GOJU-RYU TIMELINE
1851 Kanryo Higaonna, founder of Naha-te, is born March 10th
1866 Kanryo Higaonna sails to Fukien province, where he studies Chinese martial arts with Ryu Ryuko.
1888 Chogun Miyagi, founder of Goju Ryu, is born on April 25th.
1890 Kanryo Higaonna introduces Naha-te and a breathing exercise called Sanchin.
1902 Chogun Miyagi begins his training with Kanyro Higaonna
1909 Gogen Yamaguchi, founder of Japanese Goju-Ryu, is born on January 21st.  Richard Kim is born on November 11.
1915 Kanryo Higaonna dies on December 23rd.  Chojun Miyagi travels to Foochow province in China and trains in several local styles.
1917 Chogun Miyagi returns to Okinawa.
1927-28 Chogun Miyagi founds Goju-Ryu karate, also becoming the first to give his style a name other than that of the city from which it is produced.
1928 Chogun Miyagi travels to Japan and teaches karate at universities.
1929 Gogen Yamaguchi invites Chogun Miyagi to Japan.   
1930 Gogen Yamaguchi establishes Japanese Goju-Ryu headquarters in Tokyo.  Chogun Miyagi is named Karate Division Chairman of the Okinawan Prefecture Athletic Association.
1934 Chogun Miyagi lectures and teaches karate in Hawaii.  He also becomes a permanent officer of the Dai Nippon Butokukai (Great Japan Martial Virtues Association).    Peter Urban is born on August 14th.               Frank Ruiz is born on July 2.
1935 All Japan Goju-Kai Karate-Do Association is founded by Gogen Yamaguchi, who also originates jiyu-kumite (free sparring), the basis of sport karate.    Gosei Yamaguchi is born.
1937 Chogun Miyagi, along with other stylists, forms the Dai Nippon Butokukai Karate Jukkyoshi (great Japan Martial Arts Karate Teachers Association).  He also receives a Kyoshi degree from the Dai Nippon Butokukai. Earl Monroe is born on May 9th.
1939 Gogen Yamaguchi is sent to Manchuria as an intelligence officer, where he is captured and held by the Russians.
1940 Chogun Miyagi creates the katas: Gekisai Ichi and Gekisai Ni
1947 Gogen Yamaguchi is freed by the Russians and returns to Japan.
1950 Gogen Yamaguchi founds the Karate-Do Goju-Kai in Tokyo.
1953 Chogun Miyagi dies on October 8th.  While in Japan, Peter Urban begins instruction with Richard Kim.
1959 Peter Urban introduces Goju- Ryu to the United States.
1960 Peter Urban opens the famous Chinatown Dojo.  Frank Ruiz, Albert Gotay and others begin training with Peter Urban.
1961 Earl Monroe studies Judo in Germany while in the U.S. Army.
1963 Goshi Yamaguchi begins teaching Goju-Ryu in San Francisco.  Earl Monroe begins instruction in Jiu-Jitsu with Theodore West at Nisei Judo and Jiu-Jitsu, Bronx, N.Y.
1964 Gosei Yamaguchi joins his brother Goshi in San Francisco.  Gogen Yamaguchi helps form the All Japan Karate-Do Federation.  Albert Dandridge begins instruction in Jiu-Jitsu with Theodore West at Nisei Judo and Jiu-Jitsu, Bronx, N.Y.
1965 Frank Ruiz retires undefeated in tournament competition with 165 victories.  Frank Ruiz establishes the Iona College Karate Club, New Rochelle, N.Y. and begins instructing Goju-Ryu at Nisei Judo and Jiu-Jitsu dojo,  Bronx, N.Y. owned by Jiu-Jitsu yudansha, Theodore West.
1967 Peter Urban creates U.S.A. Goju. Earl Monroe begins training in U.S.A. Goju with Frank Ruiz and promoted to black belt in Jiu-Jitsu by Theodore West.
1968 Frank Ruiz, Harry Rosenstein and Ronald Taganashi ( all students of Peter Urban) create Nisei Goju-Ryu.  Albert Dandridge is promoted to black belt by Ted West.  Albert Gotay takes over the Iona College Karate Club from Frank Ruiz.  Theodore West forms the Kyudan Jiu-Jitsu Federation on August 8th .
1969 Earl Monroe is promoted to black belt  in Nisei Goju-Ryu by Frank Ruiz.
1970 Raymond Fitzpatrick begins instruction in Nisei Goju-Ryu with Earl Monroe.
1972 Raymond Fitzpatrick joins the Iona College Karate Club.
1973 Ron Van Clief (a student of Peter Urban and Frank Ruiz) forms Chinese Goju.                                          Peter Jenkins is born on April 12th.
1974 Harry Rosenstein forms Kanzen Goju-Ryu.
1975 Raymond Fitzpatrick begins training with Peter Urban at Goju Hall, NYC.
1976 Peter Urban promotes Raymond Fitzpatrick to black belt.  With Urban's consent, Raymond Fitzpatrick opens Goju Hall II in New Rochelle, N.Y.
1977 Raymond Fitzpatrick begins training with Frank Ruiz and Earl Monroe.
1978 The New Rochelle Karate Institute is opened by Raymond Fitzpatrick and he begins Jiu-Jitsu instruction with Albert Dandridge.  John Coschigano begins training with Raymond Fitzpatrick.
1979 Thomas Jackson begins training with Raymond Fitzpatrick.
1980 Frank Ruiz relocates to Florida.
Tracey Seymour and Sharrieff Rasheed start training with Raymond Fitzpatrick.
Daniel Fitzpatrick is born on March 20th.
1981 Peter Jenkins begins Goju-Ryu instruction with Raymond Fitzpatrick.
1983 John Coschigano is promoted to black belt by Raymond Fitzpatrick.  Steve Spiro and Phil Reichert begin training with Raymond Fitzpatrick.  Christopher Fitzpatrick is born on March 27th
1985 Earl Monroe relocates to Arizona.  Daniel Fitzpatrick begins training with Raymond Fitzpatrick.
1987 Steve Spiro is promoted to black belt by Raymond Fitzpatrick.
1988 Raymond Fitzpatrick is promoted to black belt by the Kyudan Jiu-Jitsu Federation.   Christopher Fitzpatrick begins training with Raymond Fitzpatrick.  Peter Jenkins is promoted to black belt by Raymond Fitzpatrick.
1989 Gogen Yamaguchi dies on May 20th.
1991 Louis Delgado dies on May 17.   Phil Reichert is promoted to black belt by Raymond Fitzpatrick.                  Marc Fawwaz starts training in Goju-Ryu with Raymond Fitzpatrick.
1992 Andrew Gross is promoted to black belt by Anthony La Rosa & Raymond Fitzpatrick.  Raymond Fitzpatrick is promoted to 2nd dan in Jiu-Jitsu by the Kyudan Federation.
1993 Jared OTero begins training with Raymond Fitzpatrick
1995 Frank Ruiz dies on June 20th.  Wilfredo Roldan becomes his successor.  John Coschigano is promoted to 4th dan and Tracey Seymour is promoted to black belt by Raymond Fitzpatrick.  Geoff Berman begins training in Jiu-Jitsu with Raymond Fitzpatrick.
1996 Phil Reichert is promoted to San Dan by Raymond Fitzpatrick
Daniel Fitzpatrick is promoted to black belt by Raymond Fitzpatrick.
1997 Steve Spiro is promoted to 4th dan by Raymond Fitzpatrick.  John Coschigano and Steve Spiro open the Rising Sun dojo in Harrison, N.Y.
1998 Christopher Fitzpatrick is promoted to black belt by Raymond Fitzpatrick.  The commercial dojo, New Rochelle Karate Institute closes in June.  The dojo reopens as a  New Rochelle School District Program, within the High School.  Marc Fawwaz is promoted to black belt by Raymond Fitzpatrick.
Jeff Briem begins tranining with John Coschigano.
Lamau Barthelemi beings trining with Raymond Fitzpatrick.
1999 Raymond Fitzpatrick leaves Nisei Goju-Ryu and creates Nisei Goju-Jitsu, an eclectic blend of his martial arts experiences.
John Coschigano is promoted to 5th dan  by Raymond Fitzpatrick.
2001  Geoff Berman is promoted to black belt by the Kyudan Jiu-Jitsu Federation.
Thomas Jackson is promoted to Shodan by Raymond Fitzpatrick.
2002  Raymond Fitzpatrick is promoted to Ju Dan, Hanshi in Martial Combative Sciences, By Peter Urban.
Jeff Briem promoted to Shodan by John Coschigano
Jared Otero promoted to Shodan by Raymond Fitzpatrick
John Coschigano is promoted to 6th dan by Raymond Fitzpatrick.
Thomas Jackson tragically dies.
2004 Geoff Bergan is promoted to Nidan by Raymond Fitzpatrick
Raymond Fitzpatrick Promoted to Sandan by the Kyudan Jiu-Jitsu Federation
Lamou Barthelemi is promoted to Shodan by Raymond Fitzpatrick
Sharrieff Rasheed is promoted to Shodan by Raymond Fitzpatrick
Peter G. Urban dies on April 7, 2004
2005 Daniel and Christopher Fitzpatrick are promoted to San Dan by Raymond Fitzpatrick
Brian Reilly and Jonathan Garcia are promoted to Shodan by John Coschigano.
Sharrieff Rasheed tragically dies.
2006 John Coschigano is promoted to Nana Dan by Raymond Fitzparick.
Tracey Seymour is promoted to Yon Dan by Raymond Fitzpatrick.
Teaching Licences of Commissioned Career Sensei were issued by Raymond Fitzpatrick to John Coschigano, Tracey Seymour, Phil Reichert, Daniel and Christopher Fitzpatrick.