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Kaiso Gogen Yamaguchi

Yamaguchi Jitsumi was one of Miyagi Sensei's most devoted students. As a young man Yamaguchi was athletic and was drawn to all sorts of Martial Arts, excelling at Kendo and Judo. Yamaguchi began his training in Goju Ryu in Japan with a man named Mr. Murata. He took to Goju-Ryu immediately, but Yamaguchi came to have a rough reputation among other karate students. After some years he learned that Chojun Miyagi, Goju-ryu's founder was teaching in Japan, and was introduced to him. After speaking with Miyagi Sensei, Yamaguchi Sensei was accepted as a student and began training directly under Miyagi for several years. Miyagi Sensei gave him the name "Gogen" which translates to rough. Yamaguchi continued to use his new name and became known world-wide as Gogen Yamaguchi. Before Miyagi Sensei returned to Okinawa, Yamaguchi Sensei was charged with the promotion of Goju-Ryu in Japan, a challenge that he eagerly accepted.

Yamaguchi served Japan in World War II as a special delegate in Manchuria. He was taken as a prisoner of war by the Russians, and after surviving internment as a POW he returned to Japan to find the people there with a crushed and defeated spirit. He took it upon himself to try to give back the fighting spirit to the Japanese through Karate training. After his his service in the war, Yamaguchi Sensei fromed the All Japan Karatedo Gojukai Association (Zen Nihon Karatedo Goju-Kai). (The term "Gojukai" simply refers to the association that he formed that practices Goju-Ryu Karatedo. The Fist Insignia is his creation, and is used to identify only the associations that are directly associated to the corporations that he created.)

Yamaguchi Gogen Sensei was credited with many accomplishments. Included was helping to form the Japan Karate Federation, helping to found Japan's Karate University, developing the first standardized set of rules for kumite practice, and forming the two Gojukai organizations, the all Japan Karate-do Gojukai Association (JKGA) and the International Karate-do Gojukai Association.

Yamaguchi Sensei had five children. All practiced Karate-do and are recognized throughout the world as exceptional martial artists and teachers.

Yamaguchi Gosei Shihan, the oldest son teaches Karate in the United States, and is president of the Gojukai USA Association. Mr Yamaguchi holds the copyright to the fist insignia representing the Gojukai.

Yamaguchi Gosen Shihan, the second son of Gogen Yamaguchi Sensei was the first of the Yamaguchi family to bring the complete system to the United States, where he also worked and attended university. Mr Yamaguchi unfortunately passed away some years back. Yamaguchi Makiko Sensei also passed away in the 1980's.

Yamaguchi Goshi Shihan, Gogen Sensei's third son, inherited the position of president of both the IKGA and JKGA after his father died in 1989. He was elected Saiko Shihan - Grandmaster for the two organizations.

Yamaguchi Wakako Shihan's forte was for kata. She was an All Japan kata Champion, and was also an excellent Shihan in the Gojukai.