Gogen Yamaguchi, our founder, and legend - born on 20th January 1909 in Kagoshima, Japan. He was a descendant of the Samurai and one of the most complex figures to ever grace the World Karate stage.

As the chosen successor by Master Miyagi in 1953, Gogen Yamaguchi set about uniting Goju as one organization, Gojukai. The martial arts fraternity in Japan bestowed upon him the honor of Grand Master, 10th Dan Hanshi and is therefore referred to as Kaiso, ‘Our Founder’.