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Chojun Miyagi founder of Goju
Ryu
The founder of Goju Ryu was born in Naha, Okinawa.
He was fourteen when he began training under Kanryo Higashionna who trained
him in Naha-te. He studied under Higashionna until his teacher died in
1916. Prior to Higashionna's death, Miyagi Chojun and his friend Gogenki
traveled to Fuchou, China in search of Higashionna's teacher, Ryu Ryo
Ko.
Unfortunately, much had changed and they were unable
to locate the original kwoon (Kenpo school). Gogenki, taught Chinese White
Crane Kenpo, and undoubtedly influenced Miyagi Chojun's martial arts.
Miyagi Sensei named his style Goju Ryu (hard-soft
style) after a quote he selected from the "Eight Precepts" in
the ancient Chinese martial art text Bubishi : "Howa goju o donto
suru" (Law swallows up both the hard and the soft).
This Pinewood ancestor, in naming his school Goju Ryu, reminds us of the
importance of harmony between hard and soft. Miyagi created the Pinewood katas
Gekisai Ichi, Gekisai Ni, and Tensho. |