Gosei Yamaguchi

Gosei Yamaguchi (1935 - )

Norimi Gosei Yamaguchi is the eldest son of Gogen Yamaguchi. Under his father's tutelage he studied Japanese Goju-Ryu, and earned a Judo black belt from the Kodokan.

Gosei Yamaguchi came to the U.S. in 1964 to replace his brother, Gosen Yamaguchi, as director of the Goju-Karate club at San Francisco State College. In 1967 he became one of the first martial arts instructors to serve on the faculty at an American college.

Gosei Yamaguchi is noted for his teaching of the physically and mentally handicapped. In 1972 he was chosen to the Black Belt Hall of Fame; in 1975 he became a member of Who's Who in the Martial Arts. He is the author of two books: "Fundamentals of Goju-Ryu Karate" and "Goju-Ryu Karate II".

Yamaguchi promoted number of tournaments in the San Francisco area, among them 1966 California Goju kai Karate do Championships, 1967 North-South California Karate Tournament, 1967 All Goju kai Karate do Championship, 1968 and 1970 National Goju kai Karate do Championships, and 1972 AAU National Invitational Karate do Championships.


Gosen Yamaguchi

Gosen Yamaguchi ( - )

US Goju kai has been in existence since 1963 as a major division of the International Karate do Goju kai. Kishio Gosen Yamaguchi, second son of Gogen Yamaguchi, the first instructor to introduce the complete Goju kai program to the United States. During his tenure as Chief Instructor, Gosen Yamaguchi established the first Goju kai Karate-Club at San Francisco State College in the summer of 1963.

On a Side note Kishio Yamaguchi (Gosen) returned home to help teach at the Honbu Dojo assisting his father and to continue his college studies. He returned to San Francisco in 1966 with his new bride.

Then followed by returning to Japan and went on to become employed and later the Vice-President of the now Major Airline Japan Airlines (JAL) which would explain the sponsorship success of the Goju Ryu Kai by JAL through out the 1970’s.

Gosen Yamaguchi died in early 1990's.


Goshi Yamaguchi

Goshi Yamaguchi (1942- )

Hirofumi Goshi Yamaguchi was born in Shinjing, Manchuria on September 28, 1942, as the 3rd son of Kaiso (the Founder) Master Gogen Yamaguchi. In 1951, at the age of eight, he began practicing karate do at Senzoku Dojo in Asakusa. He received the 1st dan in 1957 and the 2nd dan in 1959. In 1962 he became a 3rd dan holder and an Instructor.

He entered Nihon University in 1963, majoring in cinema studies in the Department of Arts. While he was a student, he had an opportunity to teach karate do at an American branch dojo for a year. After he came back to Japan, he taught in various Goju ryu dojo. He graduated from University in 1969, when he became a full time Shihan in the head dojo with a view to promote and develop Goju ryu Karate do. He has visited and taught in more than 40 countries in the world thus far as an authorized instructor of Goju kai, All Japan Karate do Federation, Tokyo karate Federation, and as an international referee.

After Gogen Yamaguchi died, 20th May 1989, Goshi Yamaguchi was appointed to president of All Japan Karate do Goju kai Association, International Karate do Goju kai Association, and Saiko Shihan (Grand Master) for these two associations.