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«Karate is constantly in flux. Change, brought on
by separate people, places and time, is the art's most
characteristic feature. No single man can comprehend
the entirety of karate.»
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N. Gosei Yamaguchi, 1972
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In 1997 Peter Georgiou created the GoJu-Te Ryu (GJT) system of karate as part
of his overall life philosophy.
GoJu-Te Ryu is not a "new" style of karate. GoJu-Te Ryu is a new
"system" of karate. The GoJu-Te Ryu nucleus remains Okinawan Goju-Ryu
Karate Do.
Okinawan GoJu is one of the original styles of karate. GoJu-Te Ryu constitutes
a different method of teaching karate. In GJT we are not trying to re-create
karate or Goju-Ryu, instead we are interpreting and applying karate and Goju
differently. Through GJT we are also responding to the present status of the
martial arts, a status that we believe has drifted far away from the true
spirit of the art.
Professor Georgiou began his martial arts study in 1970 (at the age of 11) at the
New York Karate Academy, New York City, under the tutelage of Master Aaron
Banks (10th degree black belt in Japanese GoJu Ryu). At that time Master Bank's
organization was under the umbrella of the GoJu Kai led by Grand Master Gogen
Yamaguchi. (Master Yamaguchi was promoted to the rank of Red Belt (10th degree
black belt) by Grand Master
Chojun Miyagi,
the founder of GoJu Ryu.
)
In 1975 Professor Georgiou was promoted to the rank of black belt by Master Banks
and continued to train at the New York Karate Academy. In 1974 Professor Georgiou
also received instruction from sensei John Kuhl, Combat Karate, in New York City.
In 1976 Professor Georgiou moved from New York City to Boston, Massachusetts, to
attend the University of Massachusetts, where he received a Bachelor of Science
Degree. For the remainder of the 1980's while he pursued his academic and
professional careers
Professor Georgiou studied other styles of martial arts including Shorinji Kenpo
and Shotokan.
Following twenty-eight years of academic study (which has included the natural
science, psychology and nutrition) and training in the martial arts Professor
Georgiou developed the GoJu-Te Ryu system of karate. This as a response to his
belief that the "traditional" methods (or schools) of karate have not
been able to adequately develop a broad methodology of instruction; a
methodology that can be applied beyond the confines of the dojo.
In the words of Professor Georgiou:
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"Most of karate, as practiced today in the United States, is interested
only in business development. That is opposite to the true spirit of karate.
Karate was never intended to be a 'business'. Indeed, Master
Miyagi
never charged for instruction. Rather, it was intended to develop the
individual; develop a strong mind and body; develop good citizens through
systematic method of teaching that focuses as much on the spirit as it does
on the body.
As a result of this commercialization, the spirit of karate, and consequently
its evolution, has stagnated. Commercialization of karate by necessity (markets
require a fast turn-over) must focus on the sensational part of karate; namely
the kumite. The sensational is always easier than the spiritual to propagate,
that is because it attracts crowd and makes money. Thus, in the 1970's, 1980's
and the 1990's we had a bastardization of karate, namely "things"
such as kickboxing and full contact "professional" karate. These have
nothing at all to do with karate or the daily lives of people. They have much
to do with Ancient Roman spectacles.
GJT is designed to deal with these concerns. That is the Reason we are the
strictest school in the United States when it comes to our criteria in the
student Selection and in student retention process. We want only the most
serious minds in our system because we want to make a life long contribution to
society and not simply to profit or to win a tournament title.
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GoJu-Te is a methodology of life not solely a style of karate. In GJT
instruction focuses on the spirit. GJT strives to build character not fighting
machines; it strives to create a rational and thinking student. A student that
cares equally about what happens inside as well as outside the dojo. The
development of the student comes through the application of GJT's methodology
of instruction. An instruction whose basic principles are:
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understanding the nature and the place of karate,
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learning the elements and the discipline of karate,
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the development of the human spirit, and
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creating critical thinking and applying it to daily life.
Evolution was another concern of Professor Georgiou and a major factor in his
breaking with "tradition" leading to the creation of GJT.
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"Every living things must to evolve. Karate is a living thing, and as such
it too must evolve and has. The great masters of Karate understood the process
of Evolution. They understood its necessity. Masters such as
Miyagi
who learned from Master Kenryo Higashionna, Who in turn learned from Master
Ryu Ko were in essence evolving themselves as well as a form of martial art.
Through these three men evolved GoJu Ryu: from various kung fu techniques to
Naha-Te, and then finally to GoJu Ryu. This is evolution. Under this historical
fact, it is very difficult to understand the obsessive clinging of so many to
the so-called 'traditional' form of the style? What is to be gained by not
improving the old? Or is the old perfect absolute that it can only be harmed
by improvement? Clearly not. If that were the case we would not have GoJu Ryu.
And it is precisely for this reason that we now have GJT."
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Evolution assures that the idea will survive into the future. Without evolution
a great idea may wither away. By introducing new ideas and new methodology into
the basic GoJu nucleus we are providing not only new methodology that will
produce better karateka but also that GoJu will continue to survive as a style.
The purpose of GoJu-Te Ryu is to build character in human beings. To create
students whose dignity, humanity, strength and composure are examples to be
emulated by others. GJT's purpose is to enhance the civil education of its
students and to have them transfer the skills they acquire in training to
society in general. To accomplish this purpose our dojo is viewed as our
spiritual temple: A place where one's character is the focus of instruction; a
place where only the most serious minds are accepted for instruction.
Goju-Te is not for everyone it is reserved for only the most serious students
of life. But our doors are open to all that qualify. GoJu-Te Ryu provides an
equal opportunity for all to learn.
We believe that those who are worthy will remain.
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