Gōjū-ryū 剛柔流, (Japanese for "hard-soft style") is one of the main traditional Okinawan styles of karate, featuring a combination of hard and soft techniques.  “Go” which means hard, refers to closed hand techniques such as punching and kicks and linear movements; “Ju” which means soft, refers to circular techniques for blocking and controlling the opponent, including locks, grappling, takedowns and throws.​

Major emphasis is given to breathing correctly with deep breathing from the stomach (hara). Goju-Ryu combines hard striking attacks with softer open hand circular techniques.​

Goju-Ryu was officially recognized as a budō in Japan by Dai Nippon Butoku Kai in 1933, as a modern martial art, or gendai budō.  By 1998 the Dai Nippon Butoku kai recognized Goju-ryu Karatedo as an ancient form of martial art (koryu) and as a bujutsu.