These scenes are from a great older training film from Yamaguchi's school. It is a great example of gojukai training from the late 50's and early 60's.
Just to show that it is good that times have changed in martial arts. It is great to see this historical footage and appreciate that perfecting technique and practice is at the heart of budo. I am happy that we can view this footage and say "Wow! Techniques, pracitce and principles are so much better now!" This is what the old masters did themselves; improve and refine what they had learnt. This is the same path we must follow today, otherwise your style is a religion. Nothing is unchangeable.
@thecj29 Real Goju sparring was never like tag. They ( we ) always made more than light contact...it was actually rather hard and we had many bruises to show for it.
One of my first goju sparring matches as a beginner had me knocked flat on my butt with a very fat lip and plenty of blood to show for it.
@Ronin6575 Well I didnt say anything about your sparring. I did Japanese and Okinawan Goju. This sparring looks like tag to me. I remember our sparring also being mostly closed fist type of sparring with contact. I can see why Okianwan Goju does not spar, these techniques are terrible, but thats my opinion dont get mad
@thecj29 Having been in Shotokan for decades since those days, I know that there are good and bad in all styles....it often depends on the instructor. Many copetition types prefer playing tag.
interesting to see the students of Yamaguchi O-Sensei all in Nikko Ashi Dachi during kumite. When I used to tournament spar I had no choice but to use nikko ashi dachi because of a torn ACL. GREAT footage.
Awesome video. Has anyone seen any more recent footage of Gogen Yamaguchi? There was a very brief clip of him performing kata on Goshi Yamaguchi's instructional video. Surely there must be more???
thanks for posting. I particularly enjoyed the sparring section, you don't see karateka of today doing much defensive blocking with arms, it was nice to see some functional defensive movements. Also, the mythical waterfall scene is pretty cool.
doubt it. that is just plain embarrsing if one of these fellas beat me up. I punch guys out in the NLL for a living. Lacrosse Fights are tough...this is just silly...
What a truly naive thing to say ... open your bloody eyes mate and stop listening to such crap. There is a 'right' way to do the kata and, I'm sorry, but "this performance" is not it! Deifying Mr. Yamaguchi simply sends the wrong message. If someone like Starling or Ceberano were to perform the kata this way they'd be publicly laughed at! Why can't we criticize Mr. Yamaguchi's performance? Is he beyond reproach? Mate, we're all human, and faliable!
This historical stuff is great. But it doesn't really require 8-10 hours a day. You can get great results in half an hour a day if you're consistent with your training. Think about how capable you'll be after 30 years of training a half hour a day. And remember, karate is for your life. Your life isn't for karate.
I would train like this for 8-10 hours a day too, if I didn't also have to go to school, and work, and have a life. They never talk about how many old masters relied really heavily for support from their families to maintain their training. This is super cool though!
He was better than I will ever be- but he wasn't the "best ever", one of the greats for sure. He learnt the Goju-style for 4 years in University from Chojun Miyagi, who went every month to teach one or two classes.
Master Yamaguchi's greatness comes from his complete commitment to the art of Karate. Watching him train under a waterfall in freezing weather is extreme motivation. Wonder if anyone has seen more recent footage of Master Yamaguchi performing. I am sure it must exist. He died on May 20 1989. My only regret is that I never met him!
As I said, he was good...but he wasn't the best. And um...I would like to think that the skill of any other martial artist better than me should be incentive enough for me to train to surpass them. Instead of laying down and dying from your comment...um...Kiwi love, I'm going to be training. Relax will ya, and have a cookie.
Japanese adaptations of Karate, yes have obvious differences, but that does not mean they're bad. Yamaguchi Sensei trained with Yagi Sensei (Rest in Peace) but developed his own way: Karate in the US often VERY changed from it's Okinawan roots...so is it automatically bad? Of course not.
Gougen Yamaguchi was good....but he was far from the best of that era. He was very popular, but wasn't as technically sound as Seikichi Toguchi(R.I.P) or Yagi. I'm probably gonna catch some hell for that but hey....I don't give a damn.
Yes emerson24, I have trained for 20 years in the style of Chinese American GoJu in New York. My teacher is Shihan William Louie, who was also trained by Peter Urban. This is the only live video of "The Cat" that I have seen. More can be seen on the video mentioned in my last post. Unfortunately the quality is not the greatest.
Gogen "The Cat" Yamaguchi is the person with the long hair. There was a stroy in Peter Urban's book "The Karate Dojo" telling of Yamaguchi killing a tiger while imprisoned in Manchuria. He was truly one fo the greatest Karate Masters. You can buy a video with similar quality footage called The Cat - Gogen Yamaguchi, 10th Dan. Would love to see more recent footage if it exists!
wow, this is old school shit...never thought I'd find video of Gogen Yamaguchi like this, interesting. The jiyu kumite looks hilarious though...oh god.
amazing
megameanify 6 months ago
I wonder why they keep on lifting up their legs during sparring???
magau100 1 year ago
@magau100 Because groin kicks were common before tournament rules took over
hippocanjump 1 year ago
These scenes are from a great older training film from Yamaguchi's school. It is a great example of gojukai training from the late 50's and early 60's.
Ronin6575 1 year ago
i started in this style 40 years ago..very good!
dcarrero26 1 year ago
@dcarrero26 silent movie style?
kenfo0 1 year ago
2:39 kuruma D:
AmericaGamesNetwork 1 year ago
Just to show that it is good that times have changed in martial arts. It is great to see this historical footage and appreciate that perfecting technique and practice is at the heart of budo. I am happy that we can view this footage and say "Wow! Techniques, pracitce and principles are so much better now!" This is what the old masters did themselves; improve and refine what they had learnt. This is the same path we must follow today, otherwise your style is a religion. Nothing is unchangeable.
CTuxford 1 year ago
That sparing is like tag.
thecj29 2 years ago
@thecj29 And it still would take them less than 1 second to make you look like a pussy.
//mmacritic
mmacritics 1 year ago
@thecj29 Real Goju sparring was never like tag. They ( we ) always made more than light contact...it was actually rather hard and we had many bruises to show for it.
One of my first goju sparring matches as a beginner had me knocked flat on my butt with a very fat lip and plenty of blood to show for it.
Ronin6575 1 year ago
@Ronin6575 Well I didnt say anything about your sparring. I did Japanese and Okinawan Goju. This sparring looks like tag to me. I remember our sparring also being mostly closed fist type of sparring with contact. I can see why Okianwan Goju does not spar, these techniques are terrible, but thats my opinion dont get mad
thecj29 1 year ago
@thecj29 Having been in Shotokan for decades since those days, I know that there are good and bad in all styles....it often depends on the instructor. Many copetition types prefer playing tag.
Ronin6575 1 year ago
@Ronin6575 your name should not be "ronin" but "shoneys".
kenfo0 1 year ago
@kenfo0 Shoney's? I am not sure I get that! Was that an attempt at humor?
If it was, it went right past me.
Ronin6575 1 year ago
the founder of goju KAI
jagz87 2 years ago
This was really neat to see.
I once heard that Yamaguchi was devil possessed, has anyone else heard this?
jesuskopp 2 years ago
@jesuskopp
brujomurciano 6 months ago
interesting to see the students of Yamaguchi O-Sensei all in Nikko Ashi Dachi during kumite. When I used to tournament spar I had no choice but to use nikko ashi dachi because of a torn ACL. GREAT footage.
ZenAntics 2 years ago
Excelente maestro de maestros.
z8laz8 3 years ago
Some good nice old histort vid , tnx for posting this one .
I am planning to pick up Gojukai soon again .!
osu
QuanYin71 3 years ago
Nice demostration for goju ryu. Looks like a very solid art. Respect.
nagi85 3 years ago 2
Thats some sexy sparring! I looooooove karate!
farorin 3 years ago
Awesome video. Has anyone seen any more recent footage of Gogen Yamaguchi? There was a very brief clip of him performing kata on Goshi Yamaguchi's instructional video. Surely there must be more???
epb471 3 years ago
Note to self: Never mess with old timers that practice karate under waterfalls!!
Gman6755 3 years ago 16
: )
Peekingduck 3 years ago
thanks for posting. I particularly enjoyed the sparring section, you don't see karateka of today doing much defensive blocking with arms, it was nice to see some functional defensive movements. Also, the mythical waterfall scene is pretty cool.
richardshapiroII 3 years ago
doubt it. that is just plain embarrsing if one of these fellas beat me up. I punch guys out in the NLL for a living. Lacrosse Fights are tough...this is just silly...
MuskokaLad 3 years ago
What a truly naive thing to say ... open your bloody eyes mate and stop listening to such crap. There is a 'right' way to do the kata and, I'm sorry, but "this performance" is not it! Deifying Mr. Yamaguchi simply sends the wrong message. If someone like Starling or Ceberano were to perform the kata this way they'd be publicly laughed at! Why can't we criticize Mr. Yamaguchi's performance? Is he beyond reproach? Mate, we're all human, and faliable!
mccarthysensei 3 years ago
terrible sparring at 1:35. Worst I have ever seen I think
MuskokaLad 3 years ago
sparring today is not sparring like the old days. today is worse.
WadoAJ 3 years ago
much respect to yamaguchi gogen founder of goju kai =)
Fabregas414 3 years ago
This comment has received too many negative votes show
he is not very fast especially legs!
supralee 3 years ago
this is,very very cool
zacowako5 3 years ago
christian just got owned xD
zacowako5 3 years ago
This is very cool. Thanks for posting.
guitarninja83 3 years ago
the tensho under a waterfall was pure badass, great clip!
kaga13 4 years ago
the tensho under the waterfall is incorrect.
singhakabuttar 2 years ago
that's not Tensho.
Elepitical 2 years ago
this guy is awsome, my dad trained with him when he came to australia
panterafan01 4 years ago
I love the outdoor training footage in the woods.
watts18269 4 years ago
Great video, but I would like to see Gosei and his brothers working out as well, maybe with their father Gogen.
Mikaelnth 4 years ago
This historical stuff is great. But it doesn't really require 8-10 hours a day. You can get great results in half an hour a day if you're consistent with your training. Think about how capable you'll be after 30 years of training a half hour a day. And remember, karate is for your life. Your life isn't for karate.
oldusedking 4 years ago
quality not quantity.
singhakabuttar 2 years ago
I would train like this for 8-10 hours a day too, if I didn't also have to go to school, and work, and have a life. They never talk about how many old masters relied really heavily for support from their families to maintain their training. This is super cool though!
amurkywindow 4 years ago 2
The Kin Geri at 3.18 is priceless!!
jwkungfu 4 years ago
This comment has received too many negative votes show
The kumite is...well, MEOW!
Crap crap crap
christianbrecht 4 years ago
I like the film where he forgets a move in suparinpei and ends up facing the wrong way ...
mccarthysensei 4 years ago
THE MOST IMPORTANT,INSPIRATIONAL + AMAZING PEACE FILM EVER
uk.youtubecom/watch?v=uevKxa6sjFA
KH6778 4 years ago
wow GREAT really old stuff great neko ashi dachi. anyone know what year that is from?
llinhoff 4 years ago
actually i personally asked his son that and it was all a myth
llinhoff 4 years ago
Domo
kirokukan 4 years ago
He was better than I will ever be- but he wasn't the "best ever", one of the greats for sure. He learnt the Goju-style for 4 years in University from Chojun Miyagi, who went every month to teach one or two classes.
riesbuck42 5 years ago
Master Yamaguchi's greatness comes from his complete commitment to the art of Karate. Watching him train under a waterfall in freezing weather is extreme motivation. Wonder if anyone has seen more recent footage of Master Yamaguchi performing. I am sure it must exist. He died on May 20 1989. My only regret is that I never met him!
epb471 5 years ago
As I said, he was good...but he wasn't the best. And um...I would like to think that the skill of any other martial artist better than me should be incentive enough for me to train to surpass them. Instead of laying down and dying from your comment...um...Kiwi love, I'm going to be training. Relax will ya, and have a cookie.
tallhair87 5 years ago
Japanese adaptations of Karate, yes have obvious differences, but that does not mean they're bad. Yamaguchi Sensei trained with Yagi Sensei (Rest in Peace) but developed his own way: Karate in the US often VERY changed from it's Okinawan roots...so is it automatically bad? Of course not.
NMCK69 5 years ago
Master yamaguchi is better than any of you will ever be as a martial artist...you have no heart to speak ill of him.
KiwiLove954 5 years ago
relax bro
fathairysamurai 5 years ago
Gougen Yamaguchi was good....but he was far from the best of that era. He was very popular, but wasn't as technically sound as Seikichi Toguchi(R.I.P) or Yagi. I'm probably gonna catch some hell for that but hey....I don't give a damn.
tallhair87 5 years ago
Yes emerson24, I have trained for 20 years in the style of Chinese American GoJu in New York. My teacher is Shihan William Louie, who was also trained by Peter Urban. This is the only live video of "The Cat" that I have seen. More can be seen on the video mentioned in my last post. Unfortunately the quality is not the greatest.
epb471 5 years ago
Gogen "The Cat" Yamaguchi is the person with the long hair. There was a stroy in Peter Urban's book "The Karate Dojo" telling of Yamaguchi killing a tiger while imprisoned in Manchuria. He was truly one fo the greatest Karate Masters. You can buy a video with similar quality footage called The Cat - Gogen Yamaguchi, 10th Dan. Would love to see more recent footage if it exists!
epb471 5 years ago
epb471, have you studied GoJu? If so, where?
I find this to amazing video as my sensei's istructor trained under Urban. I've never seen live video of the "cat".
emerson24 5 years ago
i've read somewhere that yamaguchi has killed a tiger barehanded, n he's th person wid th long hair..
holydevilian 5 years ago
This is some awesome old school material, it was pretty funny when that dude got kicked in the balls though.
Steel91 5 years ago
wow, this is old school shit...never thought I'd find video of Gogen Yamaguchi like this, interesting. The jiyu kumite looks hilarious though...oh god.
openmindedproduction 5 years ago
Interesting video. Any idea how old this material is?
s60 5 years ago