Grandmaster Chojun Miyagi
Grandmaster
Chojun Miyagi was born on April 25, 1888. He began training in karate
under Kanryo Higaonna at the age of 14, in 1902. Like his teacher before
him, because of his great natural talent and fierce determination, he
progressed very rapidly. The training was severe beyond belief at times
but he practiced ever harder with an enthusiasm unmatched by any of the
other students. Chojun Miyagi became "uchi deshi" (private disciple)
of Kanryo Higaonna. He studied with his teacher
for 14 years before his teachers death in 1915.
Chojun Miyagi, as successor to Naha-te pushed himself to the limits of
endurance in his desire to emulate the extraordinary skills of his teacher.
To this end, that same year (1915) he journeyed to Fuzhou, China the city
where his teacher had studied the martial arts, to further his research.
This was one of three trips he made to China during his lifetime.
On his return to Okinawa he began to teach martial arts at his home in
Naha. Later, he also taught the Okinawan Prefecture Police Training Center,
the Okinawan Master's Training College and at the Naha Commercial High
School (where his teacher once taught.)
Chojun Miyagi
worked hard to spread karate throughout Okinawa and mainland Japan, and
to earn Naha-te a status equal to that of the highly respected Japanese
martial arts of judo and kendo. To achieve this he traveled frequently
to mainland Japan where he was invited to teach karate at Kyoto University,
Kansai University and Ritsumei Kan University. In 1933 karate was registered
at the Butokukai, the center for all martial arts in Japan. This was a
milestone for karate as it meant that it was recognized on a level with
the highly respected martial arts of Japan.
Chojun Miyagi
dedicated his whole life to karate. He was responsible for structuring
Naha-te (which he later named "Goju-Ryu") into a systemized
discipline which could be taught to society in general. This teaching
system which he formulated enabled karate to be taught in schools for
the benefit of the young, and to reach vast numbers of people throughout
the world. However, his private teaching at his home remained strictly
in adherence to the principles and traditions of his teacher, Kanryo Higaonna,
and his teacher before him, Ryu Ryu Ko.
The naming
of Goju-Ryu came about more by accident than
design. In 1930, Chojun Miyagi's top student, Jin'an Shinzato, while in
Tokyo was asked by numerous martial arts masters as to what school of
martial arts he practiced. As Naha-te te had no formal name he could not
answer this question. On his return to Okinawa he reported this incident
to Chojun Miyagi. After much consideration Chojun Miyagi decided on the
name Goju-Ryu (hard & soft school) as a name for his style. This
name he took from a line in the Bubishi ( a classical Chinese text on
martial arts and other subjects). This line which appears in a poem describing
the eight precepts of the martial arts, reads, "Ho Goju Donto"
(the way of inhaling and exhaling is hardness and softness).
The Succession of Goju-Ryu
Jin'an Shinzato, an exceptional talent and the one whom
Chojun Miyagi had chosen as his successor, was tragically killed during
the second world war. Later, after the war, Chojun Miyagi chose An'ichi
Miyagi Sensei to succeed him, to pass on Goju-Ryu to the next generation.
Chojun Miyagi passed away on October 8th, 1953, leaving
a great legacy behind. He predicted that during the twentieth century karate
would spread throughout the world. Today we can see that his prediction
has been realized; karate is not only practiced in Japan, but it can be
found throughout the countries of the world. Karate can no longer be referred
to as a solely Okinawan or Japanese martial art, but it has become and
art with no boundaries, an art for all nations and all the people of the
world.
The Philosophy of Grandmaster Chojun Miyagi
The philosophy that permeates Goju-Ryu Karate-do, that
is the very essence of this art, could be seen in its most practical way
by simply observing the life of Chojun miyagi. Indeed, Chojun Miyagi's
life and the way he lived his life was a perfect expression of the spirit
and philosophy of Goju-Ryu Karate- do.
After the extreme devastation of the second World War
Okinawa was left in the grip of terrible poverty. Housing and food were
scarce. The United States Military had stockpiles of food and clothing
and even the most virtuous of Okinawans would take these from time to
time. On occasions when Chojun Miyagi was offered food or clothing he
would always refuse and point out that what little he already possessed
was sufficient for his needs.
Chojun Miyagi would never compromise himself. Whatever
hardships he encountered in his life, his heart (mind & spirit) would
never change. He would always stress that especially in the martial arts
one must always be humble. The stronger one becomes, the more that person
should express their gentler side. This is the meaning of "Go"
and "Ju".
Chojun Miyagi was a strict teacher of the martial arts
but he showed great affection and love for his students. He would always
consider the well being of his students, not only in their training but
in their everyday lives as well. He would always try and guide them along
the correct path.
The legacy of Chojun Miyagi is much more than just technique.
He has left us with a philosophy which is profound in its simplicity;
a philosophy to help us achieve truth and virtue in our lives.
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