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Master Peter
Urban
USA Goju/Urban
Goju |
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Master Peter
Urban was a student
of the following karate Masters: Gogen Yamaguchi of Goju Kai, Richard Kim
of the Butokukai, and Mas Oyama of Kyokushinkai.
Although his teaching was
closely and primarily related to that of the late Gandmaster Yamaguchi's
Japanese Goju Ryu style, Sensei Urban also injected the teachings from Master
Kim, and Master Oyama to form the USA Goju and later became the Urban Goju.
He was singularly responsible for the introduction
of Goju Ryu to American, and the propagation of the American Goju Ryu in
the United States. No doubt in anyone's mind that Master Urban was the father
of American Goju Karate. He was the grand patriarch of all American Goju
systems. It's appropriate and well said when someone coined the phrase "He
is the 'George Washington' of the American Goju systems."
At the age 18 a young man named Peter Urban enlisted
in the U.S. Navy. While he stationed in Okinawa, he first became a disciple
of Richard Kim in 1953. Later Kim introduced him to Gogen Yamaguchi and Mas
Oyama to further his studies while he had a chance to travel to Tokyo in
1954.
Under Goju Kai, he earned his 6° Black Belt from
Master Yamaguchi. In 1959 he left Japan with his Japanese wife Meiko for
America. After spending a brief period of time in his home town Union City,
New Jersey, he found a dojo on 20 E 17 St in Manhattan and established his
martial arts root in New York City. In 1967 he opened the famous Chinatown
Dojo in a predominantly Oriental neighborhood of the city. It is believed
that during this period he forged the beginning of the legendary American
Goju. In the same year the American College of Dans was founded at Chinatown
Dojo.
The accounts of how it all began varies among
the different factions of the American Goju styles. A few said it started
in Union City, some said it started at E17 St, and many others said it started
in Chinatown Dojo. Unfortunately the man who had the answer is no longer
with us to settle the disputes. Perhaps, it's best to leave it unanswered
as all legends are always full of mystery and controversy. However, Sensei
Lau likes to point out one fact that most, if not all, of his issued documents
and ceritifcates signed off as "Urban of Chinatown" long after he had moved
out of Chinatown seems to support that it was during the Chinatown Dojo era
when all emerged. Obviously Chinatown Dojo was something special to him.
Not until late '78 he began to signed off as "Urban of the United Sons of
Goju International" on his issued certificates.
According to Sensei Lau's account, during the
period of Chinatown Dojo at 232 Canal St, Master Urban called his style USA
Goju, his students in white gi with the USA Goju patch in the front and
"Butokukai" patch in the back, only he himself in black gi. In 1968 he moved
his dojo to 22 Wooster St, New York City, and he called the new dojo "Little
Tokyo". Because of some marital issues with his wife Meiko, he went back
to Japan. After his return from this re-visit trip to Japan, he changed all
his students' gi to black, and proclaimed himself a 10th dan, hanshi
of USA Goju. Rumors among the students on the floor said that while he was
visiting in Japan, he had an argument with his own sensei, and he broke away
from Goju Kai. Very much later in a casual conversion, Sensei Lau learned
from Master Urban himself that Master Yamaguchi wouldn't give him the
director/chairship (lack of better term) of Goju Kai organization in USA,
because he wanted to give it to his eldest son "Gosei". Master Urban argued
that it was he who brought Goju to USA, and he should be given a consideration
for the position, but Master Yamoguchi didn't want to hear any of it.
In 1971 upon his return to New York from a brief retreat
in South Jersey, he opened his Shanghai Dojo at 1 Crosby St, New York City
with the help of Sensei Vincent Flores, Sensei Tony Lau, Sensei David Lee
and other Chinese black belt alumni of Chinatown Dojo. Later of the same
year he changed his personal teaching branch to Urban Goju, while he allowed
the existing branches of dojo continued to call themselves USA Goju. In 1977
he set sail to Italy for his first installation of his style oversea, which
marked the beginning of his international voyage.
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Young Urban
(Foreground in horse stance) |
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Young Master Urban with
Master Yamaguchi |
Early days fighting match between masters
Urban & Nagle |
Early days fighting match between masters
Urban & Nagle |
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