Grandmaster Gogen Yamaguchi Sensei with Seiwakai Goju-Ryu Karate-Do founder Mr Shuji Tasaki Hanshi — Grandmaster Gogen Yamaguchi Sensei in white kimono with Goju-Ryu Karate-Do Seiwakai founder Mr Shuji Tasaki Hanshi to his left.

Our Lineage & History

The making of Goshukan and Goju-Ryu Karate-Do Seiwakai.

Goshukan Karate Academy is one of the many karate clubs in the world under Goju-Ryu Karate-Do Seiwakai, founded in 1971 by the late Mr Shuji Tasaki Hanshi (1933 – 2011), a 9th Dan practitioner in Seiwakai and Japan Karate-do Federation (JKF) Goju-Kai. Mr Tasaki began training in Goju-Ryu in 1952 under the tutelage of Grandmaster Gogen Yamaguchi Sensei. Mr Tasaki is known to be Yamaguchi Sensei's most competent fighter, having proven himself in the first All Japan Karate-Do Goju-Kai Championships in 1963. His extraordinary fighting ability has earned him the nickname 'Goshu' from Yamaguchi Sensei, a combination of the 'Go' meaning hard and 'Shu', the abbreviation of Mr Tasaki's first name Shuji. In 2007, the name 'Goshukan' was bestowed upon Goshukan Karate Academy's Chief Instructor, Stacey Karetsian Shihan, by Mr Tasaki.

Today, Mr Tasaki's senior student, Mr Seiichi Fujiwara Hanshi, leads the organisation as the President and Chief Instructor of Seiwakai Goju-Ryu international. Mr Fujiwara holds a 9th Dan black belt with Seiwakai and 8th Dan with JKF Goju-Kai and is the Chairman of the Overseas Committee Office of JKF Goju-Kai.

Mr Fujiwara regularly travels around the world on five continents, conducting seminars and gradings for members of Seiwakai. Today, Seiwakai forms one of the most prominent organisations out of the 13 member organisations of JKF Goju-Kai, with thousands of members training each week worldwide within Australia, India, Slovakia, Italy, South Africa, New Zealand, Hongkong, Sri Lanka, Mexico, Canada, USA, UK and Japan, just to name a few.

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The Martial Art

Brief History of Karate

Karate is a fighting art that evolved on the Japanese island of Okinawa when a ban on weapons was imposed onto the small island by the samurai rulers of Japan. It was introduced to mainland Japan in the early 1900s and was adopted and practiced as a way of personal development and character growth, focusing on self-defence, self-awareness and self-confidence. The three main areas of learning in karate categorises as Kihon, Kata and Kumite.

The word karate is a combination of two kanji: 'kara', meaning empty, and 'te', meaning hand. So karate literally means empty hand. Do means the way/path. Therefore karate-do implies karate as a total way of life that goes well beyond the self-defence applications. In karate-do, the purpose is to compete and strive to excel against ourself.

Today there are four main styles of karate in Japan: Shotokan, Goju-ryu, Shito-ryu, and Wado-ryu.

Areas of learning

Kihon, Kata and Kumite

Kihon

Kihon means 'basics' and forms the fundamental building blocks of karate training. It includes strikes, kicks, blocks and stances. New students begin to learn basics when they start training; however, the practice never ends, as advanced martial artists often practice their basics regardless of how long they have been training.
Kata

Kata means 'form'. A combination of moves consisting of both defensive and offensive movements. The training simulates a fight between the practitioner and one or more imaginary opponents. Kata is a training method for practising fighting movements, developing muscle memory, and training your mind and body to develop good form, speed and control, flowing from one stance to the next.
Kumite

Kumite means 'sparring'. It is when two martial artists go up against each other to test their skills, performing defensive and offensive techniques. There are strict rules when participating in sparring to ensure the safety of practitioners, placing a lot of importance on technique and skill. Kumite practice includes freestyle training and structured fighting drills against an opponent.

Student and Parent Testimonials

What our members say about us.

    
 
 
       Sensei Ben and Justin were great with the kids. They were firm but not too harsh and were able to keep the kids in line. The kids still had a great time learning. Thanks Sensei Ben!
  
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   Tian Shiu 
 31 July 2024
 
 
 
      The club is led by Sensei Ben, a great karate practitioner, a very knowledgeable and experienced instructor with strong passion for karate and teaching karate.
  
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   Tri Nguyen 
 30 July 2024
 
 
 
      Sensei Ben is an incredible teacher, always providing guidance and encouragement to his students. My son has been going to his classes for the last one year and loves it! The atmosphere in the classes is friendly and inclusive. With a number of classes to choose from, sessions by the lake in summer and clear progression through the different levels, karate with Sensei Ben is teaching my son the value of discipline and the importance of showing up. Highly recommend this!
  
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   Padmapriya Muralidharan 
 30 July 2024
 
 
 
      Every since my granddaughter  started Karate at Goshukan Academy her confidence has become more positive she loves  getting up on Saturday  getting ready for more learning  her inspiration is so much better now thank you for teaching her how to become a better person
  
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   Linda Seal 
 30 July 2024
 
 
 
      It's been a great karate journey for my kids, learning discipline, self-defence, or what's left and what's right, and building confidence and fitness. All important life skills for kids. It's a great environment to start karate. Highly recommended.
  
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   Eric Li 
 30 July 2024
 
 
 
      I have been practicing Karate with my son at this dojo for over a year and have enjoyed every single bit of it.  Sensei Ben and Justin have been always good at what they are doing and are very helpful teachers. The content of classes is designed well and the class is well paced. The assistant teachers are attentive and nice. I reckon the mix classes on Monday and Friday nights are the best for families!  I find it a good opportunity to get exercise myself and a chance to show commitment and hard work to my child instead of talking about it. Happy to recommend this place to any family.
  
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   Jing Zhu 
 30 July 2024
 
 
 
      Ben Brillante and his team are great teachers and very supportive.  It is a very friendly dojo where all students and black belts know each other.  Coffee after training on a Saturday morning is always a great chat!  People of all ages from small kids up are welcome.  Everything you learn is always explained about how it can be applied in a practical way for self defence.  I am one of the oldest students and have only been training for about 6 months.  I am feeling far fitter and more flexible and would highly recommend Goshukan Karate Academy!!!
  
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   Mark Williamson 
 30 July 2024
 
 
 
      I have trained with Sensei Ben on multiple occasions, and each time he has shown to be a proficient practitioner and competent instructor. I encourage anyone in the area to consider his dojo. Context: I am not a student, but another martial arts school owner.
  
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   Reece Cummings 
 5 March 2024
 
 
 
      Exceptional Karate Dojo Transforming Lives! We've been part of Goshukan Karate Academy for nearly a year now, and the positive impact it has had on my daughter's life is truly remarkable. Sensei Ben is not just an expert in karate but also an outstanding mentor who exudes professionalism in every aspect. Under his guidance, my daughter has not only honed her physical strength and self-defence skills but has also experienced a significant boost in confidence. The supportive and nurturing environment of the dojo has played a pivotal role in shaping her personality positively and it stands out as the only after-school activity that has made such a profound difference for us (and we've tried many!). Our heartfelt gratitude to the entire team for creating a space where personal growth is not just encouraged but celebrated. This dojo truly deserves its spot among the best, and I highly recommend it to anyone looking for a transformative and enriching martial arts journey.
  
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   Jenny Shaviv 
 13 January 2024
 
 
 
  
  
 
 
   Google rating score: 5.0 of 5, based on 26 reviews

Our Lineage & History

The making of Goshukan and Goju-Ryu Karate-Do Seiwakai.

The Martial Art

Brief History of Karate

Areas of learning

Kihon, Kata and Kumite

Kihon

Kata

Kumite

Japan Karate-Do Federation (JKF) Goju-Kai

Student and Parent Testimonials

What our members say about us.