The International Okinawan Goju-Ryu Karate-Do
Association (IOGKF)
was formed in Poole, England in 1979, at the first ever
IOGKF International Gasshuku. In his opening address Higaonna
Sensei said "Since the death of our
founder, Chojun Miyagi
Sensei, Goju-Ryu has spread internationally
and through modern trends many of its original ideas have
become lost. It is my purpose through our advisers in
Okinawa to re-establish traditional Okinawan Goju-Ryu
on the foundations laid by Chojun
Miyagi Sensei so many years ago".
Higaonna
Sensei has spent many years achieving this
goal, along with the help of many of his senior instructors.
Higaonna Sensei's thoughts on how Karate-Do should affect
our lives are contained in the IOGKF Hoshin. Along with
many of us he feels that Karate-Do should make our bodies
strong, but our character should also develop and we should
set a good example for others to follow. In IOGKF
we all wear one badge, this is not only to represent our
style but to show we are all part of the same family.
IOGKF is now a proud member of Nihon
Kobudo Kyokai (Japan Traditional Martial
Arts Association).
The EGKA, along with the IOGKF
and Higaonna Sensei
are working hard to preserve our Karate for future generations.
