Chojun Miyagi

(April 25th, 1888 - October 8th, 1953)

Chojun Miyagi was born on April 24, 1888 in NAHA, the capitol of Okinawa as the son of a wealthy businessman of high esteem, shipowners who imported amongst other things 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 Higashionna. He began his study in karate at the age of 14 in Naha under the great master Kanryo Higashionna (also written as Higaonna). Higaonna's system was extremely hard and though many students joined such as Juhatsu Kyoda (1887-1967), Miyagi was Kanryo Higaonna's most talented and chosen pupil. Miyagi was the only one who remained as a student until Higaonna's death at 63 years of age in October 1915.

After the death of Master Kanryo Higashionna, Miyagi traveled to Fukien Province in China as his teacher had done before him and to pay his respects to Ryu Ryu Ko's grave. Together with Aisho Nakamoto (1881-1945), Miyagi stayed in Fuzhou to train and they also visited the Julianshan Fujian Shaolin. He studied the Shaolin and Pa Kua forms of Chinese boxing. From the blending of these systems, the hard/external form of Shaolin, the other the soft circular/internal form of Pa Kua, and his native Naha-Te a new system emerged. However, it was not until 1929 that Chojun Miyagi named the system Goju-ryu, meaning hard-soft style.

After some years in China, Chojun Miyagi returned to Naha where he opened a dojo (training hall). He taught for many years, and even though Miyagi's reputation as a karate man was enormous, his greatest achievements lie in the organization of karate teaching methods. He introduced karate into schools and other fields of society. He developed Kata Sanchin - the hard aspect of Goju, and created Kata Tensho - the soft aspect. These kata's are considered to be the essence of the Goju style.

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 travelling 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 recognised by the Dai Nippon Butokukai; its founder, Chojun Miyagi, acquired an outstanding position in karate-do.

May 1934, Chojun Miyagi travelled 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.

It is reported that Miyagi Sensei (Goju-Ryu) spent hours upon hours trying to develop the "sound" for a kiai. It is important to preface this that Miyagi Sensei not only studied martial arts in Fuzhou but medicines as well. Therefore he had an understanding of the energies of the body,"ki", and its relationship to the world. He devised the sounds "e" and "i" (like the Old Macdonald farmer song... e-i e-i o) to teach his students proper muscle usage to "gather" then "expel" the collected "ki". You can experience this by pressing your fingers into your abdomen with your present kiai. Take note of how the abdominals flex and contract. Repeat the exercise using "e-i". Say "eee" slowly (gathering) to feel the muscles "pull together" then yell with "iii" and feel the muscles "explode". Once the muscles and "ki" "remember", the sound is not as important.

Chojun Sensei emphasized that with each punch, strike, or kick, the mind and the tanden (a spot just below the navel) must be used together, in harmony. He spoke painstakingly about the proper execution of specific techniques; that when punching, one should use the back muscles and concentrate power in the tanden; when performing toroguchi, (tiger's mouth) ine should turn the hands using one's back mucsles.

When blocking with hiki uke he would say, "fast and focus...tighten the elbow and knee joints at the moment of focus."

He used to say, "When delivering a punch, if the recoil is lacking in strength, it is no good. A straight punch is not just delivered as a straight punch. It is the same as in brush writing--a straight is not simply drawn as a straight line."

Each technique must be performed with full speed and power as well as with the complete movement. If the movements are first performed with a small motion, then power will not be developed. When performing gedan barai (lower body block) the arm is brought up in front of the fact and then it swings down in a large circular motion to complete the block.

Chojun Sensei continually stressed that as a technique is focused, the power must be concentrated in the tanden. He demonstrated this concept by gripping and releasing his fist to represent the closing and opening of the tanden. He explained that after a technique is focused, the tanden is releases until the execution of the next technique.

With techniques such as uraken uchi (back fist) and tetsui-uchi (hammer fist) and haito uchi (ridge hand) the arm is used like a whip, keeping the joints relaxed until the moment the technique is focused, and only then tightening the tanden joints.

Chojun Sensei explained that when performing nukite tsuki (finger thrust) and shotei tsuki (palm heel thrust) the thumb is most important and has various meanings. If it is tightened together with the tanden and harmonized with the breathing, then the palm and fingers may be tightened easily and it can be used in catching and locking techniques.

He explained the importance of "opposite motion" in techniques such as age tsuki (rising punch) as the strike is thrust upwards, the body drops down while the reverse arm is simultaneously thrust downwards.

Chojun Miyagi's most promising disciple, Jinan Shinzato, gave a demonstration at the 'All Japan Martial Arts Tournament Offering Congratulations on the Emperor's Accession' held in Meiji Jingu Shrine in 1929. Afterwards he was asked what school of karate he belonged to. When he returned home, he told master Miyagi about this and Miyagi decided to choose the name Goju-ryu (the hard-soft style), inspired by one of the 'Eight Precepts' of Kempo, written in the Bubishi, and meaning 'The way embraces both hard and soft, both inhalation and exhalation. The main characteristic of Goju-ryu is the 'respiration method' accompanied by vocal exclamations, emphasizing 'inhaling and exhaling'and 'bringing force in and sending force out'. The kata of Goju-ryu are broadly divided into: Sanchin (basics), Kaishu-gata (open hand forms), and Heishu-gata (closed hand forms). The traditional kata passed down from Kanryo Higaonna to the present include: Sanchin, Saifa, Seienchin, Shisochin, Sanseiryu, Seipai, Kururunfa, Seisan, and Suparinpe (or Pecchurin). In addition to such traditional kata, Goju-ryu has added Kokumin Fukyugata, a series of kata created by Chojun Miyagi for the nationwide popularization of the school-Gekisai I, Gekisai II and Tensho-which complete the kata of Goju-ryu for Tanren.

One of the most important maxims that Chojun Sensei taught was, Ija ga dettara to ohiki; te ga dettara iji o hiki, which means, :If your temper rises, withdraw your hand; if your hand rises, withdraw your temper." Chojun Miyagi always stressed the avoidance of situations which are potentially dangerous and where fighting is likely to break out. He taught to never show that you practiced karate, not even the slightest gesture, and always to be humble and polite.

Masayoshi Kori Hisataka (founder of Shorinjiryu Kenkokan Karatedo) and Chojun Miyagi were good friends and exchanged techniques. It was suggested in Masayuki Kukan Hisataka's text, "Essential Shorinjiryu" that Chojun Miyagi had invited Masayuki Kori Hisataka to teach in a Goju ryu dojo.

Chojun Miyagi was a man of extremely mild temperament and it is said that he was a very humble man. He lived according to the principles of martial arts, that of non-violence. Chojun Miyagi passed away October 8th, 1953,leaving a great legacy behind. Masayoshi Kori Hisataka returned to Okinawa, to organize the burial arrangements for his friend.

Interestingly, Chojun Miyagi predicted that during the twentieth century karate would spread throughout the world.