What are the defining characteristics of Goju ryu karate?

Tejpal

New member
I recently opted to stop training at a Thai Boxing club in Portsmouth as the 36 mile round trip was a bit much for a one hour weekly session, I was looking for something else, and it so happens that there is a Goju-ryu karate club who use the same dojo as my MMA class here in Chichester. It looks very promising as the club is a member of GoJu Ryu Karate Do International, and the Sensei is an 8th Dan Black belt; but I don't really know much about the style. Can anyone enlighten me on how Goju-ryu differs from other Karate systems such as Shotokan, Kyokushin etc, and other striking-based arts such as Taekwondo? Is sparring part of the Goju-ryu style's training? I have heard that there are no high kicks in Goju-ryu, is this the case?
 
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