TRUTH ABOUT GOJU RYU - II ... " ? "
There is no doubt that GOJU RYU is one of the oldest Karate's styles and, although it seems that SHORIN RYU is previous, and it has so many years, that the difference of apparition between one and the other is insignificant, and impossible to measure.
Because of this reason we can affirm that both are the oldest styles - in Karate - since this Martial Art is known.
It is very difficult to specify if it was by decision of Japan, or by the western avidity - or for both things - that Karate opens up toward our countries; but the concrete thing is that Japanese Masters - mainly of GOJU RYU - they were spread by the western countries, many times subsidized by the governments, or the armies, of these countries. - It happens then, that in the same way as in Japan, Karate entered throught the richest classes, and it doesn't arrive "from first hand" to the popular masses, but through some advanced student of these Masters. -
But this is not the bad thing, since many of these students - now professors - they put the best of himself, when learning, and when teaching. -
The bad thing is that the colonies of Japanese peasants that emigrated searching a better future, saw that to satisfy the people's necessity to learn this Art, was more revenue-yielding that work the earth. Then supposed masters began to arise all around western countries. -
The "ART" with UPPERCASE LETTERS becomes in "art" with minuscule letters, and differences of all type appeared, explained in function of different interpretations, when in fact they had not a deep knowledge, neither the technique, nor the philosophy that these pseudo mastes sought to teach. -
Then, mystic explanations appeared for postures of "masters", that supposedly were meditating when in fact they were sleeping, and that - arguing a superior philosophy - while supposedly taught to their students how to defend thenselves, they advised that if somebody hit them on the cheek, then they have to offer the other one.
Although the explanation was a "superior attitude" very difficult to accept by Western people, in fact they were curing in health, because if one of these "masters" were provoked - or they were even hit - and when trying to defend they were not successful, surely they lose all the clients.
The vortex of the competition elevated this problem to the umpteenth power. Then this pseudo masters reached any agreement, and they became to be used by the "office workers" of the karate world organizations. -
Then appeared 10º Danes; then 12º; etc., becoming a never end up story. -
The differences were minimized and the Katas were simplified and clipped. Also this pseudo masters sought to unify the executions, with the excuse of facilitating the judgement of the referees (that were themselves and some people with better technically qualification that also entered in this business), when in fact the reason was to hide their own inability, and lack of knowledge.
The same thing happened with other styles, but luckily true "MASTERS" appeared, and - although they could not impede it - they preferred not to enter in this lie, and achieved a fair balance among the original, traditional and orthodox Art, and the reality of the time that makes everything dynamic and evolve, although regrettably many times goes back.
Today, the KARATE WORLD FEDERATION - that is a necessary lie, but lie at last - recognizes only twelve Katas for GOJU RYU, although experienced Masters as SEIICHI AKAMINE, GOGEN "CAT" YAMAGUCHI and SEIKICHI TOGUCHI practice - or practiced - other very old katas of Chinese origin, such as UNSHU, CHINTO CHI, NISEI SHI, KENSHIN RYU, WANSHU, RYU FA, JU KAN SHU, HOTAKU and others.
Shihan Seiichi Yoshitaka Akamine is the creator of KENSHIN RYU, that - more than a style - is a form of life, and a technical, scientific and philosophical teaching method. This style - based on GOJU RYU - takes important aspects from SHURI TE, SHOREI KAN, SHORIN RYU, SHITO RYU, UECHI RYU and AIKIDO, styles in which Master Akamine was also expert. -
Master Akamine was one of the "TRUE MASTERS" that in 1957 arrived to Brazil, Uruguay and Chile, required by the respective martial artists of these countries. He never agreed with the competition of sport karate, neither he agreed with bad handlings. Nevertheless, today, most of the Schools that he opened up in these countries, stopped as Schools and became as organizations that now are in hands of administrative people, who some time put on a karategi just to dishonor it.
These "office workers" of karate sometimes sit down in the directive commissions of the karate federations of their countries, to do anything - or to do very little and bad - and in the same way as in the F.M.K.; P.U.K.O. and S.U.K.O., they buy false degrees, or they grant it degrees to themselves, at the same time that they lie a karate, that some time practiced, but that today is nothing. Since 1987 Master Akamine removed his support for these persons, and then they have been named "masters" to themselves.
Today, in Uruguay there is a School - created by Shihan Akamine – leadered by Sensei Juan Carlos Rius ("PA CHI"), and technically directed by Fernando Prieto, denominated "TOKU IN KAN".
For Master Akamine's indication, in this School are trained SEVERAL KATAS that are not recognized by F.M.K. for GOJU RYU style. Of course, the twelve official katas recognized by F.M.K also are trained.
Master Gogen Yamaguchi was the creator of "GOJU KAI JK", Organization that he leaved because of similar reasons that Master Akamine had. -
Already died, he was a deep specialist of GOJU RYU, and about many years he was considered as a maximum figure of this style. -
His sons continued him, and one of them - today leader of the INTERNATIONAL GOJU-RYU KARATE DO - who was in our country, gave me the opportunity to see a beautiful Kata that I didn't know.
Some people have the audacity to say that he was expelled, in order to explain Master Yamaguchi's (and his family) distance of the GOJU-KAI that himself had created.
This makes me remember a note that arrived to ALL THE ASSOCIATIONS and FEDERATIONS OF KARATE in URUGUAY; to THE EDUCATION AND CULTURE MINISTRY; to the NATIONAL COMMISSION OF PHYSICAL EDUCATION; to the CARRASCO NAUTICO CLUB; and to the NATIONAL SELECTION OF KARATE of that moment (1988/89), entities to those - in some way – me, and another Professor (in that moment my partner), we were linked. This note communicated that both, we had been expelled from the organization to the one we belonged in that moment. -
What didn't arrive to all those organisms, was a later note communicating that everything was an interpretive error, and that the supposed expulsion was without effect. Only the URUGUAYAN CONFEDERATION OF KARATE, my partner and me, received this note.
For our own decision, mi partner and me (also many studentes that accompanied our feeling, and reason) left this organization. However some people say, or they believe, that we were expelled.
I don't seek in any way to make a comparison among a Master as Gogen Yamaguchi's with my former partner and with me.
I am only relating a true history, so the people that read this note know how are managed this things, when it prevail personal interests of "small people", that today calls themselves "masters", and don't hesitate in buying - and selling - false degree diplomas.
Also in Master Yamaguchi's School are practiced Katas that are not inside the twelve that F.M.K. recognizes for GOJU RYU.
Master Seikichi Toguchi is the creator of SHOREI KAN ,worldwide recognized by his equals as one of the faithfulest followers of the traditional and orthodox GOJU RYU. - He continues as leader of his School, but he doesn't have any relationship with the international organisms that manage - I think that it is the most correct thing to say manage, than to say directs - the Karate in the world. -
Master Tokuchi also practices other Katas outside of the twelve that F.M.K. says that are the only officials for GOJU RYU.
Then, which is the true... ? The one that arises from the statements of the F.M.K. (FORMER-WUKO) - that among so many other nonsenses and absurd things, don't recognize the SHORIN RYU as an official style - or the one that would arise from recongnized experts MASTERS in GOJU RYU, and that it is demonstrated with "FACTS"... ?
I think that in the same way that in the first article of THE TRUTH ABOUT GOJU RYU "?", it continues equally effective the interrogation sign of the title.
Footnote
List of common's Katas to all lines of Goju Ryu endorsed by World Karate Federation (Former-Wuko)
- Gei Ki Sai Ichi or Gei Ki Sai Sho Dan
- Gei Ki Sai Ni or Gei Ki Sai Ni Dan
- Sai Fa or Sai Ha
- Seinchin or Seiunchi or Seionchin or Seionchi
- Sei Pai or Se Pai or Ju Hachi Te
- Shi Soochin or Sisochin
- San Sei Ryu or Sanseiru or Sanseru
- Sei San Te or Sesan
- Kururun Fa or Kururun Ha or Kuru Tonfa or Kuru Un Fa or Kuru Un Ha
- Shuparinpei or Suparunpei or Ichi Hyaku Hachi Te or Peechurin
- Sanchin
- Tensho
Sensei Fernando Prieto ( Ryufa-no-Kamae = year 1985)