Dennis Pfendler,3rd Degree Black Belt and the Chief Instructor at Goju Ryu Karate-Do of Vancouver started his Goju Ryu training in Bakersfield, California in 1996 under Hanshi Stan O'Hara, 8th dan. With a business move to Colorado in 2001, he continued his training with Shihan Steve Wilson, 6th dan and most senior ranking student of Shihan O'Hara. In 2004 Dennis Sensei opened his Shibu Dojo, a branch school to honor his teacher. Dennis Sensei is a student of the historyDennis Sensei's career encompassed mortgage banking management and human resources. Since retiring from the banking industry, Dennis Sensei operates a water purification systems distributorship providing point of use water filtration systems for home and business.
Sue Pfendler, 3rd Degree Black Belt andDirector at Goju Ryu Karate-Do of Vancouver has trained at her husband's side from the beginning also under Hanshi Stan O'Hara and Shihan Steve Wilson. Empowered as a woman studying the self defense power of Goju Ryu, Sue Sensei has created a women's self defense program based on Goju Ryu principles that work simply and effectively for any non karate woman. She also strives to share the great health benefits that Goju Ryu has to offer. As a Licensed Massage Practitioner, Registered Thai Therapist, and Registered Yoga Teacher she constantly incorporates her in-depth knowledge of kinesiology, proper body alignment,qi (energy) and breathwork into her curriculum. Sue Sensei is the owner and developer of Balanced Bodyworks, a wellness company offering massage, yoga and infrared therapy. View the massage modalities and Yoga class offerings on her website at www.MyBalancedBodyworks.com
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Jonathan Pfendler, 2nd Degree Black Belt began his martial arts study as an energetic 6 year old under Shihan O'Hara. As an instructor of the PeeWees and Juniors Jonathan Sempai brings an energetic and youthful perspective to his students. Kobudo (weapons) classes held at Goju-Ryu Karate-Do of Vancouver are Jonathan Sempai's passion. Jonathan, Sempai is known for his charismatic teaching approach and his in-depth grasp on the 'ju' (soft) aspects found within Goju Ryu Karate. He focuses heavily on the body mechanics and how much fun each of his students are having while learning detailed skills in his classes. Jonathan Sempai is an artist, you can see his "Dragon" artwork on the wall of the dojo. He is currently attending Clark College Vancouver and will be pursuing his art degree at Pacific Northwest College of Art in Portland.
Stan O' Hara, Hanshi - 8th Degree Black Belt Director of the Okinawan Goju Ryu Kenkyu Kai Federation and the Chief Instructor of the Pfendler Family. As a lifelong dedicated athlete, Stan O'Hara -Hanshi, originally found the Okinawa-Te style of karate to be an excellent form of exercise as well as an efficient way to control weight, since he was previously a weight lifting international competitor. This experience led to his training in the Shotokan style but by 1966 he became extremely impressed with Goju Ryu after meeting Sensei Gogen Yamaguchi and decided to convert. He eventually earned his black belt from Gogen Yamaguchi "the cat" in the art that he still practices to this very day - Goju Ryu. In 1990, Stan O'Hara had the good fortune to be introduced to Master Morio Higaonna. Sensei Higaonna's impeccable integrity and knowledge has been passed down to Stan O'Hara -Hanshi and thus to the Pfendler Family.
Steve Wilson, Shihan 6th Degree Black Belt in Okinawan Goju Ryu Karate and 5th Dan in Okinawan Ryukyu Kobudo began training in Japanese Goju Ryu with O'Hara Sensei June 6th, 1973 in Bakersfield, CA and today is O'Hara Sensei's most senior student. Wilson Sensei has studied Kobudo since 1979. In 1987 Wilson Sensei sought out and became a direct student of Higaonna Morio Sensei, 9th Dan Okinawan Goju Ryu. Wilson Sensei remained a direct student of Higaonna Morio Sensei until 1994. In 1990, Wilson Sensei introduced O'Hara Sensei to Higaonna Sensei. This provided the opportunity for Wilson Sensei and his lifelong teacher, O'hara Sensei to study and covert from Japanese Goju Ryu to Okinawan Goju Ryu together under the same teacher. In 1995, OHara Sensei Founded the OGRKK and Wilson Sensei in support of his teacher's objetive to form an organization that focused on hard training, reaserach, sharing, and maintaining traditions Co-founded the OGRKK. In 2001, Wilson Sensei had the great fortune to study, interview, and train with Matsumura Jin'an Sensei, who was a direct student of the Founder of Goju Ryu, Miyagi Chojun Sensei. Wilson Sensei currently has students operating OGRKK dojo in Lindsay, CA; Ventura, CA; Vancouver, WA; and Eagle, CO. His goals today include being the best teacher he can be, developing his black belts to their highest potential, and supporting the quality and future of the OGRKK.
THE ART OF GOJU RYU was developed on Okinawa, off the southern coast of Japan. Originally the two existing styles were Naha-Te and Shuri-Te. They were named after the two towns where they were developed,Naha and Shuri.
HISTORY OF GOJU RYU KARATE: goes back hundreds of years and has been traced to the southern Chinese province of Fukien. Legendary Okinawan Master Chojun Miyagi, completed it as a formal style and named it Goju Ryu. This name remains to the present day, and it is with great pride that Master Miyagi's original version is still being taught today- it is the style you will be learning.
Dennis Pfendler, 3rd Degree Black Belt and the Chief Instructor at Goju Ryu Karate-Do of Vancouver started his Goju Ryu training in Bakersfield, California in 1996 under Hanshi Stan O'Hara, 8th dan. With a business move to Colorado in 2001, he continued his training with Shihan Steve Wilson, 6th dan and most senior ranking student of Shihan O'Hara. In 2004 Dennis Sensei opened his Shibu Dojo, a branch school to honor his teacher. Dennis Sensei is a student of the historyDennis Sensei's career encompassed mortgage banking management and human resources. Since retiring from the banking industry, Dennis Sensei operates a water purification systems distributorship providing point of use water filtration systems for home and business. 
Sue Pfendler, 3rd Degree Black Belt and Director at Goju Ryu Karate-Do of Vancouver has trained at her husband's side from the beginning also under Hanshi Stan O'Hara and Shihan Steve Wilson. Empowered as a woman studying the self defense power of Goju Ryu, Sue Sensei has created a women's self defense program based on Goju Ryu principles that work simply and effectively for any non karate woman. She also strives to share the great health benefits that Goju Ryu has to offer. As a Licensed Massage Practitioner, Registered Thai Therapist, and Registered Yoga Teacher she constantly incorporates her in-depth knowledge of kinesiology, proper body alignment,qi (energy) and breathwork into her curriculum. Sue Sensei is the owner and developer of Balanced Bodyworks, a wellness company offering massage, yoga and infrared therapy. View the massage modalities and Yoga class offerings on her website at 
Jonathan Pfendler, 2nd Degree Black Belt began his martial arts study as an energetic 6 year old under Shihan O'Hara. As an instructor of the PeeWees and Juniors Jonathan Sempai brings an energetic and youthful perspective to his students. Kobudo (weapons) classes held at Goju-Ryu Karate-Do of Vancouver are Jonathan Sempai's passion. Jonathan, Sempai is known for his charismatic teaching approach and his in-depth grasp on the 'ju' (soft) aspects found within Goju Ryu Karate. He focuses heavily on the body mechanics and how much fun each of his students are having while learning detailed skills in his classes. Jonathan Sempai is an artist, you can see his "Dragon" artwork on the wall of the dojo. He is currently attending Clark College Vancouver and will be pursuing his art degree at Pacific Northwest College of Art in Portland. 
Stan O' Hara, Hanshi - 8th Degree Black Belt Director of the Okinawan Goju Ryu Kenkyu Kai Federation and the Chief Instructor of the Pfendler Family. As a lifelong dedicated athlete, Stan O'Hara -Hanshi, originally found the Okinawa-Te style of karate to be an excellent form of exercise as well as an efficient way to control weight, since he was previously a weight lifting international competitor. This experience led to his training in the Shotokan style but by 1966 he became extremely impressed with Goju Ryu after meeting Sensei Gogen Yamaguchi and decided to convert. He eventually earned his black belt from Gogen Yamaguchi "the cat" in the art that he still practices to this very day - Goju Ryu. In 1990, Stan O'Hara had the good fortune to be introduced to Master Morio Higaonna. Sensei Higaonna's impeccable integrity and knowledge has been passed down to Stan O'Hara -Hanshi and thus to the Pfendler Family. 
Steve Wilson, Shihan 6th Degree Black Belt in Okinawan Goju Ryu Karate and 5th Dan in Okinawan Ryukyu Kobudo began training in Japanese Goju Ryu with O'Hara Sensei June 6th, 1973 in Bakersfield, CA and today is O'Hara Sensei's most senior student. Wilson Sensei has studied Kobudo since 1979. In 1987 Wilson Sensei sought out and became a direct student of Higaonna Morio Sensei, 9th Dan Okinawan Goju Ryu. Wilson Sensei remained a direct student of Higaonna Morio Sensei until 1994. In 1990, Wilson Sensei introduced O'Hara Sensei to Higaonna Sensei. This provided the opportunity for Wilson Sensei and his lifelong teacher, O'hara Sensei to study and covert from Japanese Goju Ryu to Okinawan Goju Ryu together under the same teacher. In 1995, OHara Sensei Founded the OGRKK and Wilson Sensei in support of his teacher's objetive to form an organization that focused on hard training, reaserach, sharing, and maintaining traditions Co-founded the OGRKK. In 2001, Wilson Sensei had the great fortune to study, interview, and train with Matsumura Jin'an Sensei, who was a direct student of the Founder of Goju Ryu, Miyagi Chojun Sensei. Wilson Sensei currently has students operating OGRKK dojo in Lindsay, CA; Ventura, CA; Vancouver, WA; and Eagle, CO. His goals today include being the best teacher he can be, developing his black belts to their highest potential, and supporting the quality and future of the OGRKK. 
