What is
Goju Ryu Karate?
空手 Karate means "empty hand" and refers to unarmed self-defence. Translated, Goju Ryu means "hard and soft style" and is based on ancient forms—predefined movement sequences known as kata. These forms convey a primal power and thrive on dynamic contrasts: the interplay between round, soft movements and fast, hard ones.
Goju Ryu was officially founded in 1933 by Chojun Miyagi. In Okinawa, though Goju Ryu Karate was developed much earlier and was only introduced throughout Japan from 1930 onwards. Under the guidance of our Japanese master Matsuura Kozo, we have been promoting this style in Zurich since 1972.
The DNA of Goju Ryu
is close combat
We combine hard and elastic elements in close quarters: hard strikes and elastic defences. Goju Ryu was created purely for self-defence:
- Reduced to the essentials
- Effective against attacks
Unlike some martial arts, Goju Ryu Karate is not limited to attacks with fists and feet or blocks with the arms, but uses a wide range of techniques: from finger techniques and throws to joint locks and breaking techniques. This style emerged from the synthesis of Chinese Kung Fu and Japanese martial arts and is often copied because of its efficiency. Its efficiency has led to it being frequently emulated.
The meaning of
Karate Do
Karate-do
"Every martial arts student strives to achieve the best possible technique. However, technique alone is not enough to become a good student. It requires mental training in terms of morals and ethics just as much as physical training. Mental training means cultivating character and developing mental strength. They help us progress in our development. This has universal significance beyond the martial arts.
In the martial arts, we deal with fights or conflicts between two people. Through hard training, we can achieve harmony in interpersonal relationships and thus calm our minds. In this development lies the meaning of Do. Good teachers with superior technique and integrity of character are essential. They motivate and guide students so that they can understand the meaning of Do."
Kozo Matsuura, Founder…
The name of our club
尚 武 館 – Shobukan
Our name, Shobukan, is a gift from our Sensei to our karate club. By tradition, this name is bestowed by a Japanese master to mark the founding of a dojo. Roughly translated, our name signifies "House of Reverence for the Martial Arts."
