Significance of the symbolic caricature featured

The hour glass signifies time, the very element that influences the GAP that exists when considerations of subjectivity suppresses thought. In creative thinking, one places all objectives into a desire of taking on the time factor as an advantage translating the GAP as Goals, Aims, and Purpose.

In practice of this system, the rudiments of Goju Karate are firstly hard features in practice physically, this is followed by the slower and seemingly softer method as maturity appears to become soft or passive, a natural trait as in biological features of the physical body settling to a relaxing mode.

Why the feature of the hour glass? The circular base of this featured glass structure is round. The foot position of the standing practitioner is placed in what is called the Sanchin stance or better named as the hour glass stance. It is a three point stance where the position of the feet is based in three distinct angles. These three angles will become like suction cups, locking in the foot work to gripping vice like strength where a hold on any standing position on the floor will be the feature of this form.

Centralized strength develops from this form. It will be noted with proper coaching that ability gained from this form creates balance and the overload on muscle development with isolation to each muscle group.

Most important to this activity is the breathing or the word in Japanese nomenclature – Kokkyu.

Let me guide you through this as it may complicate the understanding of what one means by breath enhancement. Knowing the nature of why we breathe, what the oxygen that we breathe does to our function as in blood stimulation and the activation of our life giving attributes – FUNCTION in a more specific description.

Unbeknown to many, our life force as in energy is dependent on the breath and all its provisions in what it does to our entire function. Many combative arts of the orient have known that breathing properly sustains this energy and that endurance is only a portion to this feature as other areas include power of lift, directional push, retention of energy to expose on precision at given moments to explode force. These may describe more the martial artist’s explanatory measures in practice to this function.

Observe the manner of breathing of the untrained person. Gasping for air would be more the description of breathing particularly after enduring some activity, and one in ten is conditioned otherwise to the body this way. Compare than with the crying infant who may go on for long periods of time with out stopping and seemingly not tire.

Yes, the difference is in the breathing from a lowered depth using full in and out of the lungs method. For most, breathing from the upper feature of the lobes are common as the nature of sedentary life gives that part of function a low priority to proper breath development.

Sports people are definitely practitioners of breath development as in constant exercising and without thought to this very precious form of existence.

An in having described the breathing advantages hopefully your understanding then appreciate the feature of this Hour glass form to be the position to practice this activity with a difference. Unfortunately, one must undergo the practice of this form with a coach who knows the exercise and can accurately assist the practitioner in understanding its attributes.

The hour glass stance is a position with poise to indicate uprightness, and other elements such as the central taper as in the central part of a persons body becomes another formation to be studied.

In physics one can only experience in detail the actual advantage of use when practicing the exercise under scrutiny until each feature is retained in memory.  Instinct will then prepare the way for many encounter to why such an exercise is the hard study of this art. It has been described as three battles; the mind, the body, and the soul. Locate this in the study and it becomes a life long companion to the ideal in training of the ‘Way’.

It has been written that ‘ Your body is precious. It is your vehicle for awakening. Treat it with care’. – Buddha ‘

Goju’ an ideal, its conceptual attributes and intellectual properties compliments progressive research and practice for the serious practitioner.

The definition of this word means hard and soft. Derivatives of this may be as Yin and Yang, or night and day, lightness and darkness. On and on it goes with the very principle of the natural elements evolving from start to finish.

So why the chosen word and how it remains unchanged as it meant a system with aesthetic character. This is the beginning of the search.

‘We shall not cease from exploration and the end of all our exploring will be to arrive where we started and know the place for the first time’.  – T.S. Eliot

Hanshi Tino’s personal philosophy ‘Its not the style but the man’ is self explanatory to the previous passage. The Goju system is a name a generic to many other concepts and analogy.

In view of Hanshi’s development and continued propagating of new ideas as well as drills to compliment all techniques be it from one system or discipline from another, it is of direct interest for all those in training of this system, that this is a guideline by way of the O.S.C.A.P. its acronym of Origin and concept, Science of study, Course of rudimental progression, Attributes, Propagation and continued study.

– Written by Hanshi Tino Ceberano 2011

The practice of Goju relates to the Goju ryu of Chojun Miyagi of Okinawa the foremost founder and Grand Master of this style of combative technology for the islands of Okinawa, the origin of the empty hand way or otherwise known as Karate-do.

The lineage of this particular style goes back to the earlier century from whence frequent trade between the Chinese and the Okinawans were often a setting for the exchange of social activities and cultural studies. The likes of what was then fighting methods and what was in fact a superior form of empty hand combat taught by the Chinese intrigued the Okinawan merchants and before long an import of what was to be an influence of the motivational kind – martial art, the feature of regimented training, and the art of which became an ideal, the empty hand way.

Having finally made its way to the Western shores of Hawaii in the early thirties, the island of Kauai became a launching pad for such a study. Master Miyagi unknown to many of his expertise, and what contained a formidable combative art that would popularize populations world wide will in fact feature in a modern day film called the ‘Karate Kid’.

On an invite by the local Okinawan migrants living on the island of Kauai that migrated to these islands for employment in the sugar fields and pineapple fields, hosting such a prominent person from their mother land was a promotional feat that would go on through history that will associate the reasons for local Hawaiian born children of migrant lineage becoming very versed in the martial arts and culture of their forefathers.

Many years later a young native born and raised from the island of Kauai would become a student of this infamous style his name, Constantino ‘Tino’ Ceberano under the tutelage of an Hawaiian born of Okinawan decent, Sensei Masaichi ‘Masa’ Oshiro, the first Goju teacher of authentic back ground as his father being an Okinawan was too an influence of this well known pioneer in his own rights of the Goju practice in the modern times.

This teacher saw promise and future in this eager local lad (Tino) which finally granted him a place in the teaching of the Goju style there in the island of Honolulu from the early year of 1962. It wasn’t long after having done extensive practice and personal internship to Oshiro sensei that young Tino Ceberano was given the go signal to migrate to Australia and commence teaching in this new country this art of ‘Goju’.

The pioneering spirit prevailed in this young instructor of Goju and have not since looked back on the progressive development that created a standard and setting for the present Martial Art reputation and prestigious standing that all stylists in Australia are proud of.

As in the days of the Miyagi Chojun early in the last century, taking it from his peers and his mentor the then master of the Okinawan China hand or Toudi, he too moved on to progressively educate the populace of the southern part of the island mainly Naha.  He had been involved in the education department and was also a civil leader having had privileges to explore and expand his art. It traveled to Japan and to the university of Retsumeikan in the Western Sector of Japan’s main island Honshu where lies the former capitol city known as Kyoto.

A student in the University having been a practitioner of Martial Arts of many years, inherited from his father and family before him, was an avid follower and before long became the senior student and finally the head propagator of the Japan Goju Kai, Gogen ‘The Cat Yamaguchi’ was his name.

Coincidental as it may seem, Tino Ceberano has since followed the trait of his peers to what has now become his approach to research and study in this important feature of an activity that contains the science of training in all facets and how it is as a motivational influence to the society, that now more than ever, needs this form of training and its attributes.

Tino Ceberano presents this progressive study of Goju as a lead into the finer points in training, the science in clarifying what becomes of techniques, and the attributes of training along with other disciplines, enhancing the very nature of individual’s experience to locate and discover, the understanding of tactile study.

– Written by Hanshi Tino Ceberano 2011

In 1966, Tino Ceberano arrived in Melbourne on relocating from Hawaii with his family of two children and saw entry to a country of hardly what one would call fanfare however the location would soon prove well for establishing his martial arts career.

On the third day of arriving in Melbourne, the 6th Of November, his first invitation to the Croydon Judo School of Sensei David Jenkins was a God Send for this young martial artist as he was a guest in this small dojo invited by circumstance of an acquaintance of the family, a member of this humble dojo in the foot hills of the Dandenongs in Melbourne.

The turning point from there started a chain reaction of dojos (of all Melbourne’s Judo schools from the Judo Association) inviting him to demonstrate and before long employing him as a resident teacher on given days as scheduled on a vast rotation to the entire region of Melbourne, outer suburbs, as well as dojos in Geelong and as far as the Flinders.

Whilst the beginning of this era saw only what was a dribble of other martial arts he was always looking for others that may have been teaching so he could link up with their activities or perhaps form an alliance.

The days of the Silver TopTaxi as well as the Gym of the Mighty Apollo (Paul Anderson known strong man of the time who dragged trams up Burke Street with his teeth and have a vehicle drive over his body) had been the only known practitioners of the time in Melbourne.

In the interest of the acknowledgments to those of the Silver Top Taxi group he mentions the names of Senseis Ivan Barry, Ivan Zavetchanos, Billy Brain, Eddie Amin, and Jack Rozinsky.

Twelve months was soon to pass when Tino was informed that a Shorinryu Karate under Sensei Barry Packenham was commenced in Ballarat.

Of course amongst the Chinese in China Town, the occasional word got around of those who trained in silent and reserving only to the Chinese as noted to the practice of that era.

In this period of time Tino became a show pony to the many Judoka and their dojos as the early years of the mid sixties to early 70’s progressively developed as with the oncoming of the Bruce Lee Era of which many start ups of dojo’s began the serge of the martial arts in mass production.

As well as the Judo dojo’s that he was training with were also the Karate dojo’s. Amongst these dojo’s were the clubs of Wally Maclean and Johnny Watkins both of whom later on became the propagators of the Wado Kai in Australia.

In 1967 Tino took the first summer training camp in a lodge at the Falls Creek resort. In those days it was of course his Marine training that created the ordeal of what he believed had been at the time, unprecedented as the young endured only just. He was in his heyday and running was his forte as with the many physical jerks you would imagine.

They would never finish the day off without having to have done the hundreds of push ups, sit ups, squats and hours of basics. Their training started as early as 5am and finishing at no earlier than 10pm in the evening. They had a full week of that ordeal. These camps were continuous from that year on to the late eighties where his camps and others who followed since have set the stage of training with a serious pursuit of endurance, indoctrination of the arts as in the traditional sense, and putting the physical practice to merge with the mental ordeal as in the mind over the matter.

In 1967 he also undertook the challenge of opening his first dojo in Melbourne as an independent from what was previously arranged with teaching dojo’s of the Judo schools already existing.

It was such a challenge for himself having to endure the unforeseen circumstances of being on his own lonesome. He fought as a foreigner possessed even as he spoke the language because of the demand put on him from all angles. There had to be the challenges as was then noted from many. The days of the Sharpies & the Skin Heads were a growing breed and the dojo’s filtered the many tryers.

In 1968 Tino was undergoing studies as a future Physical Education Instructor of which got him well into the departments interest of having Martial Arts in the schools. His first engagement was the Wattle Park High School of which he will never forget as a launching pad for his future endeavours. Education to the youth of tomorrow became an ideal of his as he reached for answers to why his calling as an instructor was imminent as a mission in life disguised his role.

It was also in this year that he started the competition circuit from within his schools to create a means of public display in what was the martial artist’s dream of competing to test one’s skill against another and enjoy the relationship in personal attributes. The very first ever recorded competition proper that was ever created was at the opening of the Aboriginal Advancement League’s Centre in Fitzroy.

It was in honour of the famous prominent Politician Sir Edgar Nichols who later became one of South Australia’s Premier. From that event came the beginnings of the Box Hill tournament that saw the old boys of the Goju Kai from that era best each other with the best of spirit and skills that made Tino proud to this day of what transpired to greater things as the years went on.

In 1968 a visit by the 1^st World Olympic Champion of Judo from Japan, Sensei Isao Inokuma, accompanied by the great teacher and most respected foreign exponent of the Japanese Martial Arts (he was dan graded to more than 5 different arts in Japan) Sensei Don Draeger. Complimented by the Judo Union of which was headed by Sensei Ivan Zavetchanos of Brunswick. A special line up of all the Judo Greats from most of Australia was taken by Inokuma Sensei to an easy ippon win of all his opponents at that very memorable event held at the Monash University.

The many events since followed with great instructors arriving to these parts from every where only meant a healthy development of the Martial Arts scene.

Tino remembers the likes of Kato Sensei from Kyokushin Kai, the arrival of Sensei Paul Gurreliot of the Shotokai, the return of Sensei Ke Hyung No of the Taekwondo who prior to that was the training instructor of the Silver Top Taxi in Judo. Later in time was the man with his famous nunchaku Sensei Masayuki Takasaka, and another great name of the Kyokushin Kai Sensei Takumi Higashitani, Sifu Bill Cheung, Bill Lau, Rocky Kwong, Barry Pang, David Pederson, and Pier Tsui Po and others from the Kung Fu lineage.

Tino has not mentioned all of the following instructors who have since made the honour roll of who’s who in the arts from these parts. Unforgotten are those of the Judo and Juijitsu group also, Komp Sensei, Bradshaw Sensei, and those that had been around from the early days.

In 1969 the Japanese Navy visited Melbourne with a team of Karateka’s ranging from the 3^rd Dan ranks to their instructor Sensei Masami Tanaka of the Shotokan as a 5^th Dan. In Tino’s humble dojo the Mailing Road Goju-Kai Training Centre, they hosted these members – a total of 20. His students all brown belts at the time, amongst them Bob Jones, Richard Norton, Mike Costello, Max Fabris, Jim Riddle, Albert Lau ,Warren Ross, Jim Karakostas, Bernie Fraser, and many more were there to play them as foreign guests.

It was an evening to remember, not only did they conquer them in Kumite but a good drink down the Pub for the old Aussie hospitality of having a technicolor swill. Tino had his time cut out with each and every one of the Japanese 4^th Dan visitors taking him on in a fight to the finish. He took on the Japanese twenty, one at a time, as they gave him all they could. Tino is proud to say that he was able to defeat all that took him on, a moment that he will never forget for the rest of his life. That of course was only a good friendly match, one that they would not forget as he recalls having to meet a couple of them back in Japan some years later on one of his trips.

In 1970 after his return to Melbourne regaining his footing after an extended stay in Japan living with the famous Grand Master of renown – Gogen Yamaguchi, the Goju remnants of what became a historical change and perhaps the first ever visit to the State by a Grand Master, saw the famous ‘Cat man in action’.

The venue, Albert Park Basketball Stadium. The line of people entering to see a legend began from the very door of the Albert Park Stadium to near the Queens Road highway. There was never since a standing show of how supportive the many spectators to a Martial Arts display paying honour to such a great humble and truly Master of the Arts – Gogen Yamaguchi Hanshi.

Tino’s initial feeling of pride was overwhelming. He saw the people of Victoria pay honour and revered attention in awe of a man who was the legend of the time. The demonstrations, the display of remarkable skills in truly traditional Goju Ryu techniques, and the manner of which this entire night presented sat craved in the audience’s memory of the visit of the ‘Cat man – Gogen Yamaguchi Hanshi’.

The beginning of the Federation of Australian Karatedo Organisation created what had been till this day, a direct drive to the society’s interest of Martial Arts in organisational order. Tino was the very instigator to this FAKO, he brought the elements together at his cost with just about all of the practitioners involved in the Japanese style practice from all of Australia.

The venue was a humble restaurant in Bondi, New South Wales. The interim President was unanimously appointed because of his expertise and leadership in this area of organisational gathering and intentions to development. His name Mr Donald Cameron, MP of Queensland in the years to come becoming the Deputy Whip in the Federal Parliament of Canberra.

These beginnings saw development of major changes of progressive and positive expansion.

10th March 2008 – sourced from www.bkj.net.au/blogs/tino-ceberanos-9th-dan-presentation

Hanshi Tino Ceberano was awarded his Black Belt 9th Dan on 4/10/08 during the Australian Martial Arts Hall of Fame Expo on the Gold Coast. This was a total surprise to the man.

The presentation was originally set down for at the Martial Arts Supershow 2008 but Hanshi had other ideas and suddenly flew out of the country 4 days prior; every effort to convince him to delay his flight failed.

To this day, through no fault of his own, he left people standing there with dismal faces; you can’t hold him down (not bad for a bloke who has just turned 67). However, this has now been accomplished.The main speech at the presentation:

“The International Kojosho Karate Federation (click here to visiit website) ..is an umbrella organization for independent karate schools and individual membership.

Some of the Kojosho’s mission objectives are to preserve the work of past masters with an eye toward identifying significant new contributions, to provide members with certification recognised and accepted world-wide. The Kojosho has been under the direction of Mr. Fred Absher, Hanshi since 1966 which is represented in 15 countries. The Australian Representative is Kyoshi George Adams.

Forty years ago, Mr. Absher aligned the organization with the United States Karate Alliance (Jim Hawkes), and more recently with the Dai Nippon Butokukai, under Hanshi Richard Kim. These national and international organisations membership have proven to be invaluable, and have been in part, responsible for the global recognition of the International Kojosho Karate Federation

Many senior martial arts Instructors in Australia have been graded and recognized by the Kojosho. Some of you might remember one of the oldest martial arts masters, Hanshi Les Harnos – the man who on countless occasions would support tiles held by skewers through his forearms whilst a sledge hammer would be driven through smashing the tiles.

George Adams and Richard Norton were responsible for the presentation taking place but many thanks has to go to one of Hanshi Tino’s senior students, Shihan Alex Alt, who put it altogether on the night.

Approximately two years ago, George approached Richard about having the Kojosho promote Hanshi Tino Ceberano to 9th Dan which has been long overdue. This was something they can do in return for the most outstanding person in the martial arts. The promotion is based on many factors including:

1. Over fifty two (52) years of martial arts skills
2. International recognition as a Martial Arts Instructor visiting over 45 countries
3. His spiritual leadership
4. His contribution to the martial arts and society
5. His vibrant and kind personality
   … and the list goes on.

The certificate is signed by Hanshi Fred Absher (President of the Kojosho) and Shihan Richard Norton (one of Hanshi’s original students).

Personal congratulations were read from various famous Masters around the world supporting the endorsement such as Hanshi Ticky Donovan and Hanshi Terry Wingrove. This is not all, but too numerous to list!”

Shihan Richard Norton:
“I want to take this opportunity to offer my profound congratulations to you on receiving this honour that is so very much deserved. As a pioneer of Martial Arts in Australia, you have paved the way for so many of the teachers of today. Your example of excellence has been a personal inspiration for me for the whole of my Martial Arts career and for that I am eternally grateful. I can’t imagine what my life would have been without the caring and nurturing introduction you gave me to the arts as a teenager that have since become my life’s journey and my absolute passion. I feel truly honoured and blessed to call you my master and my friend. So again, for whatever it is worth, I totally endorse this recognition of a true master of the arts.”

Kyoshi George Adams:
“Hello Hanshi, this is your little brother, George Adams. On behalf of two of your earliest students, Richard Norton and John Will, I’d like to congratulate you on your promotion which is well deserved. Like many other senior martial arts instructors in the world, your promotion to Black Belt 9th Dan is in recognition of all the good work you have been doing for over 45 years in the martial arts and your position as head of the IGK. Richard, John and I have a great admiration for you and we have discussed your promotion on many occasions. I would like people not to take the grading lightly because it was something we have been working on for two years. Like Richard and John, it has become impossible for me to be with you this weekend but I am looking forward to seeing you, and Grandmaster Rodel, in Sydney next week. I believe I know you better than many others. How many know you like your coffee black with a shot of vanilla. A special mention to Shihan Alex Alt who is one of the nicest persons in the martial arts around and who has the deepest respect and best interests for his Hanshi. Alex has been my main point of contact with the IGK and has really helped make this possible. Congratulations, once again.”

Hanshi Ticky Donovan (UK):
“Please give my warmest congratulations to Tino on receiving his 9th Dan. I am glad I have not reached that age yet!!!”

Shihan Paul Ceberano:
“On behalf of all the Ceberanos, Kate, Phillip and I would like to congratulate our father on his receipt of the rank of 9th Dan hanshi. As a living legend and pioneer of martial arts in Australia this is an honour that is long overdue. Know one could doubt the he deserves to be the first true 9th Dan in Australia. I know that all his peers within Australia would agree that my father’s contribution to the martial arts is a direct indication to its current popularity, expansion and growth.Because of the people he influenced, trained and graded the future of all martial arts within Australia is guaranteed. My family and I wish him all the best on this special occasion and cant wait to celebrate this award with him at my Brothers wedding next week. We all love you very much dad.”

Hanshi Terry Wingrove (UK):
“It gives me a very great pleasure to congratulate my dear friend & colleague on his overdue elevation to the rank of 9th dan Hanshi. Few people in this modern world deserve the respect that this true master has earned. From all your fans and admirers in Europe a very big congratulations.”

IGK Shihan Kai:
“A true master of the Arts comes along once in all of our life times, Chojun Miyagi Kaicho was a pioneer, then Gogen Yamaguchi Saiko Shihan was another well renowned and innovative master of his era. Currently we are priviledged to be in the same dojo as Tino Ceberano, Hanshi who has searched for answers to create new and improved technology and has been able to keep the imagination of thousands motivated around the world including masters, he is a master’s Master!! We congratulate Hanshi Tino on this well deserved achievement to the rank of 9th dan hanshi of the Goju Kobujutsu Kenkyukai. The respect Hanshi commands in the martial arts community here in Australia and around the world is second to none – Hanshi is an inspiration to us all.”

This presentation was extremely unique and Hanshi Tino was very emotional which was shared by many of the people who know him as the Australian Father of Martial Arts.