A BRIEF HISTORY OF KARATE DO
It is said that the traditional Okinawan Martial Arts called To Te and Chinese Kenpo were blended together and developed into Karate Do. Karate Do later underwent significant developments in Okinawa based on several factors, including the policy of banning weapons following the political centralisation of King Shoshin (1477-1526) and the Satsuma Clan's invasion of Ryukyu (Okinawa) in 1609.
It later developed further through a process of systematisation into "Modern Karate Do", which owed itself to the efforts of Sokon Matsumura (1828-1898) of the Shuri Te style, Kosaku Matsumora (1829-1898) of the Tomari Te style and Kanryo Higaonna (1853-1915) of the Naha Te style.
In 1908, "The 10 Articles of Karate Do" prepared by Anko Itosu were submitted to the Educational Affairs Section of Okinawa. After that, Karate Do was introduced into the school gymnastics curriculum, thus acquiring broad accessibility. Previously to this Karate Do was taught in secret.
Early in the 20th century, Karate Do began to be introduced throughout Japan by several masters, including Gichin Funakoshi (1871-1954, founder of Shotokan Ryu), Kenwa Mabuni (1891-1952, Founder of Shito Ryu), Kanbun Uechi (1877-1948, founder of Uechi Ryu) and Chojun Miyagi (1888-1953, founder of Goju Ryu). Also throughout Okinawa, masters such as Chotoku Kyan (1870-1945), Choki Motobu (1870-1941) and Choshin Chibana (1885-1969, founder of Shorin Ryu) taught Karate Do. Around this time the original name of To Te (Chinese Hand) was changed to the name "Karate Do" (Empty Hand).
Karate Do began spreading around the world after World War II. The biggest contributors to this were the many emigrants who went to live abroad and the U.S. military personnel occupying Japan at the time.
A BRIEF HISTORY OF OKINAWAN GOJU RYU
Master KANRYO HIGAONNA:
The Founder of NAHA TE
(1853-1916)
Master Kanryo Higaonna was born in 1853 and from an early age had the desire to study the Martial Arts. As a result, he began training in Okinawan To Te. Being an ambitious and adventurous person, he longed to one day make the pilgrimage to Fujian province in China to further his study of the Martial Arts.
Master Higaonna reached Fujian in March 1873. It is believed that he studied under Master Wai Xinxian who taught at the Kojo Dojo and Xie Zhongxiang; perhaps better known by the nickname Ryuru Ko. Master Higaonna stayed in Fujian for nearly a decade and studied several Gong Fu systems. It is probable that he blended the various systems together with their principles into an eclectic hybrid. He also studied Confucianism, the works of Sun Tzu and the Bubishi before returning to the Ryuku Kingdom (Okinawa) in 1882.
On his return to Okinawa, Master Higaonna decided not to teach his style of To Te, despite pleas form young men eager to learn from him. However, after 1890, To Te came out from behind closed doors gaining public attention and once again young men came to ask for instruction and this time he agreed. Master Higaonna was the Sensei of such notables as Masters Jutatsu Kyoda and Chojun Miyagi. The To Te that he taught became so popular that by 1927 it became known as Naha Te. In everyday life, he had the reputation of being a quiet, warm hearted gentleman of noble character with a strong sense of justice. However, he was also renowned as a stern teacher, when teaching he would often cite passages from the Bubishi and the strategy of Sun Tzu. He always maintained that physical training without moral philosophy was not To Te. Master Higaonna passed away in 1917 at the age of sixty two, having devoted his whole life to the study and mastery of To Te; he is respected as a true Master of Karate Do whose spirit lives on in the annals of Karate Do history.
Master CHOJUN MIYAGI:
The Founder of OKINAWAN GOJU RYU
(1888-1953)
Master Chojun Miyagi was born in 1888. His mother saw the need for him to gain physical and spiritual strength, so when he was eleven years old he started training in to Tomari Te. At the age of fourteen, the young Miyagi went on to train in Naha Te under Master Kanryo Higaonna.
In 1910, Master Miyagi was drafted into the military for two years. Military training was very austere; however, because of his strength gained through training in Naha Te, he soon came to the notice of his superiors and earned their respect. Master Higaonna only lived for another three years after Master Miyagi returned to Okinawa. During this time, Master Miyagi learnt the whole system of Naha Te. Master Higaonna decided that Master Miyagi should succeed him because of the great skill, character and devotion he had shown over the years. In order to refine his skills and knowledge, Master Miyagi travelled to China on two occasions. He also trained with Go Ken Ki, a Fujian White Crane Master who lived in Naha, Okinawa.
In 1930, Master Miyagi's top student Master Jinan Shinzato was a participant at the All Japan Martial Arts Demonstration to celebrate Crown Prince Hirohito's succession to the thrown. After the demonstration Master Shinzato was asked the name of his style and it is most likely he replied that it was Naha Te. On his return to Okinawa, he told his teacher of this. Realising the importance of his Ryu having a formal name Master Miyagi decided to call it Goju Ryu. This name was taken from a passage in the Bubishi that reads "Ho go ju donto" (The way of exhaling and inhaling is hardness and softness). Given that the nature of the style reflected hard and soft techniques synchronised with focused breathing, this name was ideal.
Before World War II, Master Miyagi began teaching at Okinawa's Teacher's College and the Police Academy as well as running classes in his own garden. During the war, Okinawa was decimated and Master Miyagi lost family members, his top student Master Jinan Shinzato and many friends and students. He also lost much of his research work relating to the history of Goju Ryu. Once the war ended Master Miyagi returned to teach at Okinawa's Police Academy and with the help of Eiichi Miyazato, Koshin Iha and other students, he started teaching in his garden once more and this continued to teach up until his death in 1953.
Master Miyagi refined the Naha Te of his teacher to create Okinawan Goju Ryu Karate Do, as we know it today, spending his life refining, fostering and promoting his Martial Art. He taught that correct training would strengthen the body, mind and spirit, and in so doing would develop ones potential to the full. He also stressed that the depth of one's humility should grow along side ones strength and ability.
Master Miyagi was revered as a genius of Karate Do and was awarded the title of Bushi. In Japan this title of was given only to great Warlords. In Okinawa, however, this title was given only to great Karate Masters. Master Miyagi was known to be a noble man who had a big heart; a humble character and his memory will always live on as part of the cultural heritage of Okinawa.
Master EIICHI MIYAZATO:
The Founder of THE JUNDOKAN
(l922-1999)
Born in 1922, Master Eiichi Miyazato Sensei devoted his entire life to the preservation of Okinawan Goju Ryu Karate Do and the teachings of his Sensei, Master Chojun Miyagi. His study of the Martial Arts first started in 1936 when he was introduced to Karate Do and Judo training, under the guidance of his father who had at one time been a student of Master Kanryo Higaonna. In 1938, Master Miyazato began his study of Goju Ryu under Master Miyagi.
After finishing his education, he was drafted into the Japanese Army as World War II broke out. His primary job was in the financial section, however, he would train in Karate Do every day and as a result gained the respect of his fellow officers and men. At one point, he was asked to teach Karate Do due to the shortage of weaponry but he strongly refused.
On returning to Okinawa after the War, Master Miyazato found his homeland in ruins and his father killed. This was a dire time for the population of Okinawa as they struggled to survive the scarcity of water, food and electricity. Despite this, one of the first visits Master Miyazato made was to his Sensei. Eventually he managed to rally some old students and raised enough money to make Master Miyagi's house larger, so they would have a Dojo to train in.
When the War ended, Master Miyagi resumed his position as Karate Do Shihan at the Police Academy in Naha. On the recommendation and advice of his Sensei, Master Miyazato became a Police Officer and also took up the post of teaching Judo at the Academy. He also assisted his Sensei in teaching Karate Do and was entrusted to take charge of his classes whenever Master Miyagi was away. After they had both finished teaching their classes, Master Miyagi would give his assistant special training.
After the War ended Master Miyagi's health began to deteriorate. Being aware of this, he requested that Master Miyazato take on the responsibility for teaching Goju Ryu. Sadly, Master Chojun Miyagi passed away in 1953 at the age of 65. In 1955 a General Meeting was held of the then Goju Kai (an Association set up by the students of Master Chojun Miyagi to preserve his teachings). The meeting was to decide upon the successor of Master Chojun Miyagi. Mr Kin Miyagi (the second son of Miyagi Sensei) was invited to address the meeting. He told the meeting that his father would always say, "Eiichi is the only one whom I can rely upon, after I die". With this recommendation, Master Eiichi Miyazato was officially recognised as the true successor of Master Chojun Miyagi.
Because of the increase in the number of students, the lack of space in the Garden Dojo and the worry that Goju Ryu might disappear, Master Miyazato decided to move the Dojo to larger premises. In 1957, a new Dojo was built in Asato, Naha. At this time, Master Miyazato founded the Association "Okinawan Goju Ryu Karate Do Kyokai". He also decided to call his new Dojo the "Jundokan". The name is taken from a Chinese poem. Wherein the meaning of "Jun Do" is "To follow The Way", "Kan" means "Building". Because of the growing popularity of Karate Do, a new Dojo was built in 1969. The Dojo is still there today and is one of the most spacious and well equipped in Okinawa.
Master Miyazato had a very strong character but he was also wise and humble. He was a man with a big heart who gave a lot of himself. When asked, what is the greatest gift that Karate Do can give, he replied simply, "Humility". All the Masters of Budo in Okinawa and Japan held Master Miyazato in the highest respect. As Head of the Jundokan, Master Miyazato did much to promote the growth and development of Goju Ryu as well as Karate Do in general. In the process of doing this he produced many great Karate Ka (Karate practitioners), some of whom are now Masters in their own right, and they are part of the legacy that Master Miyazato left behind.