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.
APPROACH TO TRAINING
There is no first strike in karate.
Go Ju Ryu Founder, Chojun Miyagi
We take a traditional approach to karate. Our focus is on individual growth & character-building through long-term training in a traditional martial art. We believe that everyone can benefit from karate practice, regardless of age. Students progress at their own rate, and are not pushed to test for higher belts before they are ready. While we support students who wish to participate in tournaments, we are focused on traditional training.
Our approach is based on our principles:
• Character: through the practice of karate we develop greater self-awareness and grow as human beings.
• Respect: We learn to respect ourselves and others.
• Patience: The benefits of karate training begin within months, but mastery takes years and perfection takes a lifetime.
• Prudence: As a martial art, karate is purely for self-defense and is never to be used for agression. Students must learn when to avoid conflict, when to defend and when to counter-attack
• Self-control: Students are taught to control their techniques and their emotions. Karate techniques can disable or kill if applied with full force. For this reason, students learn to use their techniques while avoiding contact to vulnerable areas such as the head, face, throat, joints, and groin. They also learn to maintain composure through structured sparring practice.
• Courage: karate teaches us to face challenges and overcome fears.
• Perseverance: Mastering new techniques and katas requires dedication. Students learn the rewards of perseverance, and carry this lesson into their lives.
• Courtesy: As karate students we must always act in a polite and honourable manner. We must never act in a way that brings the practice of karate into disrepute.
RULES OF THE DOJO
1. Be proud of Go-Ju Ryu membership and always be modest and prudent, never conducting yourself violently or in a disorderly fashion.
2. Build character correctly through practice in the correct way.
3. No smoking or drinking at the dojo.
4. Bow when entering the dojo.
5. Remove shoes before entering the dojo.
6. Junior belts always respect senior belts and accept advice without question.
7. Senior belts teach junior belts with kindness and patience.
8. When Sensei calls "Shugo," come quickly and shout "OOOSS."
9. Pay respect to all martial arts.
10. Bow when leaving the dojo.
CLASS FORMAT
Bow In
Every class begins with "Shoma ni rei" (a bow to the spirit of karate) and "Mokusou" (a short meditation to focus our minds leave our other concerns outside the dojo). Students then bow to the instructors, and the practice begins.
Training
Practice begins with a warm-up that includes limbering, stretching and strengthening exercises. Following warm-up, classes include some combination of kata (forms), techniques, kumite (sparring drills), self-defense, and kubudo (weapons).
Bow Out
At the end of class, students do "Mokusou" to calm the mind, "Shoma ni rei", and bow to the instructors before leaving the dojo.