Karate is the art of fighting with empty hands. The principle weapons of karate are the hands, elbows, feet, knees, and head. The body is transformed into a weapon. To use our weapon effectively, one must being with the proper conditioning and training of the body through positive life styles, healthy diet, and exercise. But conditioning and training of the body is not enough for the karate student. The knowledge and wisdom of proper techniques are critical to the successful execution and understanding of the art. The final element to the study of karate is the discovery of one's spirit as karate is the expression of one's spirit. The combination of body, mind, and spirit is what produces the quality of one's art, the heart of one's karate.

An old Japanese proverb demonstrates best the need to join and balance the body, mind, and spirit. This proverb is stated as, "If the sword is true, the heart is true; and if the heart is true, the sword is true." All students should strive for the knowledge of these elements in order to become more than what he or she is. This is a long and rigorous process but the rewards are immeasurable. With Chinese Goju, the student will learn and excel in their art, at their individual pace.

For a quick insight into the art of Chinese Goju karate, we must understand the basic techniques.