Koryukan USA Karate School of Fishers - Martial Arts - Karate - Fishers

Goju Ryu Karate

Goju Ryu Karate

Miyagi Chojun Sensei was born on April 25, 1888 in Naha. Miyagi Sensei's family belonged to the gentry. Having two trading ships, the Miyagi family was engaged in the importing of medicine from China, supplying both the government and private merchants. The family was one of the wealthiest in Naha. Miyagi Sensei's father was named Miyagi Chojun. He was the third son of the Miyagi family.

When Miyagi Chojun Sensei was five years old, the successor to the main family passed away. Thus, Miyagi Chojun Sensei was adopted as the heir by the main family even though he was his father's first son.

Also, when Miyagi Chojun Sensei was eleven years old, his mother took him to a karate master named Aragaki Ryuko. (Aragaki Ryuko Sensei is the grandfather of Aragaki Shuichi, an advisor to the International Okinawan Goju Ryu Karate-do Federation today). Having lived through the hard and tumultuous years of the Meiji Restoration, and the Sino-Japanese War, Miyagi Sensei's mother was convinced that a man had to be both mentally and physically strong in order to face the world as the head of a family.

At the Dojo of master Aragaki Ryuko Sensei, Miyagi Sensei had mainly trained using the makiwara, chishi, and nigiri-game which were used to strengthen and develop muscles. Aragaki Sensei introduced his young student, Miyagi Sensei, to his friend, Higashionna Kanryo Sensei when Miyagi Sensei was fourteen years old.

Because his fame had spread throughout Naha, many people came to Higashionna Sensei hoping to become his disciples. But Higashionna Sensei did not take some one as his disciple unless he thought that the individual had a personality which was capable of the discipline required for the serious study of karate. Even after one was accepted as his student, Higashionna Sensei observed the student's behavior until he was convinced that the student was serious about studying karate.

The young Miyagi Sensei did all the tasks of cleaning and sweeping the house, weeding the garden, chopping wood and carrying water buckets, with much enthusiasm. When he was a young boy Miyagi Sensei often helped with the chores at home. Higashionna Sensei eventually accepted Miyagi Sensei as his personal disciple, and started to teach him his art, Naha-te. At the time, Miyagi Sensei was not yet sure that he would continue to practice karate throughout his life but he already loved karate more than anything else.