Goju Ryu (剛柔流) is a style of karate so called as it allows a combination of hard and soft styles. The earliest known master of Okinawan Karate (from which most other Karate styles are derived) was Kanryo Higaonna, (1852-1915) who developed it from another style called Naha-Te.
The principle master for the Goju Ryu style was Miyagi Chojun, who chose the name of "Goju" after a disciple of his who was demonstrating his style of Naha-te was asked the name of the style. The disciple returned to Chojun, who chose the name based on the eight principles of Kempo, as written in the Bubushi.
'Go' means hardness or external force, 'Ju' means softness or internal as in the Chinese martial arts.
Inhaling and exhaling is the way of hardness and softness. This is the quoted text from the Bubishi, given by the disciple when asked to describe the style being taught by Miyagi Chojun.
Goju Ryu combines hard striking attacks like kicks and punches with softer circular techniques for blocking and controlling the opponent. Major emphasis is given to breathing correctly.
The current Master of Style is Miyagi Anichi Sensei who teaches only one person Morio Higaonna Sensei, the chief instructor of the International Okinawan Goju-Ryu Karate-Do federation (IOGKF) which now is present in over 40 countries.
