(505) 864-9568
101 Becker Ave. Belen, NM 87002
FaceBook: BelenGojuRyuKarate
Self Defense | Self Discipline | Self Confidence
Okinawan Goju Ryu Karate
At Belen Goju Ryu, we teach traditional Okinawan Goju Ryu Karate - a system of karate developed by Chojun Miyagi in Okinawa. All classes are taught by Sensei Richard and Cindy Long, 6th Degree Black Belts in Goju Ryu. Sensei Richard and Cindy continue their own personal training under the world renowned Kimo Wall Sensei, founder of Kodokan Goju Ryu Karate. Students also learn a number of classical kata from other systems of karate as well as Chinese White Crane. Our students gain a well rounded knowledge of disciplines important to the development of any good martial artist including:
Non-violent Conflict Management Skills
Strength, Balance, Coordination, Speed, and Power Development
Values: Courtesy, Respect, Citizenship
Traditional Kata & Weapons Program
Free-Sparring & Tournament Sparring
Effective Self Defense Skills
Tournament Competition Available - Not Required
Class Times - FREE ONE WEEK TRIAL
Our classes are grouped together according to age and size so that students train with others similiar to their own size and level of mental and physical development.
TINY TOTS (4yrs - 7yrs)
Tuesday/Thursday 4:00pm - 5:00pm
JUNIOR YOUTH (8yrs - 11yrs)
Tuesday/Thursday 5:30pm - 7:00pm
SENIOR YOUTH (11/12yrs - 14/15yrs)
Monday/Wednesday/Friday 5:30pm - 7:00pm
ADULT
Evenings - Monday/Wednesday/Friday 7:30pm - 9:00pm
Mornings - Tuesday/Thursday 10:00am - 11:30am
WEAPONS
First and Third Saturdays 4:00pm - 5:30pm
Our Goju Ryu lineage is as follows:
Kanryo Higashionna
TO DI Master. Studied in Fuchou, China about 15 years.
He was the Master who influenced Miyagi Chojun to develop Goju Ryu Karate.
Miyagi Chojun
Founder of Goju Ryu Karate.
Dedicated his life to developing and researching kata.
Higa Seiko
Senior student of Miyagi Chjun.
Founder of Sho Do Kan Dojo.
Kimo Wall Sensei
with Cindy and Richard Long
Kimo Wall Sensei
Billy James Wall
May 6, 1943 - November 22, 2018
Founder of Kodokan Karate and the Okinawan Martial Arts Preservation Society of America
Recognized internationally as one of the foremost Masters of traditional Okinawan Goju Ryu and Matayoshi Kodubo
Belen Goju Ryu Karate
Here at Belen Goju Ryu we train with a combination of Goju styles. After three years in TaeKwonDo, we began our training with a 5th. Dan Goju Black Belt, Joe Mercado, from the South Bronx whose Goju Stlyle was Peter Urban's Goju USA, and he especially favored the sparring (kumite) and not much on forms (kata).
We received our 1st. Black Belt from him and eventually made 4th. Dan under his instruction. After taking over the school of 12 students, three days a week, when he moved to Florida, we grew the school to over 150 students, teaching six days a week.
We then were independent for many years going to many seminars by many well known martial artists learning all we could. Then we were introduced to a Japanese Goju 5th. Dan Black Belt, Gustavo Albear, from Peoria, Illinois. He focused mainly on kata and showed us how kata is the encyclopedia for self defense. We were certified 5th. Dan under his instruction. Then in 1999 we were then introduced to an Okinawan Goju 7th. Dan Black Belt, Kimo Wall Sensei. Through his instruction we were shown the difference between Japanese Goju and the true Okinawan Goju. We learned much more of the fighting application (bunkai) and how doing it in the Okinawan way made it more logical and effective. We wanted to line all our Goju kata after Kimo Sensei's instruction. We are certified 6th. Dan under Kimo Sensei as of November, 2005.
Kimo Sensei is the founder of Kodukan and we did not want to change our whole syllabus for several reasons but our classical kata is done as he teaches. Kimo Sensei also instructs us in our Matayoshi Kobudo.
Information of what we teach and at each ranking level is located
on our Karate/Kobudo Syllabus page.
We do host a tournament in our daughter's name each October. This year the date is October 21, 2023 and more information is on our Tournament and Tournament rules and Judging criterion page. This is an open Karate event and the proceeds go to help fund the scholarship program, also in her name, to help students attend college.
Information about this scholarship program is on our Scholarship Info page.
The Annual
Captain Tamara Long-Archuleta
Memorial Open Karate Championship
To see more about the Tournament visit our Tournament and Tournament Rules & judging criterion pages
Our school patch: The helmet represents our daughter and all who serve in our armed forces. We practice to defend ourselves, our families, our community, and our country. We are proud Americans, thus the flag background. Our systems' root is White Crane which is represented by the figure in the crane pose. The three rivets n the helmet represent Body, Mind, and Spirit which are the three battles in our fundamental kata, Sanchin.