Okinawan Karate and Goju-Ryu in America
Goju-Ryu translates as hard and soft, strong and
gentle, or block soft and hit hard system.
The translations can prove difficult to put into practice. Since language is a major factor to shape
thinking and therefore movement, the words “hard and soft” can lead to
confusion. Goju-Ryu may be viewed as
being both strong and gentle as seen in the jungle cats, which move gently, but
with strong force simultaneously. One
ultimate goal of Goju-Ryu training is to achieve a balance of strength and
gentleness, thus creating a harmony within the practitioner in all aspects of
life. This is the “way” of Goju-Ryu
karate.
Development of Okinawan Karate
Based on mans instinct of self-preservation, different
fighting arts were developed in most cultures, especially in central Asia. The
principles of the Asian martial arts are believed to have spread from Turkey to
India, where they were further developed to refined arts
("kalaripayt").
The history of Karate as we know it today can be traced back to India, perhaps two thousand years before the Christian era. India was the birthplace of a barehanded martial art called, in Sanskrit, Vajramushti. Evidence seems to indicate that the Kshatriya, which was the Warrior Class of that time, and which can be compared to the Japanese Samurai and the medieval Knights of Europe, commonly practiced it.
It is said that the third child of King Sugandha of
southern India was a member of the Kshatriya of Warrior Caste. However, after a
few years a strong spirit led him to a small but dynamic Buddhist province
south of Madres. He received his religious training from the Dhyna of Master
Prajnatara. Under the master’s guidance, the boy grew into a very wise man and
advanced in the way of the Dhyana or Buddhist practice, and was given the name
Bodhidharma.
After his master's death,
Bodhidharma traveled to China, where he taught. His life was centered on the
Shaolin Temple and monastery located in Hunan Province. Tradition states that
upon seeing the emaciated condition of the monks, Bodhidharma instructed them
in physical exercise, to condition their bodies as well as their minds. The
exercise was called, “Eighteen hands of Lo-Han”. This exercise also included
breathing; he knew that this physical activity was a means of body hygiene.
Eventually the monks began to study the animals and form exercises that
resembled their ways of fighting, and later it was known as Chuan-Fa, “The Art
of the Fist”. It is important to note that the motive of the practice was art,
physical conditioning, and finally, self-defense.
During the Sui Period (589-618), bandits began to raid
the monastery for the purpose of food and anything of value.
At this time the monks, in order to protect their
lives and their beloved monastery, utilized their Chuan-Fa art and defeated the
bandits. The reputation of the Shaolin Fighting monks spread, and many came to
study the art along with Buddhism. Today there are hundreds of styles, and of
course the philosophy has changed somewhat, depending on the personality of the
headmaster of the styles. In 1609 the art was brought to Okinawa where it
underwent many changes and became later known as Karate-do.
During the 14th century kempo (Chaun-Fa) is introduced
into Okinawa. It wins popularity and is trained as an art of self-defense,
under the name of 'tote' (= Chinese hand). At Okinawa the native fighting art
'te' was practiced long before the introduction of kempo. It is believed that
'te' was combined with 'kempo' by the Okinawans and developed to the martial
art karate.
When Japan invades Okinawa 1609 the ban of carrying
weapons (first pronounced by King Sho Shin in 1477) continues, but the Japanese
also bans the practice of martial arts. Consequently, the Okinawans must
continue with martial arts in secrecy.
During the next three centuries the martial art
develops into its own character and is called 'Okinawa Te'. It is split into
three main styles:
Shuri-te influenced by the hard techniques of kempo
and characterized by an offensive attitude.
Naha-te influenced by the softer techniques of kempo
including breath control and 'ki'. It was characterized by a more defensive
attitude with grappling, throws and locking techniques.
Tomari-te influenced by both the hard and soft
techniques of kempo. In the ending of the 19th century Shuri-te and Tomari-te
were subsumed under the name Shorin ryu, which during the years has developed
into several slightly different styles. Naha-te becomes known under the name
Goju ryu (the hard and soft style) and has basically remained the same, however
many organizations exist.
Naha-Te
Grandmaster Kanryo Higaonna was born on March 10,
1853, in Naha, the capital city of Okinawa. Kanryo, worked as a merchant
sailing between the small islands of Okinawa trading everyday goods. From a
young age Kanryo Higaonna helped his father in this work and through the hard
physical labor that was involved he developed a strong body.
Kanryo Higaonna was still in his teens when his father
died suddenly. Kanryo decided he wanted to study the martial arts and he set
his heart on traveling to Fuzhou, China for this purpose. He arrived in Fuzhou
in 1869, at the age of 16. Once in Fuzhou he studied the Chinese martial arts
under the great Master Ryu Ryu Ko. He soon became "Uchi Deshi"
(private disciple) and he remained in China under the severe instruction of his
teacher for approximately 13 years. In addition to studying empty handed
martial arts he also become accomplished in weapons techniques and Chinese
herbal medicine. Master Ryu Ryu Ko esteemed his pupil highly and sanctioned
Kanryo's mastery of these arts - an honor which is accorded extremely rarely.
Such was Kanryo's skill in the martial arts that his fame became widespread
throughout Fuzhou and the surrounding area.
The severity of the
training he underwent in China is beyond comprehension.
In the year 1881, after 13 years of diligent study
with his teacher he returned to Okinawa and Naha where his martial arts became
known as Naha-te (these arts were also referred to as "Tode" meaning
martial arts from China). Kanryo Higaonna taught these martial arts to the
people of Okinawa and at the same time continued his own research and practice.
In order to teach the youth of Okinawa he developed a teaching method, which
was specifically, designed to develop the mind and body; to improve both
physical and spiritual well-being.
The first occasion on which the previously secretive
art of Naha-te was "opened" to society in general, occurred in
October 1905, when Kanryo Higaonna began teaching at the high school.
When teaching, Kanryo Higaonna was an extremely hard
taskmaster. However in his everyday life he was a quiet and humble man and one
who was renowned for his virtuous character. He was a man who had no need or
desire for worldly things. He led a simple life, which was completely devoted
to the study and practice of the martial arts. His great and distinguished work
was in bringing the Chinese martial art forms from China to Okinawa, and
they’re spreading these arts among the people of Okinawa.
Kanryo Higaonna is now bestowed with the title,
"Kensei (sacred fists) Higaonna Kanryo", a title that is eminently
fitting. His name is synonymous with Okinawan martial arts and Naha-Te, and his
spirit is destined to live on forever as a great and valued treasure within
Okinawan culture.
Kanryo Higaonna's whole life was devoted to karate. He
passed away in December 1915 at the age of 63.
Miyagi Chojun
Grandmaster Chojun Miyagi was born on April 25, 1888
to an aristocratic family. They were in the import/export business, and owned
two ships, which made regular trips to Mainland China, placing them among the
wealthiest families in the area.
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 teacher’s death in 1915. 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 the martial
arts at his home in Naha. Later, he also taught at the Okinawan Prefecture
Police Training Center, at the Okinawan Master's Training College, and at the
Naha Commercial High School (where his teacher had 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 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 systematized 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 of his
teacher, Kanryo Higaonna, and his teacher before him, Ryu Ryu Ko.
Chojun Miyagi died on October 8th, 1953, of either a
heart attack (the most popular explanation) or a cerebral hemorrhage at the age
of 65.
The Name Goju ryu
The naming of Goju-Ryu
came about more by accident than design. In 1930, one of Chojun Miyagi's top
students, Jin'an Shinzato, while in Tokyo attending a Martial Arts
convention 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. Feeling his art would be looked down upon and given amateur
status, he quickly picked Hankry-ryu, which means the Way of Half Hard. On his
return to Okinawa he reported this incident to Chojun Miyagi. He liked
Shinzato’s idea and took it one step further. After much consideration, Chojun
Miyagi decided on the name Goju-Ryu (hard and 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 whole poem
reads as follows:
1. The mind is one with heaven and
earth.
2. The circulatory rhythm of the body is
similar to the cycle of the sun and the moon.
3. The way of inhaling and exhaling is
hardness and softness.
4. Act in accordance with time and
change.
5. Techniques will occur in the absence
of conscious thought.
6. The feet must advance and retreat,
separate and meet.
7. The eyes do not miss even the
slightest change.
8. The ears listen well in all directions.
The Succession of Goju-Ryu
Jin'an Shinzato, an exceptional talent and the one
whom Chojun Miyagi had chosen for his successor to the Goju School in Okinawa,
was tragically killed during the Second World War. Later, after the war, Chojun
Miyagi chose Meitoku Yagi Sensei to succeed him in Okinawa and Gogen
Yamaguchi to succeed him in Japan under the Goju-Kai school, to pass on
Goju-Ryu to the next generation.
Chojun Miyagi passed away 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 this 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 an art with no
boundaries, an art for all nations and all peoples of the world.