The short answer is "No". Many people have asked to go to Okinawa and train with Taira Sensei, in order to join the Kenkyukai. This is NOT an option. Taira sensei does not take visitors at his Okinawan dojo. The only method for joining the Kenkyukai is the process outlined below.
Membership
Membership of the Okinawa Goju Ryu Kenkyukai (sometimes just Kenkyukai here) is open. If you are not a member of a Shibu or Jun Shibu Dojo, please come to a seminar and apply in person.
Membership Benefits
- If you are a member of a Shibu or Jun Shibu dojo - the privilege of Yudansha grading within the Kenyukai
- Members only sessions at seminars
- Anyone is eligible to become an ordinary member of the Kenkyukai.
- Kyu grades are welcome to become members of the Kenkyukai.
- Students from Shibu and Jun Shibu dojo who have attained the rank of Shodan or greater are encouraged to become members of the Kenkyukai.
- Members must:
- Have paid their yearly fees to the Kenkyukai
- Students who would like to become members should:
- Download and complete this form
- Give it to your Instructor for completion and arrange payment
- Instructors are responsible for collecting and paying students membership fees to the organization.
- Ordinary members do not have the right to represent the Okinawa Goju Ryu Kenkyukai, to use the logo/patch as an organisational designation, nor to represent themselves as an Okinawa Goju Ryu Kenkyukai associated or affiliated dojo.
If you wish to join the Okinawa Goju Ryu Kenkyukai as a Shibu or Jun Shibu you must
- Have a background in Goju Ryu Karate, and
- Attend seminars with Taira sensei, and
- Speak directly with a Shibu head at the seminar, or the senior ranked Shibu in your country, about joining
Shibu dojo may represent themselves as part of the Okinawa Goju Ryu Kenkyukai, use the logo/patch as an organisational designation, and to represent themselves as an Okinawa Goju Ryu Kenkyukai affiliated dojo
Jun Shibu dojo may represent themselves as an Okinawa Goju Ryu Kenkyukai associated dojo
Our Mailing List
If you want to keep up with us a bit more, consider joining the Okinawa Goju Ryu Kenkyukai Mailing list. We put a lot more in the email than we do in the blog, and it's a good way for you to keep up with minimal effort, since we push it to you without you having to come here to us.
If you want to keep up with us a bit more, consider joining the Okinawa Goju Ryu Kenkyukai Mailing list. We put a lot more in the email than we do in the blog, and it's a good way for you to keep up with minimal effort, since we push it to you without you having to come here to us.
Membership is not a requirement for seminar attendance!