Chojun Miyagi
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Chojun Miyagi
Chojun Miyagi (1888-1953) is the founder of today's Goju-Ryu
karate-do; he was responsible for taking Naha-te and
formulating it into a system.
Miyagi was Kanryo Higaonna's most talented and chosen pupil.
Miyagi came from a rich family of high esteem, ship-owners who
imported -amongst others- medicines from China and supplied
these to the royal family, the government and business houses.
To prepare him for his future task to lead the family, when
only eleven years old Chojun was brought to Ryuko Aragaki
(1875-1961), who on his terms sent him at the age of fourteen
to Kanryo Higaonna. Here Chojun Miyagi, together with
Juhatsu Kyoda (1887-1967), was tutored thoroughly in
Higaonna's Naha-te.
After the death of Higaonna the well-off Miyagi, who
occupied himself full-time with the study of martial arts,
planned a trip to Fuzhou, the Mecca of South-Chinese fighting
arts (Nan Quan), to visit the birthplace of Kanryo Higaonna's
Naha-te and to pay his respects to Ryu Ryu Ko's grave. For two
months Chojun Miyagi together with Aisho Nakamoto
(1881-1945) stayed in Fuzhou to train and they also visited the
Julianshan Fujian Shaolin Temple.
Back on Okinawa he became friends with two tea-merchants
from Fuzhou Wu Xianhui (Jap. Go Kenki) and Tang Daiji (Jap. To
Daiki, both of them where famous martial arts teachers. Wu
Xianhui (1886-1940) came to Naha in 1912 to teach White
Crane boxing and made friends with amongst others Juhatsu
Kiyoda, Chojun Miyagi and Kenwa Mabuni (1889-1952).
Together with Wu Xianhui, Chojun Miyagi left to visit Fuzhou
again at the end of the twenties. Apart from Wu Xianhui who
emigrated from Fuzhou to Naha in 1912, Miyagi had as already
stated a good relationship with Tang Daiji (1887-1937) a Tiger
Boxing (Hu Quan) master who also emigrated from Fuzhou to
Naha. Introduced by Wu Xianshui, Miyagi met in February 1936
in Shanghai the famous Monk Fist (Luohan Quan) master Miao
Xing (1881-1939). Miyagi is said to have trained for some time
diligently with Miao Xing and other Chinese masters
associated with the Jingwu Athletic Association. He also
visited the national martial arts championships.
Miyagi dedicated his whole life to the development of what
was called 'toudijutsu' (China hand art) or simply 'te' on
Okinawa. In 1921 crown-prince Hirohito visited Okinawa
before traveling to Europe. Due to his visit Shuri-te as well as
Naha-te (by Chojun Miyagi) was demonstrated.
In 1925 Miyagi demonstrated for prince Chichibu-Nomiya and
shortly after, in 1926, he founded the Okinawa Karate
Kenkyu-Kai (Okinawa Karate Research Club) together with
Chomo Hanashiro (Shuri-te), Choyu Motobu (Tomari-te) and
Kenwa Mabuni. One year later, Chojun Miyagi demonstrated to
Jigoro Kano, grappling, locking and throwing techniques and
the correct use of breathing. Kano was very impressed by this
toudijutsu and introduced Miyagi, accompanied by his friend
Mabuni in Japan.
At the end of the twenties and the beginning of the thirties,
Miyagi, together with his -at that time- top student Jinan
Shinzato (1901-1945), gave seminars and demonstrations at
Japanese universities, Budo-tournaments and at the crowning
festivities of crown-prince Hirohito.
In 1933 Chojun Miyagi registered 'toudi' officially as Goju-Ryu
at the Japanese regulating Budo-institution, the prestigious
Dai Nippon Butokukai, the All Japan Martial Arts Association.
Later on Miyagi was distinguished by the Ministry of Physical
Education, receiving the highest honour of the Dai Nippon
Butokukai and was appointed representative of the Butokukai
department for Okinawa.
Thus Goju-Ryu karate-do -the name derived from the Bubishi-
was the first and eldest karate-tradition recognized by the Dai
Nippon Butokukai; its founder, Chojun Miyagi, acquired an
outstanding position in karate-do.
May 1934, Chojun Miyagi traveled on invitation to Hawaii
where he taught and gave demonstrations until February
1935. His teachings for that matter were referred to as
kempo karate.
On the 25th of October 1936 the most outstanding
Okinawa-masters (Chomo Hanashiro , Chotoku Kyan, Choki
Motobu, Chosin Chibana, Juhatsu Kiyoda and Chojun Miyagi)
assembled and changed the name toudijutsu into karate-do.
Okinawan Gojo-Ryu Karate-Do Italia web site
Chojun Miyagi (1888-1953) is the founder of today's Goju-Ryu
karate-do; he was responsible for taking Naha-te and
formulating it into a system.
Miyagi was Kanryo Higaonna's most talented and chosen pupil.
Miyagi came from a rich family of high esteem, ship-owners who
imported -amongst others- medicines from China and supplied
these to the royal family, the government and business houses.
To prepare him for his future task to lead the family, when
only eleven years old Chojun was brought to Ryuko Aragaki
(1875-1961), who on his terms sent him at the age of fourteen
to Kanryo Higaonna. Here Chojun Miyagi, together with
Juhatsu Kyoda (1887-1967), was tutored thoroughly in
Higaonna's Naha-te.
After the death of Higaonna the well-off Miyagi, who
occupied himself full-time with the study of martial arts,
planned a trip to Fuzhou, the Mecca of South-Chinese fighting
arts (Nan Quan), to visit the birthplace of Kanryo Higaonna's
Naha-te and to pay his respects to Ryu Ryu Ko's grave. For two
months Chojun Miyagi together with Aisho Nakamoto
(1881-1945) stayed in Fuzhou to train and they also visited the
Julianshan Fujian Shaolin Temple.
Back on Okinawa he became friends with two tea-merchants
from Fuzhou Wu Xianhui (Jap. Go Kenki) and Tang Daiji (Jap. To
Daiki, both of them where famous martial arts teachers. Wu
Xianhui (1886-1940) came to Naha in 1912 to teach White
Crane boxing and made friends with amongst others Juhatsu
Kiyoda, Chojun Miyagi and Kenwa Mabuni (1889-1952).
Together with Wu Xianhui, Chojun Miyagi left to visit Fuzhou
again at the end of the twenties. Apart from Wu Xianhui who
emigrated from Fuzhou to Naha in 1912, Miyagi had as already
stated a good relationship with Tang Daiji (1887-1937) a Tiger
Boxing (Hu Quan) master who also emigrated from Fuzhou to
Naha. Introduced by Wu Xianshui, Miyagi met in February 1936
in Shanghai the famous Monk Fist (Luohan Quan) master Miao
Xing (1881-1939). Miyagi is said to have trained for some time
diligently with Miao Xing and other Chinese masters
associated with the Jingwu Athletic Association. He also
visited the national martial arts championships.
Miyagi dedicated his whole life to the development of what
was called 'toudijutsu' (China hand art) or simply 'te' on
Okinawa. In 1921 crown-prince Hirohito visited Okinawa
before traveling to Europe. Due to his visit Shuri-te as well as
Naha-te (by Chojun Miyagi) was demonstrated.
In 1925 Miyagi demonstrated for prince Chichibu-Nomiya and
shortly after, in 1926, he founded the Okinawa Karate
Kenkyu-Kai (Okinawa Karate Research Club) together with
Chomo Hanashiro (Shuri-te), Choyu Motobu (Tomari-te) and
Kenwa Mabuni. One year later, Chojun Miyagi demonstrated to
Jigoro Kano, grappling, locking and throwing techniques and
the correct use of breathing. Kano was very impressed by this
toudijutsu and introduced Miyagi, accompanied by his friend
Mabuni in Japan.
At the end of the twenties and the beginning of the thirties,
Miyagi, together with his -at that time- top student Jinan
Shinzato (1901-1945), gave seminars and demonstrations at
Japanese universities, Budo-tournaments and at the crowning
festivities of crown-prince Hirohito.
In 1933 Chojun Miyagi registered 'toudi' officially as Goju-Ryu
at the Japanese regulating Budo-institution, the prestigious
Dai Nippon Butokukai, the All Japan Martial Arts Association.
Later on Miyagi was distinguished by the Ministry of Physical
Education, receiving the highest honour of the Dai Nippon
Butokukai and was appointed representative of the Butokukai
department for Okinawa.
Thus Goju-Ryu karate-do -the name derived from the Bubishi-
was the first and eldest karate-tradition recognized by the Dai
Nippon Butokukai; its founder, Chojun Miyagi, acquired an
outstanding position in karate-do.
May 1934, Chojun Miyagi traveled on invitation to Hawaii
where he taught and gave demonstrations until February
1935. His teachings for that matter were referred to as
kempo karate.
On the 25th of October 1936 the most outstanding
Okinawa-masters (Chomo Hanashiro , Chotoku Kyan, Choki
Motobu, Chosin Chibana, Juhatsu Kiyoda and Chojun Miyagi)
assembled and changed the name toudijutsu into karate-do.
Okinawan Gojo-Ryu Karate-Do Italia web site
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