Our HISTORY
System Founder's Past and Present
Okinawa and Japan marks the origin of the Goju style founded by the honorable Chojun Miyagi (1888-1953). Honorable Miyagi reformed his former styles after mastering "Chinese Kempo" and "Naha-te", he named the style "Goju-Ryu Karate". Meitoku Yagi became the successor of Okinawan Goju-Ryu Karate, after the death of the honorable Miyagi. Moreover, Gogen Yamaguchi was designated as the successor of Japenese Goju-Ryu in Japan. In 1935 Gogen Yamaguchi established the "All Japan Goju-Kai Karate-do Association" in Kyoto, Japan
O'Sensei Peter Urban, a disciple of Gogen Yamaguchi brought the style of Goju-Ryu to the United States in 1959. In 1964 O'Sensei Peter Urban founded the U.S.A. Goju Association. Master's Frank Ruiz, Harry Rosentein and Ron Taganashi, all students of Grandmaster Peter Urban, founded the Nisei Goju Ryu system in 1969.
Grandmaster Ron Van Clief founded the Chinese Goju system on January 25, 1971. Grandmaster Van Clief is a disciple of Grandmaster Peter Urban, Frank Ruiz, Moses Powell and Leung Ting. After many years of study in Karate, Aiki-Jutsu, Ju-Jutsu, Zen-Jutsu and Kung-Fu, Grandmaster Ron Van Clief desired to bring the Goju system closer to its Chinese roots, due to the distinct ideologies of the Japanese, Chinese and American cultures. He combined the animal forms and soft aspects of his Chinese arts training, with the hard and soft characteristics of Japenese Martial arts.
Thomas L. Felder (Peacemaker), a descendent of Chinese Goju founded the Tensho Goju system on January 1, 2009. Tensho Goju is a compilation of Goju Ryu, Chinese Goju, Aiki Jitsu, Tae Kwon Do, Wing Chun and Armed Forces Combative. Tensho Goju maintains its vigor of Goju Ryu with stances, breathing, strikes and several kata. Felder’s interpretation for Tensho can be best defined as “Rotating Palms of Hard and Soft". Tensho Goju embraces consistency and adaptation to the ever changing environment and human behavior. Defense is the primary objective of Tensho Goju and the ability to deliver immediate counter-applications that will render an antagonist defenseless.