Grand Master Peter Urban
The Grand Patriarch of ALL American Goju Systems, is Peter G. Urban, who has made such a tremendous impact on American karate that he has been referred to as the "George Washington of American Karate". Master Urban initially was a student of Richard Kim and Mas Oyama before being introduced to Gogen Yamaguchi. He then became a devoted student of Yamaguchi.
In 1969, Master Urban made aspecial visit to Japan to ask Yamaguchi Sensei permission to establish a separate branch of Goju Ryu in the United States, and to be granted the head of that branch. Yamguchi Sensei denied the request, stating that the rules of Bushido dictate that no “gaijin” (round eye-white man), could ever achieve Nirvana. (Enlightenment). Master Urban, dissatisfied with the decision replied that these same Bushido rules stated that Japan could never lose a war. This statement offended Yamaguchi. Realizing this, Master Urban prepared to follow the samurai custom of cutting off his pinky finger in apology. Yamaguchi’s oldest son, Gosei, stopped him, realizing that although Master Urban was correct in asking this, he had offended his father in his own house. Gosei then ask Master Urban to leave, and to never return to Japan.
Master Urban resigned from the Japanese Goju Kai in late 1969 and upon his return formed American Goju Karate…America’s first and own Karate System. Some of the most notable differences that Master Urban established were the changes from white to black gi’s, (Uniforms), and the lining up of students from right to left instead of left to right.
Later that same year, Gosei Yamaguchi set up base in San Francisco, California, and established the Goju-Kai Karate-Do, U.S.A. branch.
Master Peter Urban is considered by most, if not all in the Karate world, to be a pioneer. He was the major influence of the propagation of Karate on the East Coast of the United States, if not the entire country. He opened his first school in Union City New Jersey in early 1958, and his most famous school, The Chinatown Dojo, shortly thereafter, in the mid 1960's. Since then, he has trained a remarkable list of students which is a "Who's Who of Karate" in this and other countries. These include, but of course, are not limited to:
Sr. Shihan Edward J. Verycken, his first student and first Black Belt, William A. Liquori, Ron Van Clief, Al Gotay, Frank Ruiz, Lou Angel, Chuck Merriman, Thomas Boddie, John Kuhl, William Louie, and dozens more.
Master Urban was the first exponent of Master Gogen Yamaguchi's Goju-Ryu Karate, (the Goju-Kai), Master Mas Oyama's Kyokushinkai, and of Master Richard Kim's Butokukai, all in one era!
Master Urban has authored several books, his most famous being his first, "The Karate Dojo", which has become the staple reading of almost all Goju schools throughout the world.
In 1969, Master Urban made aspecial visit to Japan to ask Yamaguchi Sensei permission to establish a separate branch of Goju Ryu in the United States, and to be granted the head of that branch. Yamguchi Sensei denied the request, stating that the rules of Bushido dictate that no “gaijin” (round eye-white man), could ever achieve Nirvana. (Enlightenment). Master Urban, dissatisfied with the decision replied that these same Bushido rules stated that Japan could never lose a war. This statement offended Yamaguchi. Realizing this, Master Urban prepared to follow the samurai custom of cutting off his pinky finger in apology. Yamaguchi’s oldest son, Gosei, stopped him, realizing that although Master Urban was correct in asking this, he had offended his father in his own house. Gosei then ask Master Urban to leave, and to never return to Japan.
Master Urban resigned from the Japanese Goju Kai in late 1969 and upon his return formed American Goju Karate…America’s first and own Karate System. Some of the most notable differences that Master Urban established were the changes from white to black gi’s, (Uniforms), and the lining up of students from right to left instead of left to right.
Later that same year, Gosei Yamaguchi set up base in San Francisco, California, and established the Goju-Kai Karate-Do, U.S.A. branch.
Master Peter Urban is considered by most, if not all in the Karate world, to be a pioneer. He was the major influence of the propagation of Karate on the East Coast of the United States, if not the entire country. He opened his first school in Union City New Jersey in early 1958, and his most famous school, The Chinatown Dojo, shortly thereafter, in the mid 1960's. Since then, he has trained a remarkable list of students which is a "Who's Who of Karate" in this and other countries. These include, but of course, are not limited to:
Sr. Shihan Edward J. Verycken, his first student and first Black Belt, William A. Liquori, Ron Van Clief, Al Gotay, Frank Ruiz, Lou Angel, Chuck Merriman, Thomas Boddie, John Kuhl, William Louie, and dozens more.
Master Urban was the first exponent of Master Gogen Yamaguchi's Goju-Ryu Karate, (the Goju-Kai), Master Mas Oyama's Kyokushinkai, and of Master Richard Kim's Butokukai, all in one era!
Master Urban has authored several books, his most famous being his first, "The Karate Dojo", which has become the staple reading of almost all Goju schools throughout the world.