Mandurah Goju Ryu Karate - SWGKA

Thanks to our Assistant Coaches of our Junior Students

A huge shout out to the assistant coaches in our dojos. Each coach adds tremendous value to each student's training night after night with more 1x1 attention.
Today we focus on the assistant coaches from the Mandurah Dojo who make a great impact upon the junior class.

Many thanks to: Dennis, Taj , Kyle and Jayden, Darian and Savannah.

Fighting Skills - Partner Flowing Close Quarter Workshops.

Two workshops were conducted in March to further the skill set for the students dealing with close contact self defence situations. Coach Steve Casserly with the assistance of Dennis Green, Dale Loxton and Dave Lyon conducted the workshops.
The skill set involved continuous agressive contact with an opponent where the student had to apply their techniques with ever changing situations with the opponents balance, timing, distance and physical response to the students counter attacks.
Students very quickly realized their basic skills of setting a base with a bio-mechanically sound upper body structure and effective footwork allowed them the flexibility and adaptability to adjust throughout the confrontation and maintain the pressure on the attacker.
Another two workshops will be conducted in June and July.
Thanks to Sensei Karen Hollings from Rei Sh*ta Ryu for supporting the workshop with students: Dave, Manna and Liam.

Workshop - Koryu Partner Flow Drills Workshop

A good turnout of students from the SWGKA Mandurah dojo, a couple of Bunbury blow-ins (from Busso - Lisa and Warren), plus Dave and Mana from Rei Sh*to Ryu under Karen Hollings Sensei participated in Steve Casserly Shihan’s workshop on Koryu Uchinadi flow drills, courtesy of Patrick McCarthy Hanshi's research (Close quarter fighting skills).
Additional Mandurah workshops with a bunkai focus (Gekisai and Saifa) are coming up on the 8 & 22 March - contact Steve Shihan if interested.

Workshop - Partner Flow Drills for Close Quarter Self Defence

DOWN THE BEACH TO KICK OFF THE YEAR

Mandurah Goju Ryu dojo started the years training with 2 weeks of classes down the Town Beach.

We had a great attendance given students were still coming back from holidays or preparing for school.

The focus of the sessions were to stretch out, strength and conditioning and review some basic principles to help the mind and body to start working together again… plus some fun in the water.

A key focus was learning how to use the Okinawan Stone Weight called a Chishi. A valuable tool to build internal strength and body structure for the Goju Ryu training system.

Thanks to Dennis Green (3rd dan) and Dale Loxton (2nd Dan) for their assistance.

BLACK BELT PHOTO GALLERY

We have updated the gallery containing photos of the black belts from the past 35 years. Open the link, select the Mandurah dojo and the Black Belt Gallery.

South West Goju – South West Goju Martial Arts School Home S.W.G.K.A Members train in confidence knowing: •All association coaches are accredited with the Australian Coaching Council and have police and working with children clearances. •Our association is affiliated with the Australian Karate Federation Inc (AKF) who are Government recognised and ...

How'd We End Up In 2025?

The students at the Mandurah South West Goju Ryu dojo finished 2025 strongly with solid performances at their gradings. The examinations were more intense with an emphasis of focus, fitness and conditioning through extended free fighting rounds (8 rounds) and groundwork.

Notably, Kaiden Buss - Dawson achieved his black belt having been training for 7 years.
Kyle McFarlane and Taj Gilbert received their senior black belt grades, both students have been training now for 10 years.

Charli King received her brown belt, and important grade as Charli will make the transition from juniors to seniors in 2026. Congratulations to Kaiden, Kyle, Taj and Charli.

Coach Steve Casserly would like to thank Dennis Green (3rd dan) and Dale Loxton (2nd dan) for their assistance and making a success of the day.

See you down the beach in 26!

Association Training Seminar

The SWGKA combined training session last Sunday commenced with a lesson in bo basics of Ryukyu Kobujutsu (both sides!), taught by guest instructor Michael Back, head of style for Ryukyu Kobujutsu Hozon Shinkokai.

Following this, students worked on:
- drills to improve speed in techniques - taught by Peter Davis Shihan,
- how to find opportunities to incorporate empi uchi (elbow strikes), using the first 7 Empi Flow Drill techniques - taught by Steve Casserly Shihan.
Steve Shihan also covered:
- review of Geikisai Dai Ichi and the two Ju Shin Geri (kicking) katas
- advanced kata / kumite for Black Belts at the end of the session.

Thank you to all who attended!

A DAY ON THE GROUND...

Today 14 students from the Mandurah Dojo attended a Groundwork Skills workshop conducted by instructor Steve Casserly.
The workshop targeted new students introducing them to these important skills that add to their stand up fighting.
Higher Grades,Taj Gilbert, Savannah Hillier, Darian Hooper and visiting Black Belt from Rei Sh*to Ryu (Warnbro), Dave Lyon provided great assistance to all the students throughout the 3 hr training session.
Aspects covered were: breakfalls, shoulder rolls, sprawling, escapes and rumbling on the ground with each other... with few rules. Pulling hair and pinching were all allowed (ouch!).
The training also gave the students a great appreciation of the fitness of those martial artists who train on Groundwork.
Videos highlight some of Taj's, Darian's and Savannah's work and also a section of the seminar on moving across the ground. We keep learning.

Weapon classes for our Junior Students.

Our junior class are engaged in traditional weapons training to enhanced their empty hands skills. In this situation, learning to use the fighting stick or Bo.

The training develops a sense of responsibility for their Bo and how to look after it. Also, their skills in coordination and pattern recognition are improving at a great rate.