Yushikan Dojo: Jundokan

Enterance to the Jundokan

Ei'ichi Miyazato (1922-1999) opened the Jundokan in 1957, it was the first free standing building exclusively designed to teach Goju-Ryu.

The Jundokan, which means, "House in which to follow in the father's footsteps", the name reflects Miyazato Sensei's devotion for his teacher. The Jundokan has students the world over and is responsible for training some of the world's greatest Goju-Ryu practitioners.

The Jundokan originally started out as a small wooden dojo but with increasing numbers of students it was decided that a more robust, larger dojo would be needed. In the 1970’s the current dojo was constructed on the spot in which it now stands.

Over the years a number of well known Gojuryu practitioners made their start in the Jundokan under the guidance of Miyazato Sensei – among them are Teruo Chinen (Jundokan International) and Morio Higaonna (IOGKF).

The Jundokan is a traditional Gojuryu dojo and the focus on training is kata, hojo-undo, and bunkai. Sports karate is not a part of the Jundokan whose primary goal is to preserve Okinawan Gojuryu in its traditional form as passed down by Chojun Miyagi Sensei

The Jundokan served as the headquarters dojo for the Okinawan Gojuryu Karate-do Kyokai from the time it was founded in 1969 until after the passing Miyazato Sensei.

Koshin Iha Sensei was appointed successor to Miyazato and assumed the position of Chief Instructor of the Jundokan and second president of the Kyokai. Iha Sensei retired in 2004 and for the first time in the history of the Jundokan and OGKK, the headquarters was moved out of the Jundokan to the Hichiya Dojo, with that the Jundokan separated from the Kyokai. Miyazato Sensei son, Yashuhiro, is the current Kancho of the Jundokan and has founded the Okinawa Gojuryu Karate-do So Honbu Jundokan association. Iha Sensei while retired maintains his relationship with the Kyokai and serves as its Honorary Chairman.

Miyazato Sensei instructed several students over the years, several of which went on to found thier own associations. Some of these associations were formed with the permission of Miyazato sensei, and he acted as Honorary Chairman for them, they included:

International Traditional Gojuryu Karate Federation founded by Kuniyuki Kai Sensei

United States Okinawan Gojuryu Karate-do Kyokai founded by Natambu Bomani Sensei

Tanzanian Okinawan Gojuryu Karate-do Kyokai founded by Natambu Bomani sensei

West Africa Okinawan Gojuryu Karate-do Kyokai founded by Natambu Bomani Sensei

Pan American Gojuryu Karate Federation founded by Ramon Veras Sensei

New Zealand Okinawan Gojuryu Karate-do Kyokai founded by Dennis May Sensei

International Gojuryu Karate Association founded by Dennis May Sensei

United Kingdom Okinawan Gojuryu Karate-do Kyokai founded by Bob Honniball Sensei

Okinawan Gojuryu Karate-do Okinawakan Kyokai founded by Kenichi Nakamoto Sensei

Okinawa Gojuryu Karate-do Kyokai Europe - Ryoichi Onaga Sensei

Traditional Okinawan Karate of Great Britain Jundokan - Ken Erridge Sensei

Other associations were that were founded by former Jundokan / OGKK students;