibility, agility and general health.

An agile mind
Concentration and focus are key elements in karate-do training. Training forms involve memory, observation, anticipation and reaction. The mind is exercised through all its facilities.

A greater sense of awareness
Karate training fine tunes the senses that are an important part of the early warning system used to allow one to react timeously in self-defence.

Sound interpersonal values
By its very nature, karate-do training can cause injury to others unless done with full respect for fellow karate-ka. Dojo etiquette controls the training environment and teaches the courtesy, respect, cooperation, self-discipline and many other interpersonal values that help prevent conflicts in life.

Excellent mind and body coordination
All karate-do techniques involve the cycle of observation, thought, reaction, and counter-action. Training forms exercise this cycle and improve the accuracy, speed and correctness of all its components, mental and physical.

The ability to make correct action and reaction
In karate-do training, value systems learned ensure correct action and reaction in any conflict situation - meaning reacting correctly and quickly, through correct observation and correct decision. This becomes part of the karate-ka's way of life, as do self-confidence and the fighting spirit that help one to overcome any obstacle in life.

Control of emotions
Emotions are part of being human and play an important role in interactions between people. Karate-do training helps to teach the karate-ka to suppress negative emotions that encourage conflict, and develop the positive emotions that can diffuse conflict. Courage and self-control will certainly improve.

There are many more benefits, but are too many to present fully here ………….

…. but Master Gichin Funakoshi summed all this up in the statement:

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

What is Goju-Ryu Karate-do?

The usual translation of karate is kara, empty and te, hand, hence empty hand. Do in Japanese means way, but this way means many things, from simple physical things like a road or path, to philosophical concepts like a way of thinking. So karate-do becomes the way of the empty hand. This partly relates to unarmed defence but also refers to the overcoming of other physical and even mental obstacles without having to reach for aids outside of oneself - such as addictive substances.

The Japanese word ryu has a subtle meaning that we translate into English as style. The meaning of this style is, the way of doing things, or a school (of thought). This way of doing things will relate to the methods that the master of the ryu devised to achieve the aims of karate-do. So the techniques of a specific ryu will differ from other ryu and will reflect the philosophy of the master of that ryu. The philosophy of our karate ryu is named Goju

Goju is derived from go meaning hard (as in strong or direct), and ju meaning soft (as in flexible or yielding). This blend of hard soft, goju, integrates various aspects of go and ju into a rounded, flowing martial art that has an important focus on breathing, called ibuki, to produce powerful and fast techniques.

Goju-Ryu at the Hare-Yama Dojo

All Japanese karate-do masters recognise the line of their teachers, Sensei, as the authentication of their own karate-do knowledge. Grand Master, Gogen Yamaguchi Sensei, is the key person in the Goju Ryu line for us. His further development of Goju Ryu in Japan gave it a distinctive character and philosophy of its own. Gogen Yamaguchi Sensei died in 1989, but he left behind a treasure that is Japanese Goju Ryu. Few schools accurately follow his traditional methods now, but some of his dedicated students continue to teach in the true Gogen Sensei way. The Hare-Yama Dojo strives to be amongst these schools.

Stan Holroyd Sensei began studying karate-do at the University of the Witwatersrand, under the tutorship of the Chief Instructor of the JKA in South Africa. Later, as a student and instructor, he practised Goju-Ryu Karate-do under the Chief Instructor of the South African Karate-do Goju-Kai. In late 2003, he joined the International Karate-do Goshin-Kai, whose founder, Deena Naidu Kancho, was a personal student of Gogen Yamaguchi Sensei. Deena Naidu Kancho began his own school, Goshin-Kan (a name given to him by Gogen Yamaguchi Sensei). It has since become the International Karate-do Goshin-Kai and continues to grow as more karate-ka seek a traditional training in the essence of karate-do, self-defence - in all its aspects. Stan Holroyd Sensei is the organisation head of Goshin Kai in South Africa. He focuses on karate-do as an art, not a sport. The friendly but controlled classes remain true to the original teachings and training methods of Gogen Yamaguchi Sensei but still give adequate opportunity for self-expression.

The Higashi Dojo of the Hare-Yama Ryu was founded by Stan Holroyd Sensei in 1984. Two Dojo of the Hare-Yama Ryu are in operation, one at the Somerset West Guide Hall in Lourensford Road (Higashi Dojo) and the other at 27 Vergenoegd St, Heldervue (Nishi Dojo).

Classes - Times and Kyu Levels

Students attend two classes of one hour each per week. As an option, 5-year olds (and others) may choose to attend only one class per week at half the fee. Classes have only two Kyu levels present so that the practice is completely relevant to all students in the class. For more information on Tai Chi, request the Tai Chi brochure.

Training Times - classes are only held during school terms

check the Tai Chi page for more info on tai chi classes

The Grading System and Grading Seminars

Grading Seminars are a means of evaluating a karate-ka's progress. An invitation to attend a Grading Seminar is a privilege earned by a karate-ka through diligence and effort. At a Grading Seminar, the karate-do knowledge and abilities of karate-ka are evaluated to ascertain whether or not they are worthy of promotion. In the Goshin Kai system, there are ten kyu?gradings before the Shodan (first black belt) grading.

The grade levels in Goshin-Kai are:

10th kyu, badge awarded 7th kyu, green belt 4th kyu, 2nd purple belt 1st kyu, 3rd brown belt
9th kyu, yellow belt 6th kyu, blue belt 3rd kyu, 1st brown belt Shodan, black 1st dan
8th kyu, orange belt 5th kyu, 1st purple belt 2nd kyu, 2nd brown belt Nidan, black 2nd dan ..etc

Typical training periods between grades vary from about 4 months for a yellow belt, to about six months for brown belts. However, many factors influence the training periods and will be different for each individual.

The Training Uniform, the Gi. The white karate suit, called a gi, is the standard uniform worn for training. It will not be needed immediately but will be necessary when the karate-ka is invited to attend a grading seminar. It is compulsory for karate-ka of 10th Kyu and above. The Dojo can supply, tried-and-tested gi from reliable sources.

Maxims or Training Virtues - The Dojo Kun

Each karate organisation or Dojo has its own ideals, maxims, or training virtues. Typically they centre on values such as Character, Sincerity, Effort, Etiquette, Self-control, Patience, Temperance, and Respect. Each maxim conveys an underlying ideal that defines the real reason why karate-ka study that specific Ryu of karate-do.

The Hare-Yama Ryu Dojo Kun
(Training Virtues)
Through our training,
we the students of the Hare-Yama Ryu aspire to these virtues:

We strive to understand and live by the way of Goju.

We value good etiquette, respect, honour and loyalty.

We strive to overcome our weaknesses.

We respect our fellow karate-ka, and their strengths and weaknesses.

We respect the Japanese origins and traditions of karate-do.

Gogen Yamaguchi Sensei said "Karate-do is not about fighting, it is about truth".

Truth means truth to oneself of oneself. Confidence comes from knowing one's true abilities and working truthfully
to overcome weaknesses. Full awareness of one's training, is the key.
Most importantly, karate-do training should lead to a better self, not a bigger ego.

An Invitation from Stan Holroyd Sensei

The Hare-Yama Ryu invites anyone interested in karate-do training, to visit our dojo or train with us for two weeks with no obligation, so as to discover the value of this complete and challenging martial art.
I look forward to meeting you.

Please contact me by:
Phone: 021-8516123 or Fax: 021-8516123 or Email: info@hareyamaryu.com

See more on Karate-do at Hare-Yama Ryu

Hare-Yama Ryu is a school of oriental arts based in Somerset West.

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Published by Hare-Yama Ryu Tel: 021-8516123 Fax: 021-8516123 Email: info@hareyamaryu.com
33 Oldenland Street, Somerset West, 7130 South Africa

Website: http://www.hareyamaryu.com

Last updated 2010-04-01 10:58