(text by Chojun Miyagi, Sensei)

Meibukan Goju Karate Association

Sharon Alward is aYondan, 4th degree black belt in Goju-Ryu Karate, one of the four founding classical traditional Karate styles. Goju is a traditional system which means it is non-sport, and non-competitive. The roots of Meibukan Goju Karate and the principles of Goju Ryu go back to China. Okinawa and Japan. The fluidity of Chinese White Crane Kempo, the basics of the southern Shorin-ji of China, the northern Chinese techniques of smooth Hakke Sho palm techniques, and Tai Chi Chaun have all contributed to Goju Ryu practice and philosophy. White Crane's influence and contribution of eight fundamental principles to Goju-Ryu is summed up in this poem.

To inhale and exhale

To float above the earth

or to root yourself like an oak

To be Hard, to be Soft

To move lightening quick

or to be as still as silence

The characters Go and Ju ( hard and soft ) are among those principles represented and point to Goju Ryu's lineage to White Crane and Shorin-ji. (Goju-Ryu Karate Do, Vol. 2, Motoo Yamakura, 1998)

Intro

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