Northwest Okinawan
Goju Ryu Karate
Sensei Doug
Meagher
Biography
Sensei Meagher started training in different arts in the 1970s doing some Tae Kwon Do and some training in boxing never seriously training in either. In the 1980s Mr. Meagher came across GoJu Ryu Karate and decided that this would be the style he would make the foundation of his Martial Arts training. After 4 yrs. of practice he attained the coveted rank of black belt and the training began. Sensei moved through the ranks of his original school becoming well known for his fighting skills and hard training. He actively participated at tournaments and in 1991 won the Niagara Regional Kumite Champions title for GoJu Ryu.
The person Mr. Meagher credits with much of the knowledge he has attained is Gilberto Chandias Sensei. Learning the art from Master Chandias through private instruction Mr. Meagher was then able to apply what he had learned to the style of GoJu Ryu.
The Gakko No GoJu school started first in the basement of the Meagher family home in 1995 with private instruction given to family members and friends. The school quickly outgrew its small dojo and had to be moved to a new location at a second story Church hall. In 1996 the Gakko No GoJu School joined forces with Northwest Recreation and opened its doors as Northwest Recreational Karate (Gakko No GoJu Ryu).
Since the goal of Northwest Recreational is to help keep children off the streets and involved in activities which give them a good moral and social understanding without costing more than any income can afford, it was a perfect marriage of the two! Since the school also provides classes for adults, it is a well rounded school anyone can attend. All that is asked is the students work hard, attend regularly and show respect for all things inside and outside of the Dojo (training hall).
In 1997 Sensei Meagher met Sensei Rusty McMains, an Okinawan Goju stylist at a Pressure Points seminar in Western New York, organized by Sensei Liz Logan. Through regular "mini-seminars" conducted at his Welland school by Sensei Liz Logan, he began to sponsor seminars with Sensei McMains. By 1999, Sensei McMains had formally accepted Sensei Meagher as his student. The school is currently working hard to bring their forms and standards in line with the Okinawan Goju Ryu syllabus.
Sensei Meagher has since furthered his studies to Pressure Point Manipulation as applied in the Martial Arts. He has trained with notable masters such as George Dillman, Rick Moneymaker, Rand Cardwell, Rich Mooney and of course, his Sensei Rusty McMains, a master pressure point instructor in his own right. Sensei Meagher has kept in close contact with any of the instructors mentioned thanks to Sensei Liz Logan without whom much of this would never have come to fruition.
Sensei
Meagher has carried on the ideas provided him by his teachers, that the
arts are not primarily for sport and competition, but are for learning to
be a complete person, striving to better ones self through practicing to
attain perfection of ones self. He continues to learn and grow from
all experiences. When you talk to him be prepared for a big smile and open
truthful dialogue! But by all means please do drop in for a chat.