Strength 1 development is the epicenter of GoJu-Te's physical training. There is a basic reason for this: In combat when the artist strikes his opponent, the opponent must be immobilized. To achieve this the artist must be strong. Without strength combat is not possible and should not be attempted.

Physical strength is generally a product of genetics. One is born physically strong. 2 Genetics is a product of nature and cannot, under ordinary circumstances, be altered. 3 GoJu-Te strength training acknowledges this fact. However, we build upon what nature has endowed with our training program to bring out in the artist all that previously lays dormant within him.

To achieve our goal we apply the body of scientific knowledge that has achieved the best results in the area of physical strength: weight lifting. Weight lifting is the primary species of exercise applied in GoJu-Te strength training. As time is of the essence GoJu-Te has chosen those exercises that produce the best results for our purpose. Let us be clear about our purpose. We begin by eliminating what our purpose is NOT: (a) we are not weight lifters, (b) we are not body builders (all thought this will most likely occur incidentally) and (c) we are not power lifters. This distinction is important because weight training has its addictive qualities that have been known to engulf the athlete and to cause him to make weight training the main course of the training instead of the ancillary that it ought to be. When this occurs the athlete is lured by the physical strength achieved with weight training and often loses sight of the real goal.

Weight training in GoJu-Te has a single purpose: to build gross strength in the major muscle groups as to enable the artist to block, strike and move with the required force. In GoJu-Te the term "gross strength" should be equated with overall strength conditioning and not with the main reason for training.

In GoJu-Te we focus primarily on strength exercises that are involved in our art. We focus on strengthening the muscles that are directly involved in striking, blocking and kicking.

Specific Exercises

(1) Strength is NOT to be confused with striking power. Power in striking requires strength but strength is but one element in the equation. There are other elements perhaps more important than strength. (i.e. timing and balance.)

(2) Here we simply mean that one is born stronger than the average person is.

(3) Anabolic steroids is the general exception a dangerous practice that is discouraged in GoJu-Te training with the strongest possible terms.