The Origin of Goju-Ryu

When Master Higaonna finally returned to Okinawa, he began combining the stronger elements of te with what he had learned in China. The result was a new Martial Art form, informally called Naha-te, more suited to the needs of his country.
In 1929, delegates assembled in Kyoto for a national Martial Arts convention, Master Higaonna asked Master Chojun Miyagi, his most respected student, to represent him. Master Miyagi, however, was also unable to attend so he, in turn, appointed one of his pupils, Mr. Shinsato, as his replacement.

Martial Artists from school with impressive names flooded the convention. Mr. Shinsato, though, had no ready reply when asked the name of his style. Admitting his style had no formal name would damage the reputation of Naha-te and lower him to mere amateur status in the eyes of his fellow Martial Artists. Having no choice at all, Mr. Shinsato groped for an impromptu name and labelled his style, Hanko-ryu (half-hard style).

When Mr. Shinsato returned to Master Miyagi, he told him of the hastily chosen name. The master, finding it quite reasonable, quoted form the Chinese 'Eight Poems of the Fists': "Everything in the universe is breathing hard and soft… (see AGKK Karate Enthusiast Web under Spirituality)," and so Naha-te formally took the name of Goju-Ryu.

Goju applies to society and Karate alike. Only hardness or only softness creates and inability to deal effectively with the fluctuations of life. Courtesy is a small example of this. Its use can soften an otherwise hard transaction. In Karate, both hardness and softness combine in successful techniques. When preparing to block, the body is soft and inhaling. When attacking or punching, it becomes hard and exhaling. This existence of both hard and soft characterizes Goju-Ryu Karate.