Since 1999, Hourahine’s Martial Arts has been committed to providing an opportunity for all to reach a new level of personal excellence through the study and application of Karate-Do.

In simple terms, Karate Do (empty hand way) is a system of self defense designed to teach students to use their hands, feet, elbows and knees for self defense purposes.

In a broader sense, Karate helps practitioners strengthen and unify the mind, body and spirit to help better themselves in all aspects of life. Goju Ryu Karate Do is the particular style of self defense studied here at Hourahine’s Martial Arts.

Our instructors have the opportunity to train at the systems roots in Okinawa, Japan as well as other national and international events. Our programs are broken down into child, youth and adult classes. This insures that each group gets a program specific to their mental, physical and social needs.

Components of the program include:

KIHON AND IDO (basics and movement) – Kihon and ido form the building blocks of the goju system. At each kyu level students are required to learn and master various blocks, strikes, kicks, throws, submissions, combinations and methods of movement. It is important to become very familiar with the techniques at each level as comprehension of these techniques forms the foundation for future training. This component of the program is merely the beginning, during practice students must endeavor to refine the techniques and then learn to apply them with skill in the various applications.

KATA (forms) – Kata means “shape, form, pattern”. It is a series of movements and a complete body of knowledge including the steps, the techniques, the rhythm, the mental discipline, the breathing and so on. Kata contains the historical and technical roots of Gojuryu karatedo and adherence to the Yamaguchi way of performing kata ensures that students maintain the continuity with and respect for the tradition. Each belt level has required kata to be learned and refined and eventually can become a means of self-expression in the way of karate. Students must also learn and demonstrate the kata with attackers. This formalized pattern is known as bunkai (breakdown, analysis).

KUMITE (crossing hands / sparring) – The study of kumite, sparring and self defense, is an essential component of the Gojukai training program. This study allows the student to learn the correct distancing, timing and targeting needed to successfully apply karate techniques. The sparring program of the Gojukai is progressive; designed to gradually increase the student’s confidence, technique and understanding of karate. The program begins with pre-arranged sparring drills (Yakasuko Kumite) and grows into more free, limited contact drills and eventually jiyu kumite, in which techniques are performed with full speed and power while maintaining good composure and control. This free sparring has several divisions: WKF Kumite is the sport application of sparring involving points for kicks, strikes, and throws.

PHYSICAL CONDITIONING – A portion of each class is dedicated to increasing physical fitness in areas such as strength, muscular endurance, reaction, stamina, flexibility and balance.