Chojun Miyagi
Miyagi was born in Naha City on 25 April 1888 as the son of a wealthy businessman. Miyagi began his study of Naha-te at the age of eleven. At the age of fourteen, he became a student of Kanryo Higaonna. Training was arduous and concentrated upon the practice form known as Sanchin. In Miyagi, Higaonna saw excellent ability and a potentially great pugilist. He recognized the qualities and realized the importance of developing them at a young age. He therefore sent Miyagi, aged 16, to Fukien Province in China, to train.
When Higaonna died in 1915, Miyagi went back to China for another two years, mastering not only the hard fist or external Hung style of Shaolin Chuan as Higaonna had done, but also Nei Chia, one of the “internal” forms of Wushu from Rin Rin Ko. These are quite different from the hard styles of the Shaolin Temple and are believed to stem from Taoist rather than Buddhist origins. Just as there are several forms of external wushu, so are there three basic forms of the internal. The first and simplest is hsing-yi, the intermediate is pa-kua, and the most advanced is tai chi. All rely upon the influences of the mind and not the muscles. For this reason, the internal forms are often called “soft”, to distinguish them from the hard Shaolin schools. While he was in China, Miyagi mastered breathing techniques and spiritual training in Zen philosophy.
Upon Miyagi’s return to Okinawa in 1917, there were few who could withstand his prowess. From the blending of these systems, one the hard/external form of Shaolin, the other the “soft” circular form of Pa-Kua and his native system, Naha-te, a new system emerged. He opened a dojo in the garden of his home, and despite wind and rain, continued training. He gained fame for going to the seashore at night and practicing his breathing in the face of the typhoon storm-surf. He mastered the form of “Sanchin”, lest he be thrown to the ground by the strong winds. It was not until 1929 that Miyagi named his style of karate Goju Ryu, ryu being a Japanese martial arts word meaning “school” and Go meaning “hard”, ju meaning “soft”. It was based on an ancient Chinese boxing quote which stated: “Everything in the universe breathes out (hard) and in (soft).”
Being heavily influenced by classical Wushu, he did not believe in granting coloured belts as a mark of competence. He believed quite simply that, if a student was good enough, he did not need a black belt to prove it and, if he was not good enough, he would not get one anyway. He taught for many years and even though Miyagi’s reputation as a karate man was enormous, his greatest achievements lie in the organization of karate teaching methods. He introduced karate into schools and other fields of society.
He further developed the kata Sanchin – the hard aspect of Goju – and created the kata Tensho – the soft aspect. Ten implies rotation and sho means hand. These katas are the essence of the Goju style. He taught at the Okinawan Prefectural Police School, Okinawan Normal School and the Okinawan Citizens Welfare Training Institute. He revised and further developed Kata Sanchin - the hard aspect of Goju, and created Kata Tensho - the soft aspect. These kata are considered to contain the essence of the Goju-ryu style. The highest kata, Suparinpei is said to contain the full syllabus of Goju-ryu kata. Shisochin was Miyagi's favorite kata at the end of his years. Tensho was influenced by the White Crane kata Ryokushu, which he learned from his long-time friend Gokenki. With a goal of unification of various karate styles which was in fashion at that time, he also created more Shurite-like katas Gekisai Dai Ichi and Gekisai Dai Ni in 1940, taking techniques from higher forms (notably Suparinpei, and upper blocks uncommon for Goju-ryu at that time) and incorporating them into shorter forms. It is said he created these kata to bridge the gap between Sanchin kata and Saifa kata, which contains much more complex moves compared to Sanchin kata. However, Gekisai katas are learned before Sanchin kata now. Owing to the demand for instructors, in 1928, Miyagi accepted a teaching post within Japan at Kyoto’s Teikoku University. This was followed by visits to Kansai University and Ritsumeikan University. Despite the opportunities, Miyagi refused to settle in Japan and never spent more than a few months at a time there. It was one of these visits to Japan that Miyagi was introduced to a young student, Gogen Yamaguchi, whom he agreed to train. Miyagi continued to train in wushu throughout his life, visiting the Chinese mainland again in 1936. He returned to Okinawa shortly before the Second World War. During the conflict, he was an official of physical training in Okinawa. Miyagi also taught in Hawaii at the invitation of the Yokoku Shimpo press and thus contributed to the popularity of karate abroad.
Miyagi was a man of extremely mild temperament, and it is said that he was a very humble man. He lived according to the principle of martial arts, that of non-violence. He was very poor in his later life, since he always placed martial arts first and money second. Since he was extremely well balanced physically and spiritually, he had attained the final goal which is the desire of the martial artist. He died in Okinawa on 8 October 1953, at the age of 65.
His teachings were continued in Japan by his student, Gogen Yamaguchi.
Gogen Yamaguchi
Gogen “The Cat” Yamaguchi was born on 20 January 1909 in Kagoshima City in Southern Kyushu, Japan. He lived in an old home at Higashi Sengoku in Kagoshima City and was brought up looking at the famous Sakurajima Island where an active volcano still showed its smoke. He was one of ten children (six boys and four girls), and he was the third son. His father, Tokutaro Yamaguchi, sold miscellaneous goods and opened a private school for the education of neighbourhood children, while his mother, Yoshimatsu, was his father’s constant assistant.
From an early age, the six brothers had a great interest in the martial arts, such as Japanese fencing and Judo. During his second year of primary school, he began to learn Japanese fencing of the Jigen School, under Master Toshiaki Kirino. The training of the Jigen School placed great emphasis upon spirit and strength within each strike. A student of Chojun Miyagi, Maruta (a carpenter from Okinawa), met the young Yamaguchi (then about 12) and offered to teach him the karate of Okinawa. Yamaguchi was not familiar with karate, but thought that the offer was unique and interesting. He accepted the offer of instruction. He did not know then that this formally tied him to Goju karate for life.
Maruta liked the young Yamaguchi because he was sincerely interested in the martial arts and religion and proceeded to teach him all he knew. His daily training consisted of Jigen School fencing at Kanra-sha during the day, followed by karate practice at home until late at night. Yamaguchi believed that any pain which is voluntary and with purpose would cease to be pain. The pain became pleasant because he knew he was accomplishing his goal of becoming stronger. He was constantly striking walls or trees, or anything that looked hard.
Maruta and Yamaguchi’s hard training became well known in the neighbourhood and, in his fifth grade, he managed to defeat Narano, who had previously been his superior in fencing contests. Though much of his childhood was spent in karate training, he was able to complete his school education. Since his parents had many children, he decided to leave home and travel to Kyoto to enter Ritsumeikan University. He had already been expelled from Kansai University and had a reputation of being “rough” Yamaguchi. Ritsumeikan University had no karate club, so he joined the Sumo Club (Japanese wrestling), as well as the cheerleaders’ organization, but he still practised karate in his spare time. Soon, however, he started to organize students at the university who were interested in the martial arts and found he had a group of about a hundred students. As the group had no funds, he managed to secure premises for the club for free and posted his first sign – “Goju School Training Hall of Showa Shin-Sen Gumi Group”.
He was at this time the house boy to Mr Sakai, a lawyer, to pay his expenses at university. The training hall soon gained fame in Kyoto and many people arrived to watch the training. Karate at this time was not considered a martial art and soon Yamaguchi found he has many people opposing him. He appealed to the Butoku-Kai, the Martial Arts Association, that karate be accepted as a martial art. Karate-ka of that time practised only kata (formal techniques) and yakusoku kumite (pre-arranged fighting) and were thus unable to have matches against each other. Yamaguchi developed jiyu kumite (free fighting) and established rules to decide the winner of a match. Many of these rules are still in use today, and he was to gain eventual fame for this.
Yamaguchi befriended Seizaburo Fukushima, a staff member of the Judo section of the Butoku-Kai and leader of the Giho-Kai at Okubo-cho Sakyo-ku. Together with Ebii, Ushijima and Morishita, they all finally got karate formally admitted as one of the martial arts and the Butoku-Kai established a Karate section. Fukushima persuaded Yamaguchi to dissolve the Shin-Sen-Gumi Group and devote himself only to karate. Fukushima allowed him to use an area next to his training place. He posted a sign “Shin-Ko Kan” and opened a training hall for karate.
Yamaguchi approached Ritsumeikan University for permission to establish a karate club there, but his request was refused. Only Keio University had a karate club at this time. However, after he and his students placed ten makiwara (striking boards) in front of the university’s main gate and practised at them all day, President Nakagawa of the university discussed their request and finally in 1930 permitted the establishment of the Karate club.
Life was very busy for Yamaguchi at that time, working as a house boy to earn his expenses, teaching karate at Giho-kai and at the university, as well as leading the cheerleading section and participating in Sumo matches for the Wrestling club. It appeared that his attitude would remain rough and strong, but in 1931, at the age of 22, a classmate introduced him to Chojun Miyagi, the founder of Goju karate. Miyagi interviewed him and agreed to train him. In Yamaguchi’s own words, “After meeting Mr Mitagi, I realized I had been thoughtless, and I took the time to reflect on my prior conduct.” Yamaguchi was exceedingly impressed with Miyagi, then 42, stating, “He was very powerful, yet he was kind and children loved to be around him.”
Miyagi immediately realized the potential in the young Yamaguchi and took personal charge of Yamaguchi’s physical and spiritual training. Miyagi then gave him the nickname Gogen, meaning “rough”, as he had mastered all the hard aspects of Goju. Following the Second World War, Yamaguchi actually legally registered his name as Gogen with the courts in Kagoshima. After starting training under Miyagi, he realized his responsibility to Goju karate and began to search for the spiritual direction he should take. There began long hours of arduous training on Mount Kurama, whenever he had free time. He spent long hours sitting on the rocks in meditation, fasting and performing Sanchin kata with fierce breathing (yo-no-Ibuki) under a waterfall, successfully uniting body and mind. This is the Fudo-no-Sanchin form. Once he even shaved off his eyebrows to prevent himself from returning to the distractions of the city.
It was about this time that he sat the examination for the Bar, which he passed and in 1932, he graduated from Ritsumeiken University as an attorney. Shortly before this, Miyagi had appointed Yamaguchi as his successor in Japan and asked him to make a diligent effort to develop Karate throughout Japan. During 1933, Funakoshi, who probably had the most profound effect in the development of Karate after Yamaguchi, responded to increasing anti-Chinese sentiments developing in Japan, changed the meaning of Karate from “China hand” to “empty hand”. Just as “two” and “too” sound the same, but are written differently, so too can kara mean “China” as well as “empty”.
Then, in 1935, Funakoshi renamed karate jutsu as karate-do. Whereas jutsu indicated a practical system, do meant a way of self-improvement. Funakoshi summed up his philosophy by saying that “Karate-do” strives internally to train the mind to develop a clear conscience, enabling one to face the world truthfully … mind and technique are to become one in true karate.”
During this time, Yamaguchi had seven years of hard training until, in May 1938, General Ishiharo sent him to Manchuria on government and military assignments, where he remained for some time. In 1940, Manchuria decided to send a Martial Arts mission to Japan, and Yamaguchi was chosen as president for this mission. About seventy people, including experts in Chinese Kempo, Bo Jutsu, Chinese Fencing and Mongolian Wrestling, formed the mission, and demonstrations were put on in various parts of Japan, including the Nichi-Man Hall in Tokyo. Yamaguchi represented Japanese karate and the Goju system was highly applauded.
The war years continued with Yamaguchi constantly hard at work on government assignments, but still finding time to train himself constantly. Several times during these years, he came to thank his skill in Karate and his mental training for surviving certain events. Once, he was patrolling, by himself, the around the bridge over the Nonjan river. Since the bridge was of great strategic importance, it was a prime target for "Communist Spies." So, Yamaguchi would disguise himself as a Manchurian and keep a look-out for suspicious characters. One evening he came across two men acting strangely, and when he began to ask them questions, they must have decided to take him out of there. One of the men went for a gun but Yamaguchi kicked it out of his hand and then dropped him with a punch. The other took out a knife, but with a shuto (sword-hand) strike, Yamaguchi disarmed him. Another time, three guerillas attempted to capture him, but he knocked them all down and took them prisoner. It was during the war in Manchuria that Chin, one of the Japanese spies, came across the Ryu-un (Dragon Cloud) School of Chinese Kempo, and came back to inform Yamaguchi. As soon as he had the time, he went by train to Sekiho City himself to try to track down the expert. The city is high in the mountains, and he eventually found the old man at the foot of a mountain called Ryu-gaku (Dragon Hill) some four kilometers from Sekiho City. The thin, old man, Ryu-Kaku-Rei (67 years old) was the creator of the Ryu-un school. Yamaguchi found his voice was quiet, yet the tone was awe-inspiring and so, feeling humbled, he announced that he had come to learn from the old man and asked if he would give a demonstration of his skill.
The old man led him to an area behind his house and a fierce fight ensued between the two, which lasted several minutes. Try as he might, not one of Yamaguchi’s manoeuvres seemed to have any effect on an old man double his age. Finally, he managed to strike the old man in the middle of the forehead with his right fist, seiken, but in the same instant received a strong kin-geri between the thighs. The bout ended with both men exclaiming that the other was the fiercest opponent each had ever met. Yamaguchi thanked the old man and, in pain, rode his horse back to the city, reflecting deeply on the encounter.
In May 1945, shortly before the end of the war, reports came in that a big attack was planned by Communists on the town where Yamaguchi was posted. The Japanese command dismissed the reports, but Yamaguchi waited nervously. Finally, "one thousand Communist bandits" launched their attack, and a pitched battle ensued. Yamaguchi gives an exciting account in his book:
"l looked at Mr. Suzuki. 'Well, it's still uncertain' I said. Just then we heard the sound of guns and battle cries near the castle gate 'Here they come! Take everyone upstairs. I'll defend down here.'
"My men followed my order as I took two revolvers and hid myself downstairs. I heard cries everywhere as many bandits invaded the city and attacked in full force, killing many of the inhabitants. Citizens were running and bullets were flying everywhere as the city was thrown into utter confusion.
"Bandits on horses stopped in front of our office. I took cover as I fired my revolvers through the window, until both guns were empty. Twenty bandits with guns and Chinese swords rushed our defence. Five or six bandits broke the door down with the butts of their guns and rushed into the room.
"With my guns empty, I resorted to Goju school of karate for my defence. I adjusted myself with breathing and was ready to fight.
"The room was dark, and the bandits could not use their guns freely without possible injury to each other. I had trained myself to see in this amount of light and knew I would be able to withstand the onslaught of four or five people at a time. Under such a situation, I had to dispatch the enemy, one by one.
"I avoided the first bandit who tried to strike me with his gun, and turning quickly to the right, struck him between the thighs with a roundhouse kick. He cried and fell to the ground. Another fired his gun at me from behind, but he missed. My elbow found the pit of his stomach with great force. A bloody Chinese sword slashed at me as I struck, with my right fist, the man who was wielding this sword. The fighting was confused but the narrow room was to my advantage. They rushed at me in the close quarters, which made it easy for me to fight them. When they drew near, I knocked them out using nukite (finger strikes), hijiate (elbows), shuto (sword hand) and seiken (fists), against the guns, I used tobi-geri (jumping kicks) and yoko-geri (side kick). I was able to fight more freely than in practice because I did not have any regard for my opponent's welfare.
"Some of the bandits started up the stairs but were shot by my men who were protecting the women and children.
"I attacked the bandits, aiming at their eyes or between their thighs, moving quickly as I fought. Fighting hard, I hoped we could last until help arrived.
"Soon there were cries at the front door and the bandits started to scatter. It appeared that they had been ordered to retreat.
"My men came down the stairs, asking if I was injured. Luckily, only my left arm had been injured by the slash of a dagger. I went upstairs to obtain a better view and observed the bandits fallen back with stolen weapons, gun powder and supplies. It was now 7 o'clock in the morning.
". . . When I discovered the bandits had gone, I suddenly lost all my strength and had to sit down. I had fought with them, hand to hand, for forty minutes." (Extract from Karate Goju-ryu by The Cat, pp. 113-114. Publisher: International Karate-Do Goju-kai; First Edition (1966)
On 15 August 1945, the war ended, and Japan was defeated, but on 8 August, Soviet Russia broke the Russo-Japanese Neutrality Treaty and declared war on Japan. Soon many Soviet troops marched into the Nekka Province of Manchuria, where Yamaguchi was stationed, and fierce fighting took place. Yamaguchi was captured and held at Shotoku for three months, where he was questioned about his covert operations and was then transferred to Kinken. Harsh times followed when he was transferred to a POW camp in Mongolia. He was kept there for two years under very harsh conditions, where his strength and skill were severely put to the test, until a Soviet major dislocated his shoulder, which Yamaguchi managed to re-set. He received better treatment after this. Thousands of other Japanese died in these camps.
Finally, the war ended, and Yamaguchi arrived back in Japan on 18 November 1947. The drastic changes in Japan gave him a feeling of hopelessness. Occupation forces were everywhere, and people were hungry. On 12 January 1948, near midnight, he went to Togo Shrine at Harajuka from his home in Aoyama, after writing a will for his family. His family had left Manchuria years prior to his departure and had taken up residence in Aoyama, Tokyo. He gave worship to the god enshrined there and then prepared for Seppuku (ritual suicide - the type of self disembowelment that had been used by the warrior class of Feudal Japan). Praying deeply, voices kept questioning about his family and his mission to dedicate his life to the martial arts. He had a revelation. He had a mission in life – to contribute to the world by disseminating the Japanese martial arts. He left the shrine of Admiral Togo, casting his doubts aside with a new mental state, ready to face the future. He then went to Mount Ontake at Kiso to train himself further.
In April 1948, he established his first post-war dojo. After the war, the American occupation prohibited Judo and any form of weapons training, but failed to understand the nature of karate, thus it was allowed to continue. In May 1950, he hung a sign board reading “All Japan Karate-do Goju Kai” and appealed to all the Goju members scattered over Japan to respond to his call. Thirty thousand members, happy to hear that he was not dead, responded to his call. Branches in different communities were organized for the purpose of promoting a smooth-running association. Mr Ujita was made Director, Mr Kagawa was made Secretary, Mr Sou was made Vice President and Gogen Yamaguchi became the President. Yamaguchi became one of the most exciting figures in karate history. Known by now throughout the world as The Cat because of his grace and speed in movement, and because of his favourite fighting stance (neko-ashi dachi, or cat stance), he continued to forge Goju Kai.
In 1954, together with Mr Matsutaro Shoriki and the Nippon Budo Kan, he managed to get Hironori Ohtsuka (Wado Ryu), Masatoshi Nakayama (Shotokan, JKA) and Manza Iwata (Shito-kai) to meet for the first time and exchange various opinions regarding the present and future of Karate. In 1964, with assistance from the Ministry of Education, Gogen Yamaguchi succeeded in uniting all the Karate schools in Japan into a single union, which resulted in the All-Japan Karate Federation. His sons, Gosei, Gosen and Goshi, made great strides in spreading Goju Kai to the United States. Under Yamaguchi’s leadership. The International Karate-do Goju Kai Association (IKGA) emerged, and today, Goju Kai Karate-do is practised in more than 65 countries.
Yamaguchi added to the Goju system the Taikyoku Kata forms – training methods for the beginner students to prepare them for the more advanced katas. The Kokusai Budo Renmei – the International Martial Arts Federation in Japan, whose chairman is Prince Higashi Kuni of the Japanese Imperial Family, appointed Master Yamaguchi as Shihan (Master) of the organizations Karate division. Never has a single man had such a profound effect on the development and spread of Karate-do. Master Yamaguchi, 10th dan, a man of intense dedication and determination, can surely be called the last of the karate legends. A master of yoga and a Shinto priest, a man that truly united both aspects of Go and Ju into a concerted union.
Kaiso Hanshi Gogen “The Cat” Yamaguchi died at Nishi Okikobu on 20 May 1989, aged 80. Today the organization is headed internationally by his third son, Saiko-Shihan Goshi Yamaguchi.
Goshi yamaguchi
Born in Manchuria in 1942, Hirofumi Goshi Yamaguchi Saiko-Shihan, the third son of the world-renowned Grand Master, Gogen Yamaguchi, started training at the age of eight. Without doubt the training was severe for the youngest son, with both elder brothers already well advanced in their training. By the age of twenty, Goshi Yamaguchi had achieved his Sandan and instructor’s license.
Gosen Yamaguchi who studied at the San Francisco University and started the University Karate Club dojo there went on to an executive position within Japan Airlines. The eldest son Gosei Yamaguchi was sent to America for post-graduate studies and to continue the University Karate Club. He continues to live in America where he still instructs Goju-Kai Karate-do achieving recognition.
Goshi Yamaguchi majored in cinema studies at the Nihon University. In 1964 he took leave of his university studies and went to San Francisco to assist his elder brother. He returned to Tokyo in 1966 and after majoring in 1969 Yamaguchi became the full-time instructor at the Hombu dojo in Tokyo.
Goshi Yamaguchi continued to excel, becoming a World Karate Federation referee and kata judge. He traveled overseas on behalf of the Japan Karate Federation conducting seminars on kata and kumite.
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After the passing of his famous father in 1989, Goshi Yamaguchi was appointed President of All Japan Karate-Do Goju-Kai Association and the International Karate-do Goju-Kai Association. He has tirelessly traveled the world teaching Goju-Kai Karate to the 200,000 plus members in over fifty countries affiliated with the International Karate-Do Goju-Kai Association.
No one is more adept at portraying the powerful beauty of Goju-Ryu Karate than Saiko Shihan Goshi Yamaguchi. Now in his 70s Yamaguchi Shihan is still impressive as he demonstrates the precision and skill gained over the decades of arduous training.
Notwithstanding his incredible physical skills in his dissertation on jiyu kumite he reveals his philosophy integral in following the true martial arts path to enlightenment. The jiyu kumite, continuous free sparring, is one of the events held in the Goju-Kai World Championships.
He also teaches regularly at his two dojos in Tokyo, at the JKGA/IKGA Hombu Dojo in Suginami-ku, and at his dojo in Iidabashi-ku. He is active in all aspects of Karate-do, through teaching, coaching, refereeing and administrating for the two organizations of which he is president. Yamaguchi Saiko Shihan has two children. His daughter Yukiko is not involved with practicing Karate, however she assists regularly with the Japan Goju Kai's annual competition, as well as in the Hombu Dojo as an administrator. His son, Gohei Shihan, is an instructor at both the Hombu Dojo and at the Iidabashi Dojo in Japan.
Goshi Yamaguchi is one of the most dynamic of all Karate masters in the world today. Now age 77 years, Saiko Shihan's fine technique and outstanding teaching ability marks him as a Master of unique abilities, both mental and physical. In a modern karate world marred by self promotion, egotism, and monetary profits at all costs, Goshi Yamaguchi stands apart from those who seek to use the teaching of Budo for self glorification. His punishing schedule of annual visits to his Branch Dojo of IKGA members throughout the world is a tribute to his tenacity in continuing the work that his father started in the 1930's. That is to promote the spread of Goju Ryu to all nations, and to promote peace and goodwill wherever possible.
Peter Brandon
Shihan Len Barnes is probably considered the father of karate in South Africa. With a history in boxing, judo and Kempo, Len Barnes began studying and teaching Kyokushinkai karate in Cape Town. In 1963, a new student joined Shihan Len Barnes’ Kyokushinkai group and soon showed that he was to become a significant influence in karate. Shihan Len Barnes took a special interest in this student and under his guidance, plus the tutorship of Sensei Eddie Cave, Peter Brandon developed his karate abilities, and by 1969 had earned the rank of Shodan.
Shihan Len Barnes impressed Hanshi Peter Brandon with his noble character and respect for the traditions of karate. This certainly was a major influence in shaping Hanshi Peter Brandon’s approach to karate. On the other hand, Sensei Eddie Cave’s hard and relentless approach to training contributed a ruggedness and spirit that could never be forgotten. Early morning training sessions in Cape Town’s icy seas and on frost-covered grass stretched his students to achieve the limits of which he believed them capable.
All this dedicated training was shaping Hanshi Peter Brandon for his important role in South African Karate-do, but it also turned out to be supreme preparation for an unfortunate event which threatened his karate future. In 1969, he was involved in a serious car accident, in which he sustained severe leg injuries. Doctors predicted a permanent partial disability and an end to karate training. However, they had not taken into account Hanshi’s karate-do spirit, and after three months in hospital, he returned step by step to his karate training. Two years after the accident, he was fighting for the Western Province karate team.
In 1974, both Shihan Eddie Cave and Hanshi Peter Brandon left Kyokushinkai and joined Goju Ryu. After a short spell with Goju Ryu, Hanshi Peter Brandon moved on, joining a style called Goju Kai, which had been started in South Africa in 1971 by Sensei Leo Lipinski, who later left Goju Kai in 1987. Shihan Eddie Cave also joined Goju Kai and, after a trip to Japan, he was awarded the rank of Godan and appointed the head of Goju Kai South Africa. Eddie Cave later moved into kickboxing and Hanshi Peter Brandon was then elected as head of Goju Kai South Africa. He continued to develop Goju Kai in the southern parts of South Africa, and with time, earned the rank of Godan.
In 1987, Kaiso Gogen Yamaguchi appointed Hanshi Peter Brandon to the rank of President and Chief Instructor of the All South African Karate-do Goju Kai. In the following year, this appointment was that of All Africa President and Chief Instructor. In 1991, further recognition followed, when he was appointed as one of the Vice Presidents of the IKGA, the International Karate-do Goju Kai Association.
Hanshi Shihan Peter Brandon is currently an 8th dan and has successfully coached the South African All-Styles Senior team for the past few years. He has also been elected as Chairperson of the UFAK Technical Commission for Africa, reporting directly to the highest echelons of the World Karate Federation (WKF).