October 8th should be an important day for any and every practitioner of Goju-ryu Karate-do, regardless of kai, kan or national faction. Today marks the 59th year since the passing of the founder, Miyagi Chojun Kensei.
In my dojo every year on the anniversary of Miyagi Sensei passing we honor him by diligently practicing the art he developed for us, in particular we concentrate on those things that he developed and brought to the style.
It is my opinion that every goju-ka should set this day and the day of his birth aside and devote their training to Miyagi Sensei. These days should be used to honor the founder by training hard in the karate that he left for us.