Karate
Karate training is excellent for maintaining overall health and fitness, improving mental and physical abilities. Additionally, karate encapsulates self defense at its core. We manage and administer the Beacon Bay Goju Kai dojo through which we offer karate classes. The dojo is an affiliate of Goju Kai (our style organisation) and is also affiliated to Karate South Africa, the national federation responsible for sport karate in South Africa as recognised by SASCOC.
Why karate?
Whether your goal is to learn self-defense, sport karate or merely to get a full body workout, Goju Kai karate will teach you courage, fighting spirit, courtesy, respect, self-confidence, self‑control, self-discipline and how to defend yourself. Gain a stronger, healthier body through an active lifestyle.
Many strong bonds are formed, and often lifelong friendships are made and continue to be developed through karate. This is not limited to our style of karate but karate practitioners from various styles as a fraternity.
Some people think that karate is only for children, but you are never too old for karate. There is something in it for all ages.
With so many reasons for one to pursue karate, it is easy to forget the most important reason of all, karate is fun! Enjoy it!
Karate is not only for kids!
Location and schedule
The dojo operates from the St Crucis Church Hall situated at 52 Edge road, Beacon Bay, East London, South Africa.
| Training days | Mondays and Wednesdays |
| Pre-school | 16:30pm to 17:15pm |
| Juniors class | 16:30pm to 17:30pm |
| Senior and adults (16 and up) | 17:45pm to 18:45pm |
Our brand of karate
Goju Kai karate is a style that combines a variant of hard and soft aspects in the techniques and concepts applied as well as a lot of circular movements where you learn to deflect and work around the other person rather than necessarily engaging strength against strength. Go means “hard” and Ju means “soft”.
Karate-do literally means “way of the empty hand”. Our style of karate, goju ryu, as a martial art and self-defense system has its roots in Okinawa originating from the late Chojun Miyagi and was further developed in Japan by Gogen Yamaguchi who founded All Japan Goju-kai Karate-do Association in 1935 and the International Karatedo Goju Kai Association (IKGA) in 1965.
Since 1990 we have been guided by Goshi Yamaguchi Saiko Shihan as the president of IKGA. For more than 4 decades, Peter Brandon Hanshi has been leading as our African and South African president and chief instructor.
Goju Kai is a matter of pride
See gojukai.co.za for more information.
“When your temper rises, lower your fists. When your fists rise, lower your temper.”
~ Chojun Miyagi, 1888-1953
Goju Kai
Our national style organisation is
Karate-do Goju Kai South Africa
through which we are affiliated to our international style organisation,
International Karate-do Goju Kai Association (IKGA).
The fist emblem is a registered trademark and was designed by our founder Gogen Yamaguchi in the image of the fist of Chojun Miyagi, the founder of Goju Ryu.
Our instructors
Glenn Cunningham Kyoshi Shihan is our dojo head and has been the Chief Instructor for Goju Kai in Border for almost 4 decades. He has been training karate in Border since 1973. He was graded by our founder, Gogen Yamaguchi, to 1st dan (shodan) in Japan in 1978. His current rank is 7th dan (nanadan) in Goju Kai.
Anél Cornelius Renshi Shihan has been training karate since 1990, currently holds a 5th dan (Godan) rank in Goju Kai and serves in all styles as the Technical Convenor for the Eastern Cape Karate Association and as an additional member on the executive committee of Buffalo City Metro Karate Association.
Pierre Cornelius sensei has been training karate since 1999, currently holds a 5th dan (Godan) rank in Goju Kai and serves in all styles as the Vice President of Buffalo City Karate Association as well as the President of Eastern Cape Karate Association.
