Goju Ryu History

The history of Karate is shrouded in mystery. This is due in large to the lack of documentation surrounding its development. The most widely accepted theory on the development of karate is that the indigenous Okinawan art known as Te, was influenced by systems brought from elsewhere in Asia, particularly China. This is largely due to the location of Okinawa which meant that trading ships from all over Asia would dock in her ports during their travels. As a result of this, Okinawan culture and martial arts were influenced by these visits.Another important aspect in the development of Okinawan martial arts is that in the 1300’s began a period of exchange between Okinawa and China, with families of Chinese academics, politicians and their various bodyguards and servants settling in the town of Kume, just outside Naha. Members of these exchange parties were rumoured to have been well versed in the martial arts, and no doubt they had a significant impact upon the development of the Okinawan martial arts, particularly around the region of Naha.

By the mid 1800’s, three distinct martial systems had emerged in Okinawa, named after the towns in which they were developed. These systems as referred to as Shurite, Tomarite and Nahate.

It is in the system of Nahate that we find the origins of Goju Ryu.

The system of Goju Ryu was founded by Miyagi Chojun Sensei who further developed the system of Nahate which he learnt from his teacher Higashionna Kanryo Sensei. Below is a brief account of the part these masters played in the development of Goju Ryu Karatedo.

Kanryo Higashionna (1853 – 1917)Higashionna was born in Nishimura and was from a fairly poor family who ran a business transporting firewood around Okinawa and its islands.

Higashionna received his early martial arts training from Aragaki Seisho of Kume village, and is also said to have received training from Kojo Taitei of the Kojo Ryu system.

It is not known what Higashionna learnt from these teachers, however in 1867 a demonstration was held at the Ochayagoten in Shuri commemorating the departure of the last Chinese envoy to Okinawa, bringing about the end to the long period of exchange between Okinawa and China. During this demonstration the kata Seisan and an unknown kata named Chishaoukuin were demonstrated by Aragaki Seisho, with Suparinpei being demonstrated by Tomura Chikudon Peichin. From this evidence we can see that these kata were already known in Okinawa before Higashionna left for China. It is widely accepted that Sanchin was also already present in Okinawa.

Evidently, Higashionna became interested in furthering his study of Te and around the age of 23 – 24 he travelled to Fuchou China. Oral testimony maintains that Higashionna’s teacher in Fuchou was Ryuru Ko. Ryuru Ko was a master of White Crane Gongfu who reportedly made wicker baskets for a living.

What Higashionna actually learnt from Ryuru Ko whilst he was in China remains a point of much interest. The most common account is that Higashionna learnt the entire syllabus of classical Goju Ryu Kata, Sanchin, Saifa, Seiunchin, Shisochin, Sanseiru, Seipai, Kururunfa, Seisan and Suparinpei. Despite this we do not know for sure, and evidence exists to suggest that Higashionna’s original system of Nahate may have comprised of only Sanchin, Sanseiru, Seisan and Suparinpei.

Another point of much debate is how long Higashionna actually spent in China. The common version is that Higashionna spent approximately 10 years training with Ryuru Ko, but his exact date of return to Okinawa is unknown.

Upon his return to Okinawa Higashionna returned to his families firewood business, but his reputation as a skilful practitioner spread throughout Naha, earning him the nickname ashi no To’onna (legs To’onna) due to his excellent kicking ability.

As a result of this Higashionna began teaching his system on Nahate to a few carefully selected students, notably Kiyoda Juhatsu Sensei the founder of To’on Ryu, and his kohai Miyagi Chojun Sensei the founder of Goju Ryu.

Miyagi Chojun (1888 – 1953)Miyagi Chojun Sensei was born in Higashi Machi, Naha, and was from a wealthy family which meant he would be able to devote his time completely to his training.

He evidently was a natural at most physical activities, and as a boy he gained the reputation as being a bit of a trouble maker. His family decided to send him to train with Higashionna Sensei in order to teach him some discipline.

Under Higashionna Sensei, students were instructed for the first three years in the practise of Sanchin, and developed strong bodies through hojo undo training. Most students were unable to cope with the tough training, and the boredom of training in this manner. Miyagi Sensei, however, grew in his abilities and developed a passion for training.

The most popular account is that Miyagi Sensei learnt the entire syllabus of classical kata from Higashionna Sensei, as well as the use of the Hojo Undo implements, although there is also evidence to suggest that Miyagi Sensei may have learnt only Sanchin, Sanseiru, Seisan and Suparinpei from his teacher, learning the remaining kata from other sources.

Miyagi Sensei also expanded on his teachers original system, introducing the junbi undo warm up exercises after much consultation with medical professionals.

He also developed Tensho Kata after having travelled to China with his friend, a Chinese white crane expert named Gokenki. Whilst in China Miyagi is said to have tried to find Ryuru Ko, with no success.

Miyagi was to travel quite extensively in his researching and teaching of karate, returning again to China, as well as mainland Japan and Hawaii.

The naming of Goju Ryu happened in 1937 when Miyagi’s top student, Shinzato Ji’nan performed at a demonstration at the Dai Nippon Butokukai. When asked the name of his style, Shinzato was unable to answer and so consulted Miyagi Sensei who decided upon the name Goju Ryu, taken from a phrase in the Kempo Haku poem from the Bubishi.

During the military escalation in Japan leading up to WW2, Miyagi Sensei developed the Gekisai kata’s, intending them to be introductory kata to be learnt by new students which would help them to build strong bodies and fighting spirit.

The golden period of Goju Ryu would have been just before WW2 where students would train in the garden dojo of Miyagi Sensei. Lessons would be physically demanding, however, there were no militaristic group sessions. Students would practice junbi undo, hojo undo, sanchin, and whatever kata would be assigned to them for their personal study.

Training at the garden dojo stopped upon the outbreak of WW2 in the Pacific.

Miyagi Sensei lost three of his children, as well as his top student Shinzato Ji’nan as a result of WW2. He also lost all of his extensive notes relating to his research of the martial arts.

Miyazato Ei’ichi Sensei remembers that Miyagi was understandably depressed and unwilling to teach immediately after the war. Miyazato and other pre war students would try to raise money for Miyagi to help rebuild his house, and the garden area where they used to train in an effort to rekindle his enthusiasm.

Training in the garden dojo eventually resumed and continued right up until Miyagi Sensei died on October 8^th 1953 at the age of 65.

Teaching responsibilities at the Tsuboya garden dojo were assumed by Miyazato Ei’ichi Sensei, who remained the head teacher at the garden dojo until he established the jundokan dojo in 1957.