"We teach you to defend yourself so you won't have to."

The Pfendler Family Welcomes you to their Family Owned and Family Taught Karate Training Center in Vancouver,Wa.

THE PFENDLER FAMILY

• Get personal one on one training from the Pfendler Family, with over 30 years of combined experience and teaching of Okinawan Goju-Ryu Karate-Do.
  
  
  Okinawan Art is traditional and the GRKV's emphasis is to not only instill those  traditions with great longevity but to achieve it by functioning as a family oriented, family run Dojo, with husband Dennis and wife Sue as Chief Instructors; Daughter Kristen as Head Assistant Instructor and son Jonathan as Junior Assistant Instructor.
  
  
  Just in their over 30 years of experience the Pfendler Family has taught vast ages and aptitudes of students- men, women, and children.  They have not only made the achievement of learning a traditional art but have excelled to become World Champions as well.
  
  
  Unique benefits may be gained by training in this traditional art, such as:
  
  physical fitness
• self-confidence
• poise
• self-control

Steven Wilson  : Shihan- 6th Dan- in Okinawan Goju Ryu Karate and 5th Dan in Okinawan Ryukyu Kobudo began training in Japanese Goju Ryu with O'Hara Sensei June 6th, 1973 in Bakersfield, CA and today is O'Hara Sensei's most senior student.  Wilson Sensei has studied Kobudo since 1979.  In 1987 Wilson Sensei sought out and became a direct student of Higaonna Morio Sensei, 9th Dan Okinawan Goju Ryu.  Wilson Sensei remained a direct student of Higaonna Morio Sensei until 1994.  In 1990, Wilson Sensei introduced O'Hara Sensei to Higaonna Sensei.  This provided the opportunity for Wilson Sensei and his lifelong teacher, O'hara Sensei to study and covert from Japanese Goju Ryu to Okinawan Goju Ryu together under the same teacher. In 1995, OHara Sensei Founded the OGRKK and Wilson Sensei in support of his teacher's objetive to form an organization that focused on hard training, reaserach, sharing, and maintaining traditions Co-founded the OGRKK.  In 2001, Wilson Sensei had the great fortune to study, interview, and train with Matsumura Jin'an Sensei, who was a direct student of the Founder of Goju Ryu, Miyagi Chojun Sensei.  Wilson Sensei currently has students operating OGRKK dojo in Lindsay, CA; Ventura, CA; Vancouver, WA; and Eagle, CO.  His goals today include being the best teacher he can be, developing his black belts to their highest potential, and supporting the quality and future of the OGRKK.

GOJU RYU KARATE-DO HISTORY

Stan O' Hara  : Hanshi - 8th Dan- Director of the Okinawan Goju Ryu Kenkyu Kai Federation and the Chief Instructor of the Pfendler Family.  As a lifelong dedicated athlete, Stan O'Hara -Hanshi, originally found the Okinawa-Te style of karate to be an excellent form of exercise as well as an efficient way to control weight, since he was previously a weight lifting international competitor.  This experience led to his training in the Shotokan style but by 1966 he became extremely impressed with Goju Ryu after meeting Sensei Gogen Yamaguchi and decided to convert.  He eventually earned his black belt from Gogen Yamaguchi "the cat" in the art that he still practices to this very day - Goju Ryu.  In 1990, Stan O'Hara had the good fortune to be introduced to Master Morio Higaonna.  Sensei Higaonna's impeccable integrity and knowledge has been passed down to Stan O'Hara -Hanshi and thus to the Pfendler Family. 

      The ancient art of Goju Ryu Karate can only truly continue with each new student.  

Master Morio Higaonna: 10th Dan - is World Head and Chief Instructor of the International Okinawan Goju Ryu Karate-Do Federation.  Master Higaonna began his arduous martial arts training at age 14, putting all his effort into his studies.  Early on, he excelled in mastering the art and soon was recognized as one of the most capable Karate men of Okinawa.  Upon moving to Tokyo, he attracted a large following of students, many coming from all over the world, all eager to train with Master Higaonna.  As a result, his federation is now established in more than 40 countries with over 50,000 members.  He now lives in Okinawa, and continues to teach and promote the tradition and art of Goju Ryu karate.                                                                                                                                                        

THE ART OF GOJU RYU was developed on Okinawa, off the southern coast of Japan.  Originally the two existing styles were Naha-Te and Shuri-Te.  They were named after the two towns where they were developed,Naha and Shuri.                                                                                 HISTORY OF GOJU RYU KARATE: goes back hundreds of years and has been traced to the southern Chinese province of Fukien.  Legendary Okinawan Master Chojun Miyagi, completed it as a formal style and named it Goju Ryu.  This name remains to the present day, and it is with great pride that Master Miyagi's original version is still being taught today- it is the style you will be learning.           

                                                        DOJO PHONE: (360) 566-0377