CHOJUN MIYAGI SHIHAN
Chojun Miyagi Shihan
Students practice bunkai from Saifa kata as Chojun
Sensei watches
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In addition to his
personal training and development of Naha-te, Chojun Sensei
spent a great deal of his time promoting the art. In 1921,
he performed a demonstration of Naha-te in Okinawa for the
visiting Prince Hirohito, Emperor of Japan, and in 1925 for
Prince Chichibu. Chojun Sensei had already envisioned the
development of Naha-te not only in Japan but also around the
world. It became increasingly important to organize and unify
Okinawan karate as a cultural treasure to be passed on to
future generations. In 1926, Chojun Sensei established the
Karate Research Club in Wakas-Cho. Four instructors, Chojun
Miyagi, Hanashiro, Motobu and Mabuni, taught alternately some
preliminary exercises and supplemental exercises. Afterwards,
Chojun Sensei gave talks to the students about mankind, daily
life, and the samurai code of ethics in order to improve their
moral development as well. In 1927, Jigoro Kano Sensei, founder
of Judo, saw a demonstration of a kata by Chojun Sensei and
was impressed by the advanced technique and sophistication
of Naha-te. Kano Sensei's influence allowed Chojun Sensei
to perform Okinawan karate at leading Japanese Budo tournaments
sponsored by the government. In 1930, Chojun Sensei performed
at the Butoku-kai Tournament and then later at the Sainei
Budo Tournament in 1932. |
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As its exposure increased,
many became interested in Chojun Miyagi Sensei's art. One
of Chojun Sense's senior disciples, Jinan Shinzato
Sensei, gave a performance of kata at a Japanese
martial arts tournament. Afterwards, a master asked the name
of his school. Shinzato Sensei had no answer for him, returned
to Okinawa and told Chojun Sensei about his encounter. In
order to promote his art as well as cooperate with other schools
of Japanese martial arts, Chojun Sensei decided it was necessary
to name his art. It became known as Goju-Ryu Karate,
meaning "hard and soft" taken from the precepts
of traditional Chinese Kempo (see below). He was the first
among different schools of karate to name his art and in 1933
his art of Goju-Ryu was formally registered at the Butoku-kai,
Japanese Martial Arts Association.
Chojun Sensei traveled extensively, spreading Goju-Ryu to
mainland Japan and as far afield as Hawaii. For example, in
1934, a Hawaiian newspaper company invited him to Hawaii in
order to introduce and populate karate in Hawaii. In 1936,
Miyagi Chojun Sensei spent two months in Shanghai, China,
for further study of Chinese martial arts. In 1937, he was
awarded a commendation by the Butoku-kai for his kata. Chojun
Sensei developed Goju Ryu by analyzing and employing scientific
methods of exercise. Back in Okinawa many of Chojun Sensei's
students were in the police force.
His top student
before the war was Shinzato Jin'an, he was
to have succeeded Chojun Sensei but unfortunately he lost
his life in the second world war. After the war Chojun Sensei
began teaching again in his garden dojo. This was a time of
severe hardship in Okinawa and many students could no longer
train.
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