A direct line.
The sign above the door says Urban Goju Hall #004. That number is most of the story.
Peter G. Urban (1934-2004) learned Goju in Japan in the 1950s, returned to America at the end of that decade, and established U.S.A. Goju as his own organization in 1968.
Controversially, Urban Sensei created an American style of Gōjū-ryū without the permission of Yamaguchi Sensei; who did not allow Urban Sensei to represent The Goju-Kai in America as his head representative.
U.S.A. Goju Association · The History of Peter G. Urban
The Goju fist, as everyone calls it, is the system's emblem. It is on the awning at 2533 65th St and on the patches. Mostly it is in our hearts.
If the name means nothing to you, the short version is this. Goju is Okinawan, and Urban was one of the Americans who brought it home and built an organization around it here.
A great deal has been written about him elsewhere and we are not going to repeat it here. The system's own history of him is the fullest account, and Wikipedia has the short version.
Student of Yamaguchi, Kim and Oyama
Peter G. Urban learned Goju in Japan in the 1950s and returned to America at the end of that decade.
He established U.S.A. Goju in 1968 and numbered the halls authorized to teach it. A single-digit number means this one was among the first.
Student of Peter G. Urban
Shihan Vincent Merenda trained under Grandmaster Peter G. Urban and led this dojo for decades.
He died on January 2, 2025, on his way home from the dojo.
Shihan Vincent Merenda
Grandmaster Peter G. Urban founded U.S.A. Goju and numbered the dojos authorized to teach it. A single-digit hall number means this one was among the first.
The system's headquarters keeps its own record of the halls at americangoju.com.
Teacher unknown
Died 2023.
Teacher unknown
10th Dan.
Teacher unknown
10th Dan.
Student of Shihan Vincent Merenda
Sensei Vladimir Ferdman leads the dojo now, teaching what he learned from Shihan Vincent Merenda.
Shihan Vincent Merenda, 10th Degree Black Belt. He led this dojo for decades and died on January 2, 2025, on his way home from the dojo.
Shihan Merenda trained under Grandmaster Peter G. Urban and many of his black belts.
He trained in kumite before the invention of safety gear.
The workouts were brutal and the dojo was always full of warriors.
Sensei Vladimir Ferdman leads the dojo now, teaching what he learned from Shihan Vincent Merenda.
None of this needs to mean anything to you yet. If you want to see what it amounts to in practice, the first class is free.
