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Goju ryu was founded by the Okinawan master Higaonna Kannryo (1853-1917). Higaonna was born in Nishimura (Naha area of Okinawa) and trained in the Okinawan fighting art of Te. After a while he studied under Arakaki Seisho of Kume Mura.
Higaonna became apprentice to the trader Yoshimura Udum and made several trips to China. Here he came in contact with the Chineese martial arts. He remained in Fukien Province and studied with a master of the Hung style. It is supposed he incorporated Shaolin traditions with a series of Chineese Katas and developed them into his own katas.
Higaonna eventually returned to Okinawa and began teaching Naha te karate. His first student and successor was Miyagi Chojun (1888-1963). Miyagi is responsible for developing Naha te into the Goju ryu practice today (1930). He was born in Higashi Machi in Naha and began training under Higaonna at the age of fourteen. Miyagi later travelled to China to locate Higaonna's teacher. His travelling companion was the naturalised Japaneese Yoshikawa, a student of Peh Hoke ("White Crane").
Miyagi introduced the kata Tensyo and made up two elementary katas for teaching children. The core of his training remained Sanchin which he considered an invaluable aid to learning the style. His analogy was of the willow tree yielding to the hurricane but returning to it's origional shape after the wind died down. This is how he felt people should react in kartae; yielding to a strong attack but ever ready to snap back.
Miyagi taught karate until his death from a brain haemorrhage at the age of 65. His training was carried on in Japan by his senior student, Yamaguchi Gogen.
Goju Ryu means "hard soft way". In Goju-ryu, emphasis is placed on the combining of soft circular blocking techniques along with quick strong counter attacks which are delivered in rapid succession. It utilizes up and down stances and internal breathing power (known as "hard and soft" techniques). Katas such as Sanchin (Naha-te) and Rohai (Tomari-te) demonstrate these techniques well.
In 1931, Goju-ryu Karate-Do was officially registered in the Butokukai. This is the center for all martial arts in Japan. It was a milestone for karate as it was now recognized on a level with other highly respected martial arts forms.
American Goju Karate has developed using major influences from Tae-Kwon-Do Karate (Korea) and Shotokan Karate (Japan), along with other styles.
