Miyagi
Chojun Sensei:
Miyagi
Chojun sensei began
his study of toudi at the dojo of Aragaki
Ryuko sensei in 1899. In 1902 Miyagi
sensei, at 14 years
of age, became a student of Higashionna
Kanryu sensei. Higashionna sensei was 49 years old at that time and had
a very
traditional Okinawan outlook, in the beginning giving Miyagi sensei a
series of
trivial tasks to perform, such as weeding or cleaning while Higashionna
sensei
observed his character. When he eventually began training, Miyagi
sensei showed
such enthusiasm and determination that even being limited to only the
severe
Hojo undo and Sanchin training did not deter him. In fact, he
supplemented the
training with additional running and other training of his own,
stopping to
lift big stones as he ran home from school. A natural athlete, Miyagi
excelled
in all sports and physical activities he attempted and Karate was no
exception.
In
1915 at the age of 27, acting on a suggestion from his teacher,
Miyagi and a Chinese born friend and White Crane master named Wu
Xianhui, who
was known as Gokenki in Okinawa made a trip to China. They had gone
with the
intention of finding Wai Xinxian's school but were unable to find signs
of the
school.
Miyagi
sensei was introduced to an old man who claimed to have been
a student of Wai Xinxian and Kanryo Higaonna sensei's junior. He told
Miyagi
that the art no longer existed in China. The story goes that Miyagi
demonstrated his kata to the approval of the old man who’s
only
comment was
that one kata was missing from Miyagi sensei's system. The old man then
demonstrated the kata Sanseiru. Miyagi sensei was astonished and
pleased to see
that it was almost identical to the version he had been taught. He had
merely
not performed it because it was his least favourite kata.
Although
they visited several masters, they could not
find anyone
teaching Wai Xinxian’s art. The places where Wai Xinxian had
lived and trained
either no longer existed or were occupied by new tenants who were
unable to
provide any useful information. They did however find Wai
Xinxian’s grave and,
after paying their respects, Miyagi sensei recorded the inscription on
the
tombstone which was quite detailed as is the custom in China. They also
visited
the ruins of the Shaolin temple where it was believed that Wai Xinxian
had
learned his art.
Miyagi
sensei and Wu Xianhui returned to Okinawa after about one year.
Higashionna
sensei passed away not long Miyagi sensei’s return to Okinawa
and
as his senior
student Miyagi sensei began teaching. It was around this time that
Miyagi
sensei developed a kata that he called Tensho or “Revolving
Palms.” Some say
that he developed this kata by adapting the arm movements of a White
Crane kata
called Rokkishu that can be found in some versions of the Bubushi
utilising a
stepping pattern similar to Sanchin. This may be true however the form
of
Tensho bears a striking likeness to Yong Chun Baihequan kata called
Bafen so it
is quite possible that Tensho was a synthesis of the training Miyagi
Sensei
experienced in China and research that he carried out.
There
is also some speculation about whether Miyagi sensei introduced the
kata Saifa,
Seiyunchin, Shisochin, Sepai and Kururunfa as these kata were not part
of
Higashionna sensei’s repertoire. Certainly these kata
have different look and feel to
them and it is possible that
they were either learnt in China or synthesised from the methods that
Miyagi
sensei learnt while in China. There has been some speculation that
these kata
have a resemblance to Huhequan or Tiger-Crane Boxing methods. What ever
the
truth may be the fact remains that Miyagi sensei handed down a rich
catalogue
of kata that remain largely unchanged to this day.
In
1926 Miyagi sensei approached a number of other masters with a
view to gaining their cooperation to start a club where a number of
styles
could be taught for the mutual benefit of all and the preservation of
Karate as
an Okinawan cultural treasure. This resulted in the formation of the
Karate
Kenkyu Club with classes being taught by a number of notable masters of
the day
including Miyagi sensei, Hanashiro Chomo, Motobe Choyu, Mabuni Kenwa,
Wu
Xianhui and Tang Daiji (To Daiki,) a Huquan or Tiger Boxing
master.
The
Karate Kenkyu Club appears
to have been the
first modern karate
dojo, in the as much that it had a building dedicated for use as a
training
hall and in that it involved fee paying students that could "come in
off
the street." The dojo was constructed by obtaining a loan from the bank
with Miyagi Sensei's good friend Wu Xianhui acting as a guarantor to
the loan.
Training was held everyday but Sunday and many guest instructors were
invited
to teach at the dojo. Unfortunately the club struggled to break even
and was
disbanded in 1929.
In
1929, after a demonstration at a martial arts festival in Japan,
Miyagi sensei's top student Shinzato Ji'an was asked what style of
karate he
practiced. At a loss for a reply he described it as Hanko
or
half hard.
Shinzato Sensei later posed the question to Miyagi sensei who gave the
matter
much thought. Given the nature of the techniques contained within the
art he
eventually decided to name his style Goju-ryu the "hard-soft" style
after a line Kempo Hakku, a poem found it in the classic martial text
the Bubishi.
Sometime
between 1920 and 1930, Miyagi sensei made
another trip to
China with Wu Xianhui. The purpose of this trip was to carry out
further
research and to carry out some business. They only stayed in China for
about
one month and it was reported that they learned little if anything
new.
In
1931 Master Miyagi visited the Japanese mainland, traveling
there by himself on a teaching visit. By this time karate's popularity
had
grown in Japan and in particular had found a large following in that
country's
universities mainly as a result of the efforts of fellow Okinawan
Funakosi
Gichin of Shotokan fame. Miyagi sensei visited a number of universities
to
instruct the karate students there. At Retsumeikan University in Kyoto
one of these
students was a young Yamaguchi Jitsumi, later known as "Gogen" who
was to go on to become the leader of Goju-ryu on the Japanese mainland
and who
eventually created the large Japan-based organisation known as the
Goju-Kai.
In
1934, Miyagi sensei accepted an invitation to visit Hawaii to
teach Karate to the large Okinawan and Japanese community there. He
stayed for
nearly a year and for the first time in history brought knowledge of
Karate
into the Western world - reportedly there were a few Americans in his
classes.
Shortly
after his return to Okinawa from Hawaii, in early
1936
Miyagi sensei made another trip to China again accompanied by his old
friend Wu
Xianhui. This time he visited Shanghai where he performed a
demonstration in
front of two hundred Japanese nationals at the Japanese club. Miyagi
sensei
obtained a number of books on Chinese Boxing which he intended to
translate.
In
1940 Miyagi sensei developed a kata which was called
Fukyugata-ni in conjunction with Shorin-ryu master Nagamine Shoshin
sensei who
developed Fukyugata-ichi. These kata were developed as introductory
forms for
promoting karate with young people. These two forms are still in use
today in
many Shorin-ryu schools. Miyagi sensei later renamed his aggressive
kata
Gekisai or “Smash and destroy,” in time he
developed a
second variation of the
kata using slightly more sophisticated techniques - renaming the
kata(s)
Gekisai dai ichi and Gekisai dai ni. Since the end of the war in the
Pacific,
these are the first two formal kata taught to the novice karateka in
Okinawan
Goju-ryu.
The
war in the Pacific cost Miyagi sensei dearly, he
lost three of
his children and many of his students. His most senior student and his
likely
successor Shinzato Ji'an was killed during the battle of Okinawa. In
addition
Miyagi sensei lost all of his books and manuscripts to fires resulting
from
bombing raids during the battle. Despite all of this, Miyagi sensei
resumed
teaching after the war until his death in 1953 aged 65.
The
martial art of Goju-ryu developed by Chojun Miyagi
sensei, is a
true combat art, it is a counter-attacking system based on a synthesis
of hard
linear techniques and softer circular movements. Goju-ryu's circular
blocking
actions and evasive body movements not only deflect and absorb an
opponent's
energy but also serve to wind the body up like a spring ready to
unleash
explosive counter-attacks. These can take the form of a series of
strikes
beginning with kicks, followed by groin and joint kicks, foot-sweeps,
stamps,
punches, a variety of open hand strikes and finishing with knee and
elbow
strikes, rips, tears, gouges and head butts. Gripping, pulling,
pushing,
jamming and joint-locking techniques and throws are also included.
Chojun
Miyagi sensei, and the masters who had passed the art to
him, knew that no matter how good the fighter the chances are that,
sooner or
later, he/she will get hit during combat. Thus the age-old Shaolin
tradition of
"iron shirt" body conditioning was embodied in Sanchin kata, to
toughen the body against strikes and increase tolerance to blows.
Despite
all of the violence inherent in the practice
of Goju-ryu
karate Miyagi Chojun was a mild mannered, peaceful man, this is best
summed up
in what has come to be known as his final teaching:
"Do
not
strike others,
do
not be struck
by others.
The
goal is peace
without incident." 
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