East London Goju Ryu

A Member Dojo Of Chris Rowen Shihan's Bunbukan

“My interest in Goju Ryu karate started around 2001 when I took my son to his karate sessions. I was impressed with the style and asked McEvoy Sensei if I could join in. some four years later I received my 1st Dan, which proved to be one of the hardest tests of not only stamina, but of character I have undertaken.
Our training under McEvoy Sensei is hard but fun, and he will on occasion push you to your limits and beyond. It’s not unusual for students to be sick in some of the more demanding lessons. It is these lessons I most enjoy, just to see how far I can push myself.
I have also, with McEvoy Sensei’s help, begun to study the history and the spiritual side of karate, which is varied and very interesting”.

“I met Jim McEvoy Sensei when I started training in Shotokan karate. We became good friends, and most of our conversations were about karate and the martial arts (and still are). During one of our chats, he told me about a style of karate he practiced called Goju Ryu. He made it sound very interesting, so after seeing him demonstrate it, a few of us asked if he would teach us. He agreed, and after a few sessions I was hooked.
I got my 1st Dan three years later, something that pleased me greatly because it was at the same time as my son got his 1st Dan.
There is still much to learn, but I hope that will take me into old age”.

“I have been training in various martial arts since 1984. I have trained in many different styles.
Budo training started properly when I met McEvoy Sensei in 1991. I practice Goju Ryu Karate-do to strengthen my spirit, my body, and character. The Go-Ju training and philosophy gives me the physical and moral courage to make correct moral decisions.
Karate-do, In particular Go-Ju Ryu, has taught me to be true to myself, to train hard, to teach well and live life for the moment. McEvoy Sensei teaches me how important it is to always give my best at all times. Because of his teachings I am more relaxed, less stressed and able to remain composed under pressure. I thank Karate-do and my teacher regularly for showing me the DO (way), which allows me to control my emotions, and produce / provide a good safe environment”.

I joined the Goju Ryu Karate club in October 2003 after I was attacked and assaulted by two individuals without provocation after a night out with a friend. I wanted to ensure that this sort of assault would never happen to me again, so as my son and husband were already training under Sensei Jim McEvoy I thought I would go along and see for myself what Goju Ryu was all about.
I had done some Karate training before as a small child for a very short period of time with my father, who had trained for many years in different forms of Karate, so I had a rough idea of what to expect, but at first I did find it strange and embarrassing. Over a period of time I felt my confidence and ability grow and realised that as a women, I would not be able to rely on strength alone, but would need to ensure that along with some strength, I could use what ever techniques, I have learned and been shown by Sensei Jim McEvoy. After 3 years of training, I took my Dan grade which was a hard and punishing 4 hour session (which I found extremely tough). I completed the session and was extremely proud of myself when Sensei McEvoy congratulated me on passing the grading. Becoming a black belt in Goju Ryu Karate is one of the most exciting achievements of my life.
I would seriously recommend to any female that they should consider taking up martial arts to help them with a good form of self defence and also to give them the confidence to be able to look after themselves should a situation ever arise where their life or honour may depend on it. I know that training under Sensei Jim McEvoy in the art of Goju Ryu has certainly done that for me.

Karate found me or I found it at a low point in my life. It is not exaggerating to say that it changed my life and still is doing so. It has made me calmer, more positive, happier and a morally better person. Through it I have learnt respect for others and myself and to appreciate the moment. I have made great friends with my fellow karateka who are all without doubt some of the finest people I have met.
I found Goju Ryu through Jim McEvoy Sensei who has through walking the path before me helped me so much on my own. Training under McEvoy Sensei is fantastic, he has taught me not only techniques passed down through our do or way, but to show respect and show gratitude to those that have gone before us. He has taught me to appreciate the moment, which is what we truly only have and that we should live each moment as if it were our last (because one day it will be). Through this kind of teaching I have become a happier more contented person who appreciates where he is at this moment.
The training itself is hard and although I train every day I still found my Dan grading so hard. It was an achievement in my life and I can honestly say I earned it.
In all, my karate has made me a more complete person mentally, physically and spiritually.
Now as Yudansha I feel I have only just begun to learn and there is so much more to learn than there is to teach.

	“I have been practicing the martial arts for about eight years now. I hold a 2nd Dan in Shotokan Karate and was an assistant instructor at the club where I trained. It was there that I met Jim McEvoy Sensei. He often spoke about Goju Ryu and we at the club asked him to demonstrate it to us. This he did and eventually we asked him to teach us. From the first few Goju Ryu techniques he taught us I knew I didn’t want to do anything else”.
Jamie Still

2nd Dan Goju Ryu
2nd Dan Shotokan


Peter Anderson	“My interest in Goju Ryu karate started around 2001 when I took my son to his karate sessions. I was impressed with the style and asked McEvoy Sensei if I could join in. some four years later I received my 1st Dan, which proved to be one of the hardest tests of not only stamina, but of character I have undertaken. Our training under McEvoy Sensei is hard but fun, and he will on occasion push you to your limits and beyond. It’s not unusual for students to be sick in some of the more demanding lessons. It is these lessons I most enjoy, just to see how far I can push myself. I have also, with McEvoy Sensei’s help, begun to study the history and the spiritual side of karate, which is varied and very interesting”.

2nd Dan Goju Ryu


Harry Still	“I met Jim McEvoy Sensei when I started training in Shotokan karate. We became good friends, and most of our conversations were about karate and the martial arts (and still are). During one of our chats, he told me about a style of karate he practiced called Goju Ryu. He made it sound very interesting, so after seeing him demonstrate it, a few of us asked if he would teach us. He agreed, and after a few sessions I was hooked. I got my 1st Dan three years later, something that pleased me greatly because it was at the same time as my son got his 1st Dan. There is still much to learn, but I hope that will take me into old age”.

2nd Dan Goju Ryu
1st Dan Shotokan


Alan Bendell	“I have been training in various martial arts since 1984. I have trained in many different styles. Budo training started properly when I met McEvoy Sensei in 1991. I practice Goju Ryu Karate-do to strengthen my spirit, my body, and character. The Go-Ju training and philosophy gives me the physical and moral courage to make correct moral decisions. Karate-do, In particular Go-Ju Ryu, has taught me to be true to myself, to train hard, to teach well and live life for the moment. McEvoy Sensei teaches me how important it is to always give my best at all times. Because of his teachings I am more relaxed, less stressed and able to remain composed under pressure. I thank Karate-do and my teacher regularly for showing me the DO (way), which allows me to control my emotions, and produce / provide a good safe environment”.

1st Dan Goju Ryu


Julie Anderson	I joined the Goju Ryu Karate club in October 2003 after I was attacked and assaulted by two individuals without provocation after a night out with a friend. I wanted to ensure that this sort of assault would never happen to me again, so as my son and husband were already training under Sensei Jim McEvoy I thought I would go along and see for myself what Goju Ryu was all about. I had done some Karate training before as a small child for a very short period of time with my father, who had trained for many years in different forms of Karate, so I had a rough idea of what to expect, but at first I did find it strange and embarrassing. Over a period of time I felt my confidence and ability grow and realised that as a women, I would not be able to rely on strength alone, but would need to ensure that along with some strength, I could use what ever techniques, I have learned and been shown by Sensei Jim McEvoy. After 3 years of training, I took my Dan grade which was a hard and punishing 4 hour session (which I found extremely tough). I completed the session and was extremely proud of myself when Sensei McEvoy congratulated me on passing the grading. Becoming a black belt in Goju Ryu Karate is one of the most exciting achievements of my life. I would seriously recommend to any female that they should consider taking up martial arts to help them with a good form of self defence and also to give them the confidence to be able to look after themselves should a situation ever arise where their life or honour may depend on it. I know that training under Sensei Jim McEvoy in the art of Goju Ryu has certainly done that for me.

1st Dan Goju Ryu


Chris Taylor	Karate found me or I found it at a low point in my life. It is not exaggerating to say that it changed my life and still is doing so. It has made me calmer, more positive, happier and a morally better person. Through it I have learnt respect for others and myself and to appreciate the moment. I have made great friends with my fellow karateka who are all without doubt some of the finest people I have met. I found Goju Ryu through Jim McEvoy Sensei who has through walking the path before me helped me so much on my own. Training under McEvoy Sensei is fantastic, he has taught me not only techniques passed down through our do or way, but to show respect and show gratitude to those that have gone before us. He has taught me to appreciate the moment, which is what we truly only have and that we should live each moment as if it were our last (because one day it will be). Through this kind of teaching I have become a happier more contented person who appreciates where he is at this moment. The training itself is hard and although I train every day I still found my Dan grading so hard. It was an achievement in my life and I can honestly say I earned it. In all, my karate has made me a more complete person mentally, physically and spiritually. Now as Yudansha I feel I have only just begun to learn and there is so much more to learn than there is to teach.

1st Dan Goju Ryu