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Goshin Jutsu Karate is a karate system based in Northwestern Pennsylvania. It’s founder is a man named Gerard Durant. With schools in Pennsylvania, Ohio, New York, Texas, Georgia, and Florida the blossoms of Gerard Durant’s system have certainly been fruitful. While the fruits are plentiful, the question has become, where are the roots?

There are many stories about the origins of Goshin Jutsu Karate. These stories range from the romantic, a merchant marine jumps ship and learns karate in the land of his mother, to historical fiction tracing Goshin Jutsu’s roots to samurai princes and ancient Japan. While there are many stories, there is one common thread, the man known as Grand Master Gerard Durant.

Who was this man? While many have met Grand Master Durant few really knew him. For reasons unknown to me stories of Grand Master Durant’s roots have been altered throughout the years leading to much of the confusion about Goshin Jutsu’s true history.

There have recently been some who have, quite aggressively, called into question certain aspects of the versions of history presented about Grand Master Durant. The debates have raged on internet message boards and sadly have at times grown into misrepresentations and exaggerations by those claiming to search for the truth.

In an effort to clear up the fact from the fiction, Grand Master Durant’s son, Master Matthew Durant posted this statement on the karatekorner message board (Topic: Goshin 5) on December 15, 2004

In reference to his father Gerard Durant:

“He was born in Utica, N.Y. He was introduced to Jiu Jutsu and Savate by his father who was a "player" as they were called. I cannot give you facts other than what I know as far as training or Instructors. I DO know he was a Judo Player in the Judo Club in St.Catherines, Ont. Canada. I still have his Shodan card from that. I also KNOW he worked out for many years with Shintani Sensei, and have ways to back that up.

He worked with other Instructors in Erie, Pa, and met Wilhelm Reeders during those years and studied with him for quite awhile. As for the founding of the system, I know this will shock a few, but he did not found the system. Back in those days, the Orientals would never have recognized a system of Martial Arts created by an occidental.(White person) The system was actually founded under Mr. Reeders. And it was called Goshin Jutsu, which most know is just like a generic term for Self Defense Art.

When Master Reeders left the area, he turned the Goshin Jutsu over to my father. And the art itself is an eclectic art. My father took what he had learned from all the Instructors he had worked with, took what he felt was best, along with what he had learned as a young man raised on mean streets, and put it all together as his Art. And though people may condemn it as not being a true Art, 2 things we should remember. 1.......The art works as a self defense style. That has and can be proven. And 2.......other people have formed there own arts, all eclectic also, and are not condemned. (Bruce Lee to name one, and I am not making a comparison here.)

As for the act, such as the Oriental accent, believe me I was just as shocked when I walked in his Dojo in Tx., and heard it. But it was an idea someone had put in his head, that if he were Oriental, more people would want to be students. And silly as that seems, it worked. He had only Martial Arts to live on the last years of his life, so he did what he had to do to survive. No secret there. We all know he was not Oriental.

His 10th Dan? I can only say that he was presented the rank at a tournament in Erie, Pa., and Glenn Premru presented the ranking.

As for the real head of the system? Supposedly it should be me. I was presented a rank in N.Y. a few years ago. I respect the man who presented it, and accepted , rather than embarrass either him or myself. But I do not recognize myself as tenth Dan, nor do I want to be addressed as "Grand Master". I was a good 8th Dan, and felt that was way more than enough. There are better Goshinists than I around. Robert Bohac is a phenomenal Martial Artist, but I, nor any others outside his circle recognize him as the Grand Master. Mr. Brague is a great Martial Artist, but his ranking is through his own people, not recognized by all Goshinists. Mr. Capela in my mind would if anyone be the person I would recognize . He was the oldest student, and has always been a Loyal Goshinist. And anyone who has ever met the man, knows he is a gentleman, and one hell of a Martial Arts practitioner.
That is just my humble opinion people, if you disagree, that is your perrogative. There were other great Goshinists along the way too.......Ralph Porfilio, Vince Christiano, Bill Cavalier, etc. None of them deserve some of the ridicule I have seen, as they are not nasty people, nor drug addicts, alcoholics, etc, as I have seen posted in some sites.
I see this as one way, let it go...........

Goshin may not be the pure art some seem to think it has to be to be real, but it works, and has many followers, loyal ones. There are NO bad Martial Arts, just bad teachers. I have respect for any art, even if it's principles are different. I may not agree with everything they do, but maybe there will be one thing I can learn from it, and as a Martial Artist, that is all I want, to learn.

As for stories, or peoples claims, they will claim a lot of things, and stories get embellished, sometimes to the point of being ridiculous. But you all seem smart enough to sift through all that, and take the truth, or take something from it that will help you as Martial Artists.
I hope this helps a little. Anyone has any questions that are not ignorant, I would gladly try and help."

Yours in the Arts,
Matthew Durant


I attempted to interview Master Matthew Durant for this article but have not yet been able reach him. I did however send the information to my instructor Grand Master Stephen Capela Jr. (referenced above) who gave me permission to quote him for this article. He did state that others may have another version or side to the story. Here are his repsonses:


“Do not change any of the wording that Matthew Durant wrote because it will change some of the meaning and validation of his letter. Furthermore it is very accurate, but he left some things out. “

On Grand Master Durant’s Japanese act:


“He (Grandmaster Durant) never went to Japan, that was Bob Bohack’s idea. “

On Grand Master Durant's meeting with Master Wilhelm Reeders

“Grand Master Durant and many others were studying karate in Erie, PA under Dick Adolman, when they heard about Master Reeders in Jamestown NY. They went to Jamestown, NY to expose Master Reeders as a fraud. Master Reeders was quick to change their minds. That is how they (Durant and Reeders) met and when Grand Master Gerard Durant started to study under Master Reeders.”

On the origins of Goshin Jutsu Karate’s Katas

"Goshin Jutsu Karate started out only as waza and kunite from all of Grand Master Durant’s training, mostly under Wilhelm Reeders. Grand Master Durant went to tournaments and saw students performing katas and winning trophies. That was when he also decided to add katas to Goshin Jutsu Karate. The first katas were were actually exercises 1, 2, and 3 (Hajemete, Futatsu, and Mitsu) He originated these katas. In fact all of the katas in the Goshin Jutsu System were either made up by Master Durant or modified from other systems to his liking.

I was actually either involved in the process of or witnessed it happening. Grand Master Durant could see a movement once or twice and do it himself. Master James Fife was the student that mastered the katas and performed them at tournaments across the country and had them recognized by other systems."

I will say that I was instrumental in getting Goshin Jutsu Karate recognized in kumite. Others followed, but I broke the ground for them. Grand master Durant got the majority of his knowledge from every martial artist he came into contact with, and added it to Goshin Jutsu Karate.

This is as I remember it from all of my time him with and other instructors of his day. He was either feared or had earned the great respect of the many martial artists that he had contact
with.

Grand Master Stephen Capela Jr.

As you can see Master Durant was one of the original cross trainers who learned from others, took what worked and made the system better. Goshin Jutsu is a living art that continues to change and grow, and while not directly connected to any one traditional school of karate, it is not bogged down by one either.

In conclusion, Goshin Jutsu Karate was formulated in the United States by the late Grand Master Gerard Durant who studied under Master Wilhelm Reeders of Jamestown, NY. It has no direct lineage to Japan. The style was originally a self defense system (hence the name Goshin Jutsu) with an emphasis on kumite, that later added katas originated or modified by Grand Master Durant and legitimized through the tireless efforts and performances of Master James Fife.

Many Goshin Jutsu Karate black belts are continuing in Grand Master Durant's example and studying with other martial artists in an effort to learn more and bring back and share knowledge with the Goshin family. That may be the most important Goshin Jutsu tradition of all.