Goju Ryu Karate
Goju Ryu Karate was developed by the Japanese martial artist, Chojun Miyagi. Goju Ryu means “hard/soft” school, and was named by its creator in the 1930s, years after the actual style was already developed.
Chojun Miyagi and Goju Ryu Karate
Born in Okinawa in 1888, Chojun Miyagi was a disciple of Kannryo Higaonna, a famous teacher of a traditional form of Karate called Nahate. Nahate, along with Tomarite, is known today as Shorei Ryu Karate. Chojun Miyagi further developed his skills in China, where he visited to learn the “soft” martial arts styles of Nei Jia (believed to be heavily influenced by Taoism). These styles included Pakua, Hsing-Yi and Tai Chi Chuan. Combining all of his knowledge, Chojun Miyagi began to teach his new art, Goju Ryu Karate upon his return to his island home of Okinawa later in 1917. He taught at Okinawan Prefecture Police Training Center and Naha Commercial High School.
However, Chojun Miyagi did not teach for long at one post, as his primary interest was to develop his martial art. As a result, he took two more trips back to China throughout his life, where he continued to train under leading martial artists in Chinese martial arts styles until his death in 1953. He also dedicated his life to promoting Karate and his martial art in Japan.
Chojun Miyagi did not advocate a belt system for students of his school to adhere to, and believed that training in several different styles would complete one’s knowledge in self defence forms and exercise.