FAQ
Frequently asked questions
What people ask most about Seigokan, Goju-ryu and the organization in Brazil.
Frequently asked questions
Is Seigokan a karate style?
Seigokan is a school (organization) of Goju-ryu, the style created by Chōjun Miyagi in Okinawa. It was founded by Seigo Tada, a student of Miyagi, and teaches Goju-ryu as he learned it, with two foundational kata created by Tada.
There is no affiliated dojo in my city. What can I do?
Contact the board through the contact page. The directory grows as new dojos confirm their affiliation, and the board can point you to the nearest dojo or sensei.
How do gradings work?
Gradings are organized by Seigokan Brasil and the affiliated dojos and announced in the events calendar. The requirements for each rank follow the school's curriculum and are explained by the dojo's sensei.
Can my dojo affiliate with Seigokan Brasil?
Yes, if the dojo practices Goju-ryu in Seigo Tada's lineage and is led by a graded instructor. Dojos from other Goju-ryu lineages can also talk to the board, which carries out a technical assessment.
What is Seigokan Brasil?
It is the Brazilian organization of Seigokan, the Goju-ryu Karate-Do school founded by Seigo Tada in Kyoto in 1945. It brings together the dojos and senseis teaching Seigokan Goju-ryu in Brazil, led by Shihan Leonardo Carion and Sensei Joetsu Narita.
Is there a fee to affiliate?
The affiliation terms are explained directly by the board at first contact. No payment is made through this website: the form only drafts a message to the board.
How is Seigokan Brasil connected to Japan?
The technical and institutional reference for Seigokan Brasil is the Seigokan headquarters, the Sōhonbu, in Himeji, now led by Seigo Tada III. The lineage of the Brazilian senseis runs through Seigo Tada, the founder, and his direct disciples.
Do I have to rename my dojo when I affiliate?
No. The dojo keeps its own name and identity. What changes is that it may use the Seigokan Brasil name and logo alongside its own, per the brand guidelines, and it appears in the directory of affiliated dojos.
How do I start training Goju-ryu at Seigokan?
Find the nearest affiliated dojo in the dojo directory and contact the sensei in charge. No previous experience is needed: the dojos welcome beginners of all ages.
Seigo Tada, founder of Seigokan
Who was Seigo Tada?
Seigo Tada (多田正剛, 1922–1997) was a Japanese karate master and student of Chōjun Miyagi who founded Seigokan in Kyoto in 1945. He played an important role in organizing karate in Japan and took the school to several countries.
Was Seigo Tada a student of Chōjun Miyagi?
Yes. According to the official biography published by the Seigokan headquarters, Tada joined the Ritsumeikan University karate club in Kyoto in 1939, where he was taught directly by Chōjun Miyagi, the founder of Goju-ryu.
What does Seigokan mean?
正剛館 (Seigōkan) combines the founder's name, 正剛 (Seigō), with the character 館 (kan), meaning house or hall. The 剛 (gō, firmness) is the same as in Gōjū-ryū.
Who leads Seigokan today?
Seigokan is led by Seigo Tada III (三代目 多田正剛), sōke and president of the organization, headquartered in Himeji, Japan.
The history of Seigokan
When and where was Seigokan founded?
Seigokan was founded by Seigo Tada in Kyoto, Japan, in 1945. Its headquarters (Sōhonbu) is now in Himeji, Hyōgo Prefecture.
Is Seigokan a different style from Goju-ryu?
No. Seigokan is a school (organization) of Goju-ryu, the style created by Chōjun Miyagi. It preserves Goju-ryu as Tada learned it from Miyagi and adds two foundational kata created by Tada to the curriculum.
What is Seigokan's official name in Japan?
日本正剛館空手道士会 (Nihon Seigōkan Karate-dō Shikai). In English, the headquarters uses Seigokan Karate-Do Association.
Goju-ryu, the karate of hard and soft
What does Goju-ryu mean?
Gōjū-ryū (剛柔流) means "hard-soft style": 剛 (gō) is hard or firm; 柔 (jū) is soft or flexible; 流 (ryū) is school or style.
Who created Goju-ryu?
Chōjun Miyagi (1888–1953), in Okinawa, building on the Naha-te he learned from Kanryō Higaonna and on his studies in southern China.
What is the difference between Goju-ryu and Seigokan?
Goju-ryu is the style. Seigokan is a Goju-ryu school, founded in 1945 by Seigo Tada, a student of Miyagi. Seigokan teaches the classical Goju-ryu kata plus two foundational kata created by Tada.
Is Goju-ryu good for self-defense?
Goju-ryu trains close-range fighting, blocks, short strikes, throws and controls, along with conditioning and breathing. As with any martial art, effectiveness depends on regular training with a qualified teacher.
The Seigokan lineage
What is the Seigokan lineage?
Kanryō Higaonna (Naha-te) → Chōjun Miyagi (founder of Goju-ryu) → Seigo Tada (founder of Seigokan) → Seigo Tada III, the current sōke. In Brazil, Seigokan Brasil is led by Shihan Leonardo Carion and Sensei Joetsu Narita.
Who did Sensei Joetsu Narita train with?
With Shihan Leonardo Carion in Rio de Janeiro from the mid-1980s, and later in Japan with Shihan Shinsaku Murata, a disciple of Seigo Tada, and with Seigo Tada himself.
The Seigokan Dojo-kun
Who wrote the Seigokan Dojo-kun?
The founder himself, Seigo Tada. The text is reproduced as in the original manuscript he left (初代 正剛館館長 多田正剛 遺稿原文のまま).
What does 誠実・謙虚・不屈 mean?
Seijitsu, kenkyo, fukutsu: sincerity, humility and perseverance. They are the principles of Seigokan.
Is the Seigokan Dojo-kun the same as Funakoshi's?
No. Gichin Funakoshi's dojo-kun is widely used, but Seigokan has its own text, written by Seigo Tada.
Keep reading
Does your dojo follow Seigo Tada's lineage?
Seigokan Brasil is bringing together the dojos and senseis who remain with the school. Contact the board and become part of the organization.