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Karate originated on a small island between Japan and China called OKINAWA. In 1477 the King of Okinawa banned the carrying
of all weapons in a bid to end civil war. With this the people of Okinawa turned to neighbouring China and combined some
Chinese forms of empty-handed self-defence with their own form of martial art.
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From these roots three main styles of Karate evolved:
"NAHA-TE" which is now called "GOJU-RYU"
"SHURI-TE and "TOMARE-TE" both of which now come under the name of "SHORIN-RYU"
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| Kanryo Higaonna (Founder of Naha-te) 1851-1915 |
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Kanryo Higaonna was born in Naha, Okinawa on 10 March 1851. In 1866 he travelled to Foochow Southern China to study the Chinese
martial arts. After a year in residence at the Okinawan settlement in Foochow he was introduced to Master Ryu Ryu Ko a renowned
master of Southern Chinese arts. After following the age-old custom of service to his master he was accepted as a disciple and
trained with his teacher for thirteen years before returning to Naha Okinawa where his martial arts became known as Naha-te. Kanryo
taught these martial arts to the people of Okinawa.
He died on 23 December 1915 at the age of 63.
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| Chojun Miyagi (Founder of Goju Ryu) 1888-1953 |
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Chojun Miyagi was born on 25 April 1888 in Naha, Okinawa. He began training in karate under Kanryo Higaonna at the age of 14, in
1902. He studied with his teacher for 14 years before his teacher's death in 1915. The same year he journeyed to Foochow China to
further his research into the martial arts. This was one of three trips he made to China during his lifetime. On returning to Okinawa
he began to teach at his home in Naha.
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It is said that the naming of Goju-Ryu came about more by accident than design. In 1930 Chojun Miyagi's top student, while in
Tokyo was asked by numerous martial arts masters as to what school of martial arts he practiced. As Naha-te had no formal name
he could not answer this question. On returning to Okinawa he reported the incident to Chojun Miyagi. After much consideration
Miyagi decided on "Goju-Ryu" (hard and soft school) as the name for his style. "Go" means hard and "Ju means soft. It is a blend
of Okinawan Te (hard) and Shaolin Kung Fu (soft).
Chojun Miyagi died on 8 October 1953 at the age of 65.
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