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ABOUT
ABOUT
About Okinawa Goju Ryu

Okinawa Goju Ryu karate is a practical streetwise style synthesized  by its founder Chōjun Miyagi Sensei. The style was named Goju Ryu by Miyagi Sensei in 1929. Okinawa Goju Ryu is a traditional martial art that is not closed to relevant concepts and ideas while still keeping its original intent through the practice of Kata (forms) and Bunkai (practical application).

Meet Our Instructors
Meet Our Instructors
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Sensei Tony

1967 to 1968 in Miami Florida, my middle school English teacher, Peter Strobel sensei, introduced me to Okinawa Goju Ryu. He spent time coming to my house and he would teach me kata on our very small duplex porch. He left at the end of the year to be a Peace Corps Volunteer in Okinawa. Of course going there had little to do with karate. 

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I started karate training for the same reasons a lot of young people do. I wanted to be able to defend myself and I also had a very romantic view of the martial arts. I was the hero that came to the rescue. All 120 pounds of me. However, that changed a little bit  in the actual training. 

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Below there is a condensed history of my training and ranking. I still find karate to be a source of inspiration that God used to motivate and inspire my life.

Sensei Tony's Training

  • Miami FL. Nisei Goju Ryu. Shodan through Rokudan from 1977-1997. rank given by Herbie Thompson sensei (Shihan Nisei Goju Ryu) 

  • 1998: Moved to Maryland and continued with Nisei Goju Ryu with  Sensei Herbie Thompson

  •  2002: Joined IOGKF

  • 2007: IOGKF received Yondan from Morio Higaonna (Hanshi) and Miko Peled Sensei

  • 2007-2017: IOGKF training with Nakamura sensei 7th dan and Villa sensei 7th dan.

  • 2019 to present GKC Global (Okinawa Goju Ryu) training with Paul (8th dan shihan) and Michelle Enfield (5th dan) sensei

Sensei Kes

Hi, I am Kes Ferrer. I have been doing karate for 15 years.  I am a retired special educator with a degree in early childhood education. I am the head instructor for the kids program at Warriors of Grace Karate.  I love it because I work with kids of all ages. 

 

I especially enjoy working with my kids' instructors, helping them to reach their full potential.

Sensei Kes's Training

  • 2006 to 2020 Nidan Okinawa Goju Ryu​

  • 2019 to present GKC Global (Okinawa Goju Ryu) training with Paul (8th dan shihan) and Michelle Enfield (5th dan) sensei

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