Karate (Goju-Ryu)

Karate comes from the Japanese meaning “empty hands”, referring to a martial art not requiring actual weapons (instead using the human body as a weapon), as well as the Zen sense of being ’empty’ of aggressive thought.  The “do” suffix means “way“.

Karate had its developments on the small island of Okinawa, part of the Ryukyu island chain that (both culturally and geographically) links China and Japan. Its origins lie in China.

Hobart PCYC welcomes all people to attend our Karate classes and give it a go. Your first visit will be free, so if you are interested come along and try it out!

Karate can assist to develop your confidence and character along with the many athletic traits including strength, power, speed, agility and flexibility.  Our Karate programs aim to encourage, inspire, challenge and develop skills to thrive.

The Club endeavours to take a balanced approach to all the elements of karate. Those elements include:

• Self-defence
• Sparring
• Fitness
• Yoga
• Stamina
• Meditation

Balance is important because the emphasis students place on the different elements of martial arts changes with time. A balanced approach gives members the opportunity to explore different aspects of the art as their martial arts knowledge increases.

What happens in a training session:

• Exercises to develop flexibility, strength and physical fitness (both aerobic and anaerobic). The exercises include yoga and tai-chi type forms.
• Repetition of techniques (punches, kicks, blocks etc.) with appropriate power, coordination and mental attitude.
• Kata – set fighting sequences with imaginary opponents.
• Set movements with partners of attack and defence (including grappling, takedowns, throws and locks).
• Free sparring. The objective of free sparring at the Club is not to beat or harm the sparring partner. The objective is to improve fluidity, timing and distance in executing techniques and to assist the sparring partner to do so also. Blows are pulled or controlled to ensure safety. Students do not participate in free sparring until they have attained an adequate level of proficiency to do so with control and without adversely affecting technique.
• Grappling and throwing on mats.

History of the Current Master - Hanshi Kenshu Hideo Watanabe

BORN in Tokyo, Japan, in 1946, Hanshi Watanabe has been training and studying the martial arts for in excess of 40 years.

He competed in local junior Sumo competitions between 8 and 13 years of age and started judo training at 15, attaining the rank of Nidan (2nd Dan) in Kodokan Judo at age 18.

He was initiated into Goju-Ryu Karate-do by Master Masashi Sudo in 1963, at age 17.

In 1969 Hanshi Watanabe, as a member of the legendary Tokyo team, competed in the first All Japan Karate-do Championships conducted by the Japan Karate Federation.

Then, in 1972, Hanshi Watanabe left Tokyo for his new post at Seiko Time Corporation in Toronto, Canada where he stayed for three years. During his stay, he practised karate at Sensei Tsumura's karate school (Itosukai Shito-Ryu) as Sensei Tsuruoka's karate school (Chito-Ryu and Shotokan style) as a guest instructor.

At the age of 29 Hanshi Watanabe was awarded the rank of Godan (5th Dan) by the Japanese Karate Federation and at that time was one of the youngest 5th Dans in the federation.

Hanshi Watanabe came to Australia in 1977 and in 1982 his organisation, Shubukai, was admitted into the Australian Karate Federation.

In 1979 Hanshi Watanabe received his Bubishi Master's Degree in Goju-Ryu karate-do from his teacher, Master Masashi Sudo.

By 1983 Hanshi Watanabe had resigned from Seiko Australia to become a professional karate teacher.

Hanshi Watanabe's karate lineage can be traced back through masters Masashi Sudo, Sosui Ichikawa, Kanki Izumikawa and Seiko Higa to the founder of Goju-Ryu, Chojun Miyagi and his master, Kanryo Higaonna.

A founding member of the Kokusai Karate-do Shihan Kai (International Karate Masters Society), Hanshi Watanabe was awarded Hachidan (8th Dan) by Master Sudo in 1997 and Kyudan (9th Dan) in 2010.

Our Lineage