Frequently Asked Questions

Only yourself. If you’re just starting out, just come in sports gear and bring some water. No need for a Gi or a belt until you’re feeling settled.

When ready, there is contact and conditioning along with sparring. We cater to everyone’s individual needs and experience level. No one is thrown in at the deep end.

Not at all. We welcome complete beginners with no previous experience. Likewise we have students with multiple disciplines under their belt welcome those from all styles.

Goju-Ryu Karate was founded by Chojun Miyagi Shihan on the Japanese island of Okinawa.

We have several socials a year, along with holding additional training sessions outside of class. For those interested, we travel up and down the country and further afield to intensive training sessions known as a ‘Gasshuku’.

The name Goju-Ryu means ‘hard and soft’ style.

The Goju-Ryu syllabus is wide and varied. You’ll learn how to defend yourself in the street, whilst also learning traditional Karate Katas, stances, applications and skills.

No. In the UK, all classes are taught in English, with key terms and phrases spoken in Japanese. By the time you reach black belt level, you won’t be able to have a conversation in Japanese, but you will know sufficient Japanese commands to be able to train in Okinawa.