The Goju Kai Karate Do is a martial art that puts major emphasis on the sport side of this training more than the exercises and body conditioning methods found in Goju Ryu.  However, the similarities of the techniques employed in both the Goju Kai and Goju Ryu are very distinct.  This may be due to the fact that Goju Kai is really a part of the historical evolution of the Goju Ryu.  Chojun Miyagi named the school founded in 1930 Goju Ryu.  However, during the post war era,  Goju Ryu's national structure was established by Gogen Yamaguchi.  This organization was since then called Karate Do Goju Kai.  Until the present time, Goju Kai Karate Do is still the association that presides over the Goju Ryu Karate Do.  This Association, is now headed by Gogen Yamaguchi's son, Gosei.

 

            Many may not know this but Gogen Yamaguchi was a student of Chjun Miyagi, the founder of Goju Ryu.  Added with his own style, he combined it with the important techniques of Goju Ryu and later came up with the Association of  Goju Kai.  This is one of the main reasons the two martial arts are treated as one. 

 

            Gogen introduced to karate the free sparring training.  Early on,  the attacks and defense techniques done during training are pre-defined.  Goju Kai is known for its clenched-fist logo are are easily recognizable and can be seen on the facades of the number of Goju Kai schools all over the world today.  The insignia on the logo was actually Gogen Yamaguchi's design and was done in 1932.  The insignia is currently protected by different patent and trademark laws of different countries including the United States.  In the 60s, the elder Yamaguchi's sons brought Goju Kai to California, U.S.A.

 

            Now, Goju Kai Karate Do, U.S.A. is a Karate organization headed by Gogen Yamaguchi's able son, Gosei.  To its students called practitioners, the family of Yamaguchi is already considered an institution when it comes to Goju Ryu Karate Do.  In 1964, Gogen sent to the United States Gosei Yamaguchi to bring with him there the art of Goju Kai.  He succeeded in promoting and establishing it there.  Currently, Gosei teaches the martial art in National Headquarters' Honbu Dojo.  Likewise, he also trains Karate at the San Francisco State University.  He teaches there under the Kinesiology Department as part of the curriculum of the university.   It has been his mission ever since, to preserve the Goju Ryu Karate Do martial art according to the Goju Kai tradition and he is definitely succeeding.

 

            Presntly, the number of Goju Ryu karate do schools are increasing rapidly in over fifty countries globally.  Most of these schools, if not all, are still maintaining ties and are continually affiliated with the International Karate Do Goju Kai Association which has its headquarters in Japan and currently led by Saiko Shihan Goshi Yamaguchi.  Saiko is likewise the President of the “All Japan Karate Do Goju Kai Association.