The National Australian Goju Kai karate National Winter Camp in 1982 at Anglesea, VIC, featured Goshi Yamaguchi Shihan as a guest instructor. It was also the weekend of a National black belt grading. This was a historic event in being the largest gathering of all the States including several NZ members and probably the largest number of black belts graded at one time.

Channel 2 produced a news documentary and screened it on national TV so we are lucky to have this video archived and available for viewing in this post. The line of karatekas stretch up and down the beach at Anglesea was an incredible sight. The club was blessed by a calm winter ocean, clear skies and a beautiful dawn greeting the line up of karatekas lined up far down the ocean beach.

Kumite on the beach and in the ocean chilled the students but did not dampen their spirits. The oval nearby the Victorian Youth & Sport Receation campsite was frosted over each early morning and crunchy under bare feet during early PT. The days were long and arduous.

Goshi Shihan is well known for being one of the sons of Gogen Yamaguchi Hanshi who was Tino Ceberano Shihan’s grand-master for many years. Goshi Yamaguchi Shihan eventually took over the leadership of the Goju Kai after his father’s passing in 1989.

Goshi Yamaguchi Shihan attended many Australian and Victoria Goju Kai camps over the period 1972-1989 and a strong friendship and bond was built between he and Tino Ceberano Shihan. They met at least annually on Goshi Kyoshi’s many trips to Australia and in Japan when Tino Shihan frequently visited in his role as Chief Instructor for Australian Goju Kai.

They often practised kumite together and many students witnessed the blistering speed, precision and technique of the two who never held back in kumite but shared a brotherly relationship and great respect for each other. Tino Shihan was a well known international referee in karate and Goshi Shihan was a well respected coach for the Goju Kai. They often sparred, often spontaneously when performing interviews without notice or planning.

They developed a well practiced speed and precision that was mesmerising to watch and based on complete understanding, acceptance and respect of each others skills without aggression, hostility or intent to better the other but with a mutual understanding that each offence and defence was evenly matched, thereby receiving, responding, countering and replying all in the blink of any eye.

Tino Ceberano Hanshi today is also known as the father of Australian karate having built the Goju Kai in Australian from 1966 on his arrival until 1989 when Gogen Yamaguchi Hanshi passed and Tino Ceberano Kyoshi formed the IGK and his own path for the future. History will show that while Gogen Yamaguchi Hanshi was alive, Tino Shihan and Goshi Shihan had a great friendship spanning the globe and the promotion of Goju Kai karate-do at the highest levels.

It will also record that after the grand-master’s passing, the Goju Kai made its own decisions that left Tino Shihan no choice but to move on forging his own path , creating his own IGK organisation and continuing to teach many generations of Australians the martial arts in his own way and style.