Ku Yu Kai stands for Karate Friendship Association. We invite you to nurture your inner "karate kid" in a friendly and safe class environment. Learn basic and advanced techniques, self defense, the graceful art of kata (forms), kumite (sparring), and kubudo (weapons) while improving your strength, flexibility and focus.
We practice traditional Japanese Go Ju Ryu.
Go Ju Ryu is one of the main traditional styles of karate. It is characterized by the use of both hard and soft techniques.Go Ju Ryu uses many more circular and open hand techniques than other styles of karate.
Go (hard) refers to closed hand techniques or straight linear attacks. Ju (soft) refers to open hand techniques and circular movements. Go Ju Ryu incorporates both circular and linear movements, combining hard striking attacks such as kicks and closed hand punches with softer open hand circular techniques for attacking, blocking, and controlling the opponent, including locks, grappling, takedowns and throws.
Another feature of Go Ju Ryu is the emphasis on breathing correctly in all of the katas. In particular, we focus on breathing in our two core katas: Sanchin and Tensho.
Go Ju Ryu was founded by Shihan Chojun Miyagi and is the style featured in the original Karate Kid movies.
The Origins of Karate
Karate originated in Okinawa, in the Ryu Kyu islands of southern Japan. Its roots come from the Shaolin Temple in China. In 1488 Lord Shoshin prohibited the use of arms in Okinawa. This sparked the development of Karate-do. In the beginning, Karate-do was called Te (hand or hands). In the late eighteenth century, Te was incorporated in the Okinawan high school system as a physical training program and called Karate (empty hands). At that time, two styles of karate developed: Shuri-te under Master Anko Itosu, and Naha-te under Master Kanryo Higashiona.
In time, Shuri-te became Shotokan, and Naha-te became Go Ju Ryu. Master Chojun Miyagi is recognized as the father of Go Ju Ryu, and is known as the "First Saint."
Ku Yu Kai Canada
Ku Yu Kai was established by Saiko Shihan Osamu Hirano Saiko Shihan has practiced Go Ju Ryu karate since 1953, & trained with many of Master Chojun Miyagi’s original students, including Shozo Ujita - of whom he became a disciple - Gogen Yamaguchi, Meitoku Yagi, Kenzo Uchiage, Tomoharu Kizaki, & Yukinori Uehara.
After leading the Isao Kenbukan dojo for many years, Saiko Shihan Hirano started his independent dojo in 1985 and established Ku Yu Kai. (All Japan Goju-Ryu Karatedo Kuyukai) Shihan George Chan brought Ku Yu Kai to Canada in 1985 After many years of training in Canada and abroad. Shihan Chan is the leader of Ku Yu Kai for Canada, the United States and Hong Kong.
Ku Yu Kai currently has 13 dojos in Japan and 14 international branches in 13 countries, each with many dojos. Ku Yu Kai Canada has six dojos in the metropolitan region of Vancouver.
Musota, Wakayama Japan (13 Dojos)
International Branches:
