History · est. 1984
Forty years, two dojos, three generations.
Founded in Sydney in 1984 by Shihan Andrew Roubas. What follows is the dojo's own archive — prints and phone photographs, dated, in order.
- Founded
- 1984, Sydney
- Founder
- Shihan Andrew Roubas, 9th Dan
- Dojos
- Concord (North Strathfield), Carlingford since 2010
- Black belts graduated
- More than one hundred
The archive
Year by year
1984
The foundation class1984 The foundation class
Shihan Andrew Roubas opens the academy in Sydney. The first students, photographed beneath the 剛柔流空手道 banners.
1984
Teaching Sanchin1984 Sanchin, from the start
Hanshi Andrew teaching Sanchin — the kata every Goju Ryu student begins and ends with — in the dojo's first year.
1985
Japan1985 Training in Japan
A year in, Hanshi Andrew travels to Japan to train at the source — the first of many trips the dojo's instructors have made since.
1986
The new dojo1986 A new dojo
Students posing at the new dojo, two years after the first class.
2002
Black belt promotion2002 Black belts
A black belt promotion ceremony. By now the dojo's own students were becoming its senior grades.
2010
First class, Carlingford2010 Carlingford opens
The first class at the Carlingford dojo — the second location, still running today.
2013
With Yamamoto Soshihan2013 Yamamoto Soshihan visits
Gonnohyoue Yamamoto Soshihan — Shihan Roubas's teacher — trains the dojo in Sydney. He has returned several times since.
2015
With Higaonna Sensei, Okinawa2015 Tokyo and Okinawa
The dojo's instructors train at the Hombu Dojo in Tokyo. Shihans Stefan and Jayson with Morio Higaonna Sensei in Okinawa.
2019
Soshihan with the black belts2019 Soshihan with the black belts
Yamamoto Soshihan visits from Tokyo again. The same year, the dojo trains on the beach at Camp Goju, Wollongong.
2020
Hanshi's 50th year of trainingDecember 2020 Fifty years of training
The dojo celebrates Hanshi Andrew's fiftieth year of training — through a year of temporary halls and outdoor classes.
2022
The third generationMarch 2022 The third generation
The children of students who were themselves children here start training. Three generations in one dojo.
2024
Yamamoto Soshihan seminarApril 2024 Forty years
Yamamoto Soshihan's seminar at the Concord dojo, in the academy's fortieth year.
Lineage
Where the karate comes from
Chojun Miyagi founded Goju Ryu in Okinawa. Gogen Yamaguchi carried it to Japan. His student Yamamoto Soshihan taught Shihan Roubas — and still teaches the dojo on his visits.
Be part of the next forty.
Your first class is free. Same hall, same karate, same standard.
Ages 8+ & adults · Concord & Carlingford