Copyright © All rights reserved by Goju-kan Hawaii
剛柔館空手連盟
United Goju-kan Karate Do
Kanryo Higaonna was born in Naha, Okinawa on March 10, 1851.
His family earned their living transporting firewood from the Kerama islands in a small junk. He was small for his age, but very quick and nimble, and showed an interest in the fighting arts at an early age.
At the age of 14, he began learning Chinese Kempo from a local who had studied the Fukien style. In 1866, he convinced the owner of a ship bound for China, to take him there where he longed to study. After about a year of residence in Foochow, he was introduced to Ryu Ryuko, a great Chinese Boxer. Kanryo had to satisfy the masters expectations before being considered and accepted as a disciple. Following the age-old custom of personal service and doing odd chores.
Ryu Ryuko was a bamboo craftsman and had Kanryo learning the trade. At night they would train. Through weight training and the Kata Sanchin, night after night, the training took it’s toll, but it was because of this vigorous training that he gain the reputation as one of the most skilled student of the master. After 13 years of training, Kanryo returned to Okinawa and began teaching private lessons to the son of the man who had allowed him passage on his boat to China. He went back to his job as a merchant, however his reputation was growing. People brought back stories of his prowess and many sought him out to become his disciples. In 1905 he began teaching at a public high school, and was considered a foremost karateka in Okinawa. He is responsible for the development of the Naha-te style. And many of his students went on to form their own system based on his teachings. One of these students was Chojun Miyagi, the founder of Goju-Ryu, Kanryo Higaonna died on December 23, 1915 at the age of 63. He lives on through his followers.
His family earned their living transporting firewood from the Kerama islands in a small junk. He was small for his age, but very quick and nimble, and showed an interest in the fighting arts at an early age.
At the age of 14, he began learning Chinese Kempo from a local who had studied the Fukien style. In 1866, he convinced the owner of a ship bound for China, to take him there where he longed to study. After about a year of residence in Foochow, he was introduced to Ryu Ryuko, a great Chinese Boxer. Kanryo had to satisfy the masters expectations before being considered and accepted as a disciple. Following the age-old custom of personal service and doing odd chores.
Ryu Ryuko was a bamboo craftsman and had Kanryo learning the trade. At night they would train. Through weight training and the Kata Sanchin, night after night, the training took it’s toll, but it was because of this vigorous training that he gain the reputation as one of the most skilled student of the master. After 13 years of training, Kanryo returned to Okinawa and began teaching private lessons to the son of the man who had allowed him passage on his boat to China. He went back to his job as a merchant, however his reputation was growing. People brought back stories of his prowess and many sought him out to become his disciples. In 1905 he began teaching at a public high school, and was considered a foremost karateka in Okinawa. He is responsible for the development of the Naha-te style. And many of his students went on to form their own system based on his teachings. One of these students was Chojun Miyagi, the founder of Goju-Ryu, Kanryo Higaonna died on December 23, 1915 at the age of 63. He lives on through his followers.
Kanryo Higaonna
Chojun Miyagi
Chojun Miyagi was born in the city of Naha, Okinawa on April 25, 1888. His family was in the import / export business and owned 2 ships which made frequent trips to China. At the age of 11, his formal training in the arts had started. At the age of 14, he meet Kanryo Higaonna, and only after a period of time was he accepted as a student of the great master. Training was severe, alot of strength exercises, so much that he would pass out at times doing Sanchin kata. He developed into a powerful karateka, training for 13 years in this manner. Miyagi Sensei traveled to China in hopes to locate Master Ryu Ryuko. He was unable to locate him, however did manage to study some of the local arts of the Fukien area. By doing so, it was instrumental in the creation of the Tensho kata. He gave an impressive performance in Naha-te to the visiting prince Hirohito in 1921. The future of the Okinawan fighting arts was set-up in 1926. Miyagi was 38. In 1929, he was invited to Japan by Gogan Yamaguchi, who would later go on to promote the Goju style in Japan.
It was in around 1928 or so, when Miyagi Sensei officially gave the name of Goju-Ryu to the style he had done. The first ever, since the name of the style was that of where it came from, Naha-te, Shuri-te, Tomari-te, etc. Life is to inhale and exhale, thus the name hard and soft, “GOJU’ In 1934 Miyagi Sensei came to Hawaii to introduce his art. Upon returning back to Naha, was awarded outstanding service from the Ministry of Education in the field of physical culture. He was also made head of the Dai Nippon Butoku-kai. In 1940, he created the Gekisai Dai Ichi and Ni katas. A beginners kata, made for the young and also to help popularize karate. The lost of his son and his most senior student, Jin’an Shinzato, to the war, was very hard on him. 1946, he opened a backyard dojo. Where the likes of An ichi Miyagi, Meitoku Yagi, Ei ichi Miyazato and many other now great master came from. Chojun Miyagi died on October 8, 1953 at the age of 65. His teachings lives on through the lives he s influenced..
It was in around 1928 or so, when Miyagi Sensei officially gave the name of Goju-Ryu to the style he had done. The first ever, since the name of the style was that of where it came from, Naha-te, Shuri-te, Tomari-te, etc. Life is to inhale and exhale, thus the name hard and soft, “GOJU’ In 1934 Miyagi Sensei came to Hawaii to introduce his art. Upon returning back to Naha, was awarded outstanding service from the Ministry of Education in the field of physical culture. He was also made head of the Dai Nippon Butoku-kai. In 1940, he created the Gekisai Dai Ichi and Ni katas. A beginners kata, made for the young and also to help popularize karate. The lost of his son and his most senior student, Jin’an Shinzato, to the war, was very hard on him. 1946, he opened a backyard dojo. Where the likes of An ichi Miyagi, Meitoku Yagi, Ei ichi Miyazato and many other now great master came from. Chojun Miyagi died on October 8, 1953 at the age of 65. His teachings lives on through the lives he s influenced..
Gogen Yamaguchi
All JapaGogen ” The Cat ” Yamaguchi was born on January 21, 1909. Founder of then Goju-kai Karate-do Association in 1935 as head of the Japanese Goju-Ryu System. He is credited with the use of free sparring, ( Jyu Kumite ), in 1936. The bases of sport kara as we know it today. His son Gosen was the first to open a Goju Ryu dojo in the United States in 1963. His other; Gosei followed in 1964, and to date, still heads the Goju-kai from San Francisco. He was instrumental in the creation of the All Japan Karate-do Federation in 1964, which unified some of the major schools at the time. He was decorated by the Emperor of Japan with the Ranju-hosho, ( Blue Ribbon Medal ), for his achievements.
In 1966 he wrote, ” Karate: Goju-Ryu by the Cat “. A very sought after publication on the subject. He died on May 20, 1989 at the age of 80. His legacy lives on through his sons as well as the many students who learned from him. Some of the more famous ones, Peter Urban, Seigo Tc Alberto Evangelista and Bob Dalgleish. His son Goshi, is now the head of the Goju-kai worldwide.
In 1966 he wrote, ” Karate: Goju-Ryu by the Cat “. A very sought after publication on the subject. He died on May 20, 1989 at the age of 80. His legacy lives on through his sons as well as the many students who learned from him. Some of the more famous ones, Peter Urban, Seigo Tc Alberto Evangelista and Bob Dalgleish. His son Goshi, is now the head of the Goju-kai worldwide.
Jann Aki
Please Click here to see about Jann Aki