About Andrew Roubas Goju-Ryu Karate-Do Academy...
Andrew Roubas Goju-Ryu Karate-Do Academy has been operating in Sydney since 1983.  The Chief Instructor, Shihan Andrew Roubas (6th Dan) founded the academy over 20 years ago under the guidance of Gonnohyoe Yamamoto (8th Dan).  It is a member dojo of the International Karate Organisation (I.K.O.) in Japan.  Andrew Roubas was graded to 4th Dan on his last trip to Japan in 1985.  Since then he has progressed to 5th Dan & 6th Dan from Grandmaster Joe Onopa during his Australian tours from the USA in 1996 & 2002 respectively.  Shihan Andrew Roubas is also qualified in Hapkido (2nd Dan) and Kobudo Weapon Training (4th Dan).  Shihan Andrew is assisted by a team of high quality senior black belts including his son Sensei Stefan Roubas who also has over 20 years experience in the martial arts.  Shihan Andrew Roubas believes the standard of any dojo is directly influenced by the quality of it’s senior black belts.

Meaning of Goju-Ryu...
Our academy teaches Goju-Ryu Karate.  Go-Ju means hard-soft: to be soft and yielding when your opponent is hard or attacking, and to be strong and powerful when he is soft or committed.  The style has been blended with the hard, snapping techniques of Naha-te (Native Okinawan Martial Art) and the softer, gentler techniques of the Chinese martial arts.  Its fighting style focuses on soft circular blocking techniques and its hard, direct kicking and striking techniques.  Go-ju also refers to how we live our lives on other levels.  Sometimes we need to be softer; we need to develop the skills of concentration, patience and effective listening.  We need to be courteous, humble, caring and empathetic.  Your study and dedicated practice of karate will develop these and many more aspects of your life.

The GoJu-Ryu Style...
The Goju Style is powerful and menacing, its followers develop iron hard bodies through their special breathing exercises and by dynamic tension and relaxation.  They move in the dojo like angered tigers crouching in the bamboo, breathing, hissing and rasping through the nostrils and throats, now moving slowly, slowly, and then with incredible swiftness.

The Importance of Breathing in Goju-Ryu...
The Lion with its power and lightning like moves is the symbol of the Goju-Ryu ideal.  Karate men have learned from a study of the big cats much of great value about the art of RELAXATION and BREATHING.  Goju-Ryu karate students train their bodies in the peculiar breathing and dynamic tension exercises that are exactly like the abdominal breathing and stretching movements of the big cats. 
The breathing in particular is the hallmark of the Goju-Ryu Style which is demonstrated in its trademark kata “SANCHIN”.  The karate students who learn it well are able to rejuvenate themselves at will.  With proper breathing techniques they can overcome the miseries of colds and sickness and make any part of their bodies impervious to pain.  The Goju-Ryu style specialises in close range fighting techniques which complements the breathing system.  The breathing system provides the ability to take a blow while enabling the student to deliver the most powerful of blows.