Okinawan Goju-Ryu Karate-Jutsu Concepts & Philosophy "The Teachings of Kenshikai Goju-Ryu"

We must analyze and interpret Kata with an understanding of its history and origins. The underlying concepts/principles of the Kata can be extracted if we understand the origins and the influences. One can equate this to Bunkai (??); however, it goes much deeper than that. The concepts that we will attempt to seek are those of the classical Okinawan Karate (pre WWII era) where the focus was more on life preservation skills rather than on mental and physical discipline.

A brief history of the development of Okinawan Karate and specifically GoJu Ryu is presented here. This is not intended to be an all-encompassing historical text, but rather provide some key historical facts to preserve the history without alteration or bias.

Luis Morales, Hanshi (???·????, ?? ??) was born in 1958. As a child he was fascinated with the martial arts, spending hours reading the various martial arts publications such as "Black Belt Magazine" and "Karate Illustrated."

His first real exposure to the martial arts came as a young boy of about 8-9 years old. A family friend introduced him to a Ju-jutsu style called Miyama-Ryu. Not knowing that this was the path that The Most High had chosen for him, at the age of 12 years old he made the decision that would change his life, he began his formal training in Bu-jutsu.

Sensei Luis Morales has dedicated his life to the study of Okinawan Goju-Ryu Karate-jutsu, and due to his relentless pursuit, he has a profound knowledge of Kata (Forms) and its Bunkai (Applications).

He is highly regarded for his advanced abilities in the ways of Martial Science, Tuidi-jutsu (Grab Hand Art) and Kyusho-jutsu (Vital Point Art) that are Sub Arts of Karate.

Sensei Morales is a professional Karate teacher, who has trained with the world's leading Goju-Ryu's masters. He was a senior student of Master Teruo Chinen, Chief Instructor of Jundokan International, student of Grandmaster Eiichi Miyazato 10th Dan, founder of the Jundokan Dojo, and student of the founder of Goju-Ryu, Grandmaster Chojun Miyagi.

Sensei Morales' quest for knowledge kept him searching for other Goju-Ryu teachers. It was then that he met the headmaster of International Kenshi-kai Organization Hokama Tetsuhiro 10th Dan, Hanshi in Okinawan Goju-Ryu and Kobu-jutsu. Sensei Morales feels truly fortunate to be under the tutelage of Grandmaster Hokama. He is truly a master of The Old Ways.

Sensei Morales has conducted seminars with many martial arts' masters such as Soke "Lil John" Davis of Kumite-ryu jujutsu, Professor James Muro of Hawaiian Kenpo and Danzan-ryu jujutsu, Guru Doug Pierre of Kali, Grandmaster Bill McCloud of Urban Contemporary jujutsu, Senior Master Rudy Tuiolosega of Limalama, Hanshi Peter Polander Ryukyu Kempo and Grandmaster S. L. Martin Fujian White Crane Chi Kung System of Taiwan, Republic of China. His hands-on approach makes his seminars extremely popular and sought after. Sensei Luis Morales' Credentials:
•North America Chief Instructor for Kenshi-Kai Goju-Ryu
•Hanshi grade in Okinawa Goju-Ryu Karate and Kobu-jutsu
•The highest Ranking Torite jutsu Instructor in the Northeastern United States
•Certified Grandmaster rank in Torite-jutsu 7th Dan under Grandmaster Tom Muncy 10th Dan
•Kaicho of The Kokusai Bugaku Renmei (International Martial Science Federation)
•Author of The Sub-Arts Guidebook and International Martial Science Federation Workbook
•Karate Advisor to usadojo.com

Living by his motto "Always a Student," Sensei Morales continues to learn and research the Old Martial Ways and he is always training in other Budo Arts to expand his knowledge.

Stefano Cianelli, Kyoshi (?????·?????, ?? ??) was born in 1966. He has been studying the martial arts since 1987, when he began his training in the style of Shotokan under T. Okazaki Sensei (1987). In September of 1992, he began his studies of Goju-Ryu under Sensei John Austino Sr. & Jr. Along the way in his training he asked many questions and looked to redirect his studies to be more in line with Okinawa Goju Ryu, seeking to return to the root of the system. In October 2017 he began training in Okinawa Goju-Ryu under Hanshi Luis Morales Chief Instructor of the North America Kenshikai Association, North Arlington, New Jersey (IKO Headquarters in Nishihara Okinawa, Japan under Hokama Tetsuhiro, Hanshi). In October of 2018, he traveled to Okinawa and had the opportunity to visit with and receive instruction from Hokama Sensei. In December of 2018, Sensei Cianelli and the Tsuru Ki School became official members of the North America Kenshikai Association and in June 2019, was made an official branch dojo of the North America Kenshi Kai Association under direction of Hanshi Luis Morales. In May of 2022, he was promoted to the rank of Nana Dan, Kyoshi by Sensei Morales and Hokama Sensei.

In addition to training in Goju-Ryu Sensei Cianelli began his studies in the Fall of 1996, in Fujian White Crane Chi Kung System of Taiwan, Republic of China (Feeding Crane Lineage) under the direction of Grandmaster S.L. Martin (???Hung, Jin-Hu) Lineage Holder Hung, Wen-Hsueh of the Family System of Fujian White Crane of Taiwan (Combined Fist [Ergao]), Taichung Taiwan, International Federation of Chinese Martial Arts. In November 2007, Sensei Cianelli was promoted to Black Sash in the White Crane Chi Kung System of Taiwan, Republic of China, under the direction of Grandmaster S. L. Martin. In November of 2016 he was promoted to Master Level (Dashi??) under the direction of Grandmaster S. L. Martin. Sensei Cianelli is only the second person to ever reach this rank in this system under Grandmaster S. L. Martin.