Gōjū-ryū

Gōjū-ryū (剛柔流), Japanese for "hard & soft style", is one of the main traditional Okinawan styles of karate, featuring a combination of hard and soft techniques.

Gō, which means hard, refers to closed hand techniques or straight linear attacks.

Jū, which means soft, refers to open hand techniques and circular movements.

Gōjū-ryū incorporates both circular and linear movements into its curriculum, combining hard striking attacks such as kicks and close hand punches with softer open hand circular techniques for attacking, blocking, and controlling the opponent, including joint locks, grappling, takedowns, and throws.

Major emphasis is given to breathing correctly in all of the kata but particularly in the Sanchin kata (green belt) which is one of two core kata of this style. The second kata is called Tensho (brown belt), meant to teach the student about the soft style of the system.

Gōjū-ryū practices methods that include body strengthening and conditioning, its basic approach to fighting (distance, stickiness, power generation, etc.), and partner drills.