Lineage
Ketsugo Goju-Ryu was founded in 1974 by Shodai Jay Trombley. Shodai received his black belt and teaching certificate from Seikichi Toguchi in 1960. Seikichi Toguchi learned karate from Seko Higa and Chojun Miyagi, the founder of Goju-Ryu Karate. Chojun Miyagi learned karate from Kanryo Higashionna. Robert Oliver received his black belt and teaching certificate from Shodai Jay Trombley. Oliver Karate Academy opened in 2012 in Bedford, Texas. In 2016, Shodai retired from karate and named Robert Oliver his successor. In 2022, Oliver Karate Academy re-located to Colorado Springs, Colorado.
Jay Trombley, Shodai (1938-2022)
Shodai Jay Trombley was born in Bellows Falls, Vermont on November 2, 1938. He began studying karate in Okinawa on October 19, 1955. He was stationed at Camp Hague while serving as a reconnaissance which would have infantryman in the United States Marine Corps. A man named Joe White, who was a sergeant in charge of Mr. Trombley's recon unit, introduced him to Seikichi Toguchi's Shoreikan Goju-Ryu dojo in Koza City. Mr. Trombley began his karate training with 3 other marines (George Costas, Joe Augustine, and Mike Dikin) along with many native Okinawans under Master Seikichi Toguchi. Over the next five years he trained in traditional Goju-Ryu Karate. Classes were 4-5 hours long, including free style sparring. It was a traditional dojo with no air conditioning or heating, and wood floors. His expertise in Okinawan Goju-Ryu also included a thorough schooling of traditional weapons which he acquired from Master Hohan Soken. After his original tour ended he extended his time, staying until 1960, when he acquired his black belt and teaching certificate from Toguchi Sensei.
After leaving Okinawa, Shodai taught karate inside a Jacksonville Beach Florida health club. Also in the health club was Jackie Simpson, who taught golden gloves boxing. While Shodai taught karate, he also learned boxing techniques from Simpson, which would have a profound effect on his own style, still in the making. In 1970 he moved to Texas continuing to build what would be his own system. Four years later he established United Goju-Ryu, later changing the name to Ketsugo Goju-Ryu.
Ketsugo Goju-Ryu is a blend of Shoreikan Goju-Ryu with additional material Shodai added. He created and added 9 katas (Kihon Ichi, Gekisai San, Genshin, Juhito, Issho Ni San, Hente Do, Dobutsu San, Bushido Rei, and Kyuryoku-Do.) He also created additional bunkai kumite and kiso kumite exercises, jiu-jitsu self-defense techniques, judo throws and takedowns, traditional weapons, and a variety of training routines. Shodai was also involved in the full-contact kickboxing scene since it started in Texas, drawing from what he learned from Jackie Simpson in Florida. He has been a trainer, judge, referee, and promoter in national and international kickboxing events. Shodai and his wife Karen promoted some of the biggest full-contact kickboxing events in the Dallas/Ft. Worth area in 1983 and 1984. Many of his training techniques for full-contact fighters were incorporated into the karate program as many of his fighters were also his karate students.
Shodai operated a dojo in the Dallas/Fort Worth area for 46 years. In 1982 he was inducted into the "Who's Who" in Karate. In November 1985, his students presented him with a 450 year-old signed and dated samurai sword, and in 1986 he was awarded the "Legion of Honor" from Official Karate magazine for his dedication, honesty, and service in the martial arts. Shodai was either in training or training others for 61 years and credentials are extensive, beginning with teaching karate to Marines and members of the Navy's elite U.D.T. (Underwater Demolition Team.) Shodai has also worked with several law enforcement agencies. Since developing Ketsugo Goju-Ryu in 1974, he has trained thousands of students from all walks of life; however he has only promoted 29 students to the rank of Shodan (first degree black belt). Among those black belts are Robert Oliver, David Griffin, Ashley Oliver, and Cliff Knudson.
Shodai Jay Trombley retired on March 31, 2016, declaring Oliver Karate Academy to be the Hombu (Home) Dojo. On October 6, that same year, Shodai formally named Robert Oliver his 9th dan successor and president of the Ketsugo Goju-Ryu Association, leaving a legacy that will remain as long as his students carry on what they were taught, strong karate. On November 23rd, 2022, Shodai died of complications from kidney failure. A genius with karate and one of the last of the legends who trained with both Seikichi Toguchi and Hohan Soken, his presence will be sorely missed.
Seikichi Toguchi (1917-1998)
Seikichi Toguchi was born on May 20th, 1917 in Naha, Okinawa. He began his training in Goju-Ryu in 1933 with Seko Higa, student of both Chojun Miyagi and Kanryo Higashionna. At that time there was only two Goju-Ryu dojos, Higa and Miyagi's, and Toguchi trained with both. In 1937, Toguchi went to Japan to obtain his Electrical Engineering license and was later drafted into the Japanese Army, stationed in Indonesia. After the war, he returned to Okinawa and assisted in rebuilding his war-torn homeland. In 1953, after Miyagi died, Miyagi’s Goju-Ryu Shinkokai was re-named the Okinawan Karate-do Gojukai and Toguchi was elected Vice-President, Seiko Higa was the president.
In 1954, Toguchi founded Shoreikan Goju-Ryu and opened his Dojo in Koza City, Okinawa. During the 1950’s, Toguchi founded his system, but it would take time to be completed. He created many Hookiyu Katas to complement and unify Gekisai Dai Ichi and Gekisai Dai Ni, two katas created by Chojun Miyagi. He also started putting together two person exercises called Bunkai Kumite and Kiso Kumite, to help illustrate possibilities of the kata moves and counters. Many servicemen trained here, among them a young United States Marine named Jay Trombley. In 1962, Toguchi moved to Tokyo and served as chief instructor at Yoyogi Martial Training Society Karate Dojo. That same year he opened his Shoreikan dojo in Meguro Borough, Tokyo. Throughout the 1970's and 80's he made many trips to the United States, Canada, and Europe for instruction seminars and demonstrations.
Seikichi Toguchi died on Aug. 31. 1998. His accomplishments and credits are too numerous to detail here, but suffice it to say that he was at the center of Okinawan Goju-Ryu Karate world. He was the last living Okinawan master to receive the title of 'Bushi' a title also held by his teacher, Sensei Miyagi.
In 1954, Toguchi founded Shoreikan Goju-Ryu and opened his Dojo in Koza City, Okinawa. During the 1950’s, Toguchi founded his system, but it would take time to be completed. He created many Hookiyu Katas to complement and unify Gekisai Dai Ichi and Gekisai Dai Ni, two katas created by Chojun Miyagi. He also started putting together two person exercises called Bunkai Kumite and Kiso Kumite, to help illustrate possibilities of the kata moves and counters. Many servicemen trained here, among them a young United States Marine named Jay Trombley. In 1962, Toguchi moved to Tokyo and served as chief instructor at Yoyogi Martial Training Society Karate Dojo. That same year he opened his Shoreikan dojo in Meguro Borough, Tokyo. Throughout the 1970's and 80's he made many trips to the United States, Canada, and Europe for instruction seminars and demonstrations.
Seikichi Toguchi died on Aug. 31. 1998. His accomplishments and credits are too numerous to detail here, but suffice it to say that he was at the center of Okinawan Goju-Ryu Karate world. He was the last living Okinawan master to receive the title of 'Bushi' a title also held by his teacher, Sensei Miyagi.
Chojun Miyagi (1888-1953)
Chojun Miyagi was born in Naha, Okinawa on April 25th, 1888. He began his formal training at age 11 with Ryuko Aragaki. At 14, he was introduced to Kanryo Higashionna and accepted as a student.
He trained for 13 years until the death of Higashionna, then traveled to China to locate Master Ryu Ryu Ko, whom Higashionna had studied with. He was unable to locate him, but he did pick up some of the local arts of the Fukien area of China, notably the kata Rokkishu, which was instrumental in his creation of Tensho kata.
In 1927, Jigoro Kano (founder of Judo) visited Okinawa and witnessed a demonstration by Miyagi. He was surprised to learn from Miyagi that karate isn't just punching and kicking, but also contained ground techniques, throwing, choking, and joint locking techniques. In 1930, Miyagi was invited to perform at the All Japan Martial Arts Demonstration to celebrate Prince Hirohito's crowing. But instead, Miyagi sent his senior student, Jin'an Shinzato, who was asked which school of karate he belonged to. He had no answer and told Miyagi about the incident. Miyagi agreed that his style needed a name. There is a Chinese text called the Bubishi, and in it are the Eight Poems of the Fists. The 3rd precept of the poem reads "The way of inhaling and exhaling is hardness and softness." Go means hard and Ju means soft. Since his style was a combination of these ideals, he named his style Goju-Ryu. In 1933 it was officially registered as such at the Butoku-kai, the Japanese Martial Arts Association.
In 1934, Miyagi obtained the title of Kyoshi (8th Dan) by the Dai Nippon Butokukai in Japan. That same year he accepted an invitation to teach karate in Hawaii, which he did for almost a year, attempting to spread karate worldwide. During the 1930's Miyagi was invited several times to teach karate in Japan at various universities. After World War II, many people died, including one of Miyagi's sons, two of his daughters, and his senior student, Jin'an Shinzato. He was forced to forgo much of his training while his homeland was restructured after the war. In 1946, he was appointed director of the Okinawan Civil Association of Physical Education, and resumed his training, teaching the Police Academy. With the help of his senior students, he opened a new, backyard dojo, known as the Garden Dojo. It was there where Seko Higa, Meitoku Yagi, Ei'ichi Miyazato, Seikichi Toguchi trained. Chojun Miyagi died on October 8th, 1953 at the age of 65, never having named a successor.
