Go Kan Ryu

Go Kan Ryu or GKR, is a non-contact karate club mixing features of Shotokan and Goju Ryu together into one style of karate. The name of the club roughly translates to the "hard and complete system in the way of the empty hand." The motto behind the club is "Karate for Everyone."

Origins

The club was founded in Adelaide (Australia), in 1984 by Robert Sullivan, known to the members originally as 'Shihan' (or 'master') but now known as 'Kancho' ('Founder'). He was later joined in 1991 by Stacy Karetsian, who previously attained a Black Belt status in Shotokan. He was later given the title of 'Shihan' (Master) by Sullivan in 2000.

Since its inception, GKR has grown significantly and currently has over 50,000+ students training weekly, 1500+ instructors and 400+ full time personnel. Classes take place on a daily basis in Australia, New Zealand, the United Kingdom and the USA.

Robert Sullivan

Robert Sullivan is the Founder and Chief Instructor of Go-Kan-Ryu Karate. Kancho Sullivan began training in Goju Kai karate, under 1st Dan Merv Oakley. He then joined Kei Shin Kan in Melbourne Australia, under the then Australasian Chief Instructor, Masayuki Takasaka 5th Dan. Takasaka currently teaches in Box Hill, Melbourne, under the name Koryu Karate-Do. Sullivan was graded to 1st Dan by Takasaka Sensei, and then later in Japan to 2nd Dan, by the Master of Kei Shin Kan, Masanao Takazawa (then 8th Dan Hanshi). Sullivan later trained with Hirokazu Kanazawa in Shotokan karate.

He returned home to Australia from America, where he had been teaching karate including a short run on TV, in December 1971 to marry and begin a family. Over the next 13 years Sullivan worked in and starting a number of businesses, but in 1984 he turned his focus back to teaching karate and started Go Kan Ryu karate. His original aim was to build a karate club in Adelaide.

Tournaments

GKR makes a significant appearance in the National All Styles competitions in Australia, a competition organised by Silvio Morelli and the Australian Referees Board. Many GKR members are involved in officiating and refereeing these tournaments. GKR also has one student on the Australian Referees Board.

Go Kan Ryu is the largest individual contributor of competitors to these tournaments, making up approximately 25% of all competitors in most states.

GKR has started to enter the Australian Karate Federation championships, meeting considerable success. GKR has also had a lot of success in the National All Styles (NAS) Tournament Circuit. Go Kan Ryu Practitioners have won "Champion of Champions" titles every year since 1999, excluding 2000 and 2006. The Champion of Champions event is a feature event of the NAS national tournament. The NAS runs four black belt divisions; Lightweight, Middleweight, Heavyweight and Open Weight. (Males and females compete separately.) The winners of each of the four divisions then compete against each other in a four person elimination tournament, with the winner being crowned "champion of champions."

Source: Wikipedia no longer lists Go Kan Ru, however more information can be found here: http://www.gkrkarate.com/