Chojun Miyagi

Chojun Miyagi was born in Naha, Okinawa as the son of a wealthy businessman on April 25, 1888. Miyagi began his study in karate at the age of nine (or eleven). In his early teens he became the student of Master Kanryo Higashionna. Under the tutelage of his Master, Miyagi underwent a very long and ardous period of training.

After the death of Master Kanryo Higashionna, Miyagi travelled to Fukien Province in China as his teacher had done before him. In China he studied the Shaolin and Pa Kua forms of Chinese boxing. From the blending of these systems, the hard linear/external form of Shaolin, 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 are considered to contain the essence of the Goju style.

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. Master Miyagi died on Okinawa on October 8, 1953.