The Evolution of Gojuryu Kata

Group shot of Miyagi Sensei and his students in 1948

It is well known that Miyagi Chojun Sensei did not officially leave a successor to Gojuryu. Since his passing several of his students have formed their own associations and dojo continuing what they believe is the most authentic version of Miyagi’s karate. A quick search of the web and anyone can find out who was who in Gojuryu after Miyagi Sensei passed away. There have even been claims made about who was the successor. I am not going to get into a political karate debate, what I would like to discuss is the evolution of Gojuryu after the passing of Miyagi Sensei.

Higa Seiko Sensei, who was a direct student of Higashionna and Miyagi, founded the Shodokan and taught only Miyagi's 12 kata syllabus. Miyagi Sensei’s oldest son, Miyagi Kei, established a dojo in Tokyo called the Komeikan, he passed on the 12 kata syllabus as taught to him by his father. Similarly, Miyazato Eiichi Sensei, took over Miyagi Sensei dojo and then established the Jundokan Dojo in Naha, Okinawa. Early in Jundokan history the kata Fukyu Dai Ichi and Fukyu Dai Ni were taught, however for most of the 1960s to the time of his passing, Miyazato Sensei only taught the 12 kata syllabus of Miyagi.

Meitoku Yagi Sensei, the founder of Meibukan Goju Ryu, and a direct student of Miyagi Sensei, formulated the kata Tenshi, Seiryu, Byakko, Shujaku, and Genbu. He also taught a second Tensho called Tensho Ni or Sanpoaruite Tensho.

Seikichi Toguchi Sensei, was a direct student of both Miyagi Sensei and Higa Sensei, he founded Shorei Kan Goju Ryu. He formulated the kata Hookiyu 1 & 2, Gekisai Dai San, Gekiha 1 & 2, Kakuha 1 & 2, and Hakutsuru No Mai. I find it interesting that those considered the seniors of Toguchi Sensei did not use all of his kata. Yoshio Kuba Sensei who ran Toguchi’s Shoreikan in Okinawa, before later forming his own Kenbukan, only teaches Gekiha and Kakuha. Morimasa Yamauchi Sensei similarly teaches Gekiha and a different version of Kakuha then Kuba Sensei and Ryugo Sakai Sensei of the Ryushinkaikan teaches the two Gekiha. I wonder if this has to do with the fact that Toguchi Sensei was making changes to the Shoreikan curriculum up until his passing.

Gogen Yamaguchi Sensei, was a direct student of Jutsuei Yogi Sensei and Meitoku Yagi Sensei, and briefly of Miyagi Sensei, and founder of the Japanese Goju Kai. Yamaguchi Sensei added ten Taikyoku kata , Genkaku and Chikaku. The Yamaguchi system also practices the unique Sanchin-Tensho kata. Goshi Yamaguchi sensei has also added two kata to what his father developed called Tenryu and Kohryu.

Osamu Hirano Sensei, student of Kenzo Ujita and Gogen Yamaguchi, founder of the Kuyukai formulated the Haiku Ichi and Rensoku Juza kata for his association.

Seigo Tada Sensei, student of Gogen Yamaguchi, founder of the Seigokan. Formulated the Kihon Tsuki no and the Uke no kata for his association.

Kisaku Tomoharu Sensei, student of Gogen Yamaguchi, founder of Yuishinkai formulated the Kitei kata, this kata is unique in that it utilizes the mawash-geri or round house kick.

Sosui Ichikawa Sensei, student of Kanki Izumigawa, and founder of the Sosuikan Seito Gojuryu. Formulated the Gekisai Ha and Sosuiken kata. In addition his dojo also teaches Sanchin (sanpo and zenpo), Unsu, Niseishi, and Tsuru-te. Several of his senior students have added Rokkishu, and Hakutsuru to the syllabus. His senior American student, R. Choji Taiani Sensei, has added the kata Sanchin Koho, his own versions of Gekisai Dai San and Dai Yon to the American branch of the association.

Katsuya Izumikawa, son of Kanki Izumikawa, and current head of the Senbukan Seito Gojuryu. fourmulated the Gekisai Dai San and Gekisai Dai Yon kata for his group.

Tetsuhiro Hokama sensei, student of Seiko Higa sensei and Seiko Fuguchi sensei, founder of the Kenshikai. Formulated the kata Fukyu and Kiyozai 1 & 2 for his group.

Terou Chinen Sensei, founder of Jundokan International and a student of Eiichi Miyazato Sensei, developed the Dachi kata, Formation 11, Formation 12 and Fukyu 3 for his group. It may also be of interest to know that he also teaches Fukyu 1 and 2 in his association. Fukyu 1 is the standard version developed by Nagamine and Miyagi, while it has been said that Fukyu 2 was developed by Eiichi Miyazato Sensei, though Fukyu 1 and 2 were used by both Chinen Sensei and Morio Higaonna when they established the IOGKF, some IOGKF dojo still teach these kata, but the majority have stopped using them.

Zenei Oshiro Sensei, founder of Shodokan Europe, also uses Fukyu 1 and 2, along with 3 kata of his own creation called Shiho Uke 1, 2, and 3.

Toshio Tamano Sensei, founder of Shoreikan International, a student of Seikichi Toguchi Sensei, developed the kata dai ichi and kata dai ni for his group.

John Roseberry Sensei, founder of Shorei-Shobukan, a student of Sekichi Toguchi sensei, developed the Gakusei kata. His group also uses the Golden crane form, which he learned from a Chinese teacher.

Peter Urban Sensei, founder of USA Goju, student of Gogen Yamaguchi, developed the Taikiyoku Empi Go, Unfa, Empi Ha, Urban Han and Urban Kururunfan for his organization.

Lou Angel Sensei, founder of Tenshi Gojukai, a student of Peter Urban and Gogen Yamaguchi, developed the Gesai, Gesaku Sho and Gesaku Dai kata for his group.

Shinken Akamine Sensei, from the Izumigawa lineage, who was the first introduced Gojuryu karate to Brazil. Akamine sensei formed several groups in his time, the last being the Kenshinkan, he developed the katas Uke Godan, Empi Godan, Tekatana Godan, Teisho Godan, Tsuki Godan and Kenshinryu for his group.

I am a Miyazato Lineage practitioner, but I have also trained a bit over the years in the Higa, Yagi and Toguchi lineage dojo’s. I find merit for beginners in some of these later additions to the system, but they are not taught by my direct sensei or in my lineage. I wonder if it is wrong to use some of these as a bridge between the basic Gekisai kata and the Kaishu kata. I have always felt that there was a gap between Gekisai Dai Ni and Saifa. I am by no means advocating that someone would go learn all of these additions to Gojuryu, as they are really Kai-ha specific, but perhaps one or two might not hurt for a beginner to learn, of course advanced students should concentrate on the kaishu gata.

Thoughts?

How the Master's got their rank part 2

Really this should be part one but after I had several inquires, I went back a little further.

The origins of the karate ranking system was started by Gichin Funakoshi Sensei, who barrowed the concept from Judo, along with the Keiko-gi and Obi colors. Funikoshi Sensei started teaching in Tokyo in 1922. The first black belt promotions happened in April of 1924 when Funakoshi Sensei presented certificates and Black obi to seven of his senior students, six of them to Shodan and one to Nidan. Funakoshi Sensei set up his ranking system with a cap at 5^th Dan, this ranking structure was also used by Kenwa Mabuni Sensei for his Shito-ryu.

After Funakoshi Sensei and Mabuni Sensei began using this ranking structure several other Okinawan sensei adopted the use of the black obi.  For example in 1926 there are photos of Choki Motobu Sensei wearing a black obi and in the late 1920s photos of Chomo Hanashiro Sensei, Chosen Chibana Sensei and Shimpan Shiroma Sensei can be seen wearing black obi. As the 1930s progressed the heads of dojo began wearing black obi with no official dan designation.

In 1928, Miyagi Sensei teaches in Japan. In 1929, Ohtsuka Sensei leaves the Shotokan and forms Wado-Ryu Karate, he was around 38 years of age.  In 1933, Chojun Miyagi Sensei registers his art as Gojuryu Karate-do with the Butokukai. Some say that he had named it as early as 1929, which would have made him 41 years old.   Funakoshi, Mabuni and Miyagi were considered Head Master of their arts but at this point had no official ranking.

It should be noted that several Okinawan sensei were teaching in Japan in the 1920-1930s (Funakoshi, Mabuni, Miyagi and Motobu) and they had good relationships with the Butokukai but Karate was not accepted as an art until 1937 when the Butokukai awarded Chojun Miyagi Sensei with the rank of Kyoshi, designating him as the first master of karate. Yashuhiro Konishi Sensei was given the second Karate Kyoshi rank at age 44.

In 1939 the Butokukai issued more karate titles;

Ueshima the founder of Kushin-ryu was awarded Kyoshi at age 50

Gichin Funakoshi was awarded Renshi at age 71

Kenwa Mabuni was awarded Renshi at age 50

Gigo Funikoshi was awarded Renshi at age 40

In 1940 Renshi was awarded to;

Seiko Higa at age 42

Shoshin Nagamine at age 35

Gogen Yamaguchi at age 32

In 1944 Tasshi was awarded to Funakoshi, Mabuni and Ohtsuka. It might be of interest to know that Konishi (a student of Funakoshi and Mabuni) was appointed head of the Butokukai Committee that was responsible for awarding karate grade titles.

It was these Butokukai grades that formed the bases for the early karate associations and instructors to deem themselves as head master or some to assume the eventual title of 10^th Dan stylehead and by 1951 the Kokusai Budoin and the All Okinawa Karate Kobudo Rengokai was established and in 1964 FAJKO was established and the stricter standardization's of dan grades began, however it was not until 1971 that a blanket standard was put in place.

For Part 1: http://yushikan.blogspot.com/2014/01/the-masters-and-their-ranks.html

The masters and their ranks

I have been doing a bit of research and was surprised by what I have found so far, this is by no means a complete list, but here we can see several well known master's and their ranks and ages.

The Okinawa Karate Federation was formed in 1956.

In 1958 the first Dan grades were issued;

9^th Dan Hanshi to Seiko Higa at age 60

9^th Dan Hanshi to Kanei Uechi at age 47

8^th Dan Kyoshi to Meitou Yagi at age 46

8^th Dan Kyoshi to Eiichi Miyazato at a 36

8^th Dan Kyoshi to Seikichi Toguchi at age 41

8^th Dan Kyoshi to Shoshin Nagamine at age 51

8^th Dan Kyoshi to Tatsuo Shimabukuro at age 50

Promotions in 1962;

8^th Dan to Katsuya Miyahara at age 44

8^th Dan to Shuguro Nakazato at age 43

Promotions in 1963;

9^th Dan to Joen Nakazato at age  42

Promotions in 1967;

             10^th Dan Hanshi to Kanei Uechi at age 56

9^th Dan to Katsuya Miyahara at age 49

9^th Dan to Shuguro Nakazato at age 48

Promotions in 1968:

7^th Dan to Tadashi Yamashita at age 26

Promotions in 1969;

10^th Dan to Katsuya Miyahara at age 51

10^th Dan to Shuguro Nakazato at age 50

 Although they were not OKF promotions, it might also be of interest to you that the following promotion were also made;

           10^th Dan to Eizo Shimabuku in 1959 at age 39

            9^th Dan to Rober Trias in 1964 at the age of 41

I find this very interesting and will keep researching it.

For part two: http://yushikan.blogspot.com/2014/01/how-masters-got-their-rank-part-2.html

20th Anniversary Training and Thoughts

Group photo of 20th Anniversary Participants

On January 2, 2014 I celebrated the 20^th Anniversary of the founding of my dojo.  We had a celebration and workout on January 4, 2013. I had several of my students present for the event, but not all of them.  Lloyd C. Johnson III Hanshi 9^th Dan, Tony Willis Renshi 7^th Dan, and Jonathan Hallburg Renshi 6^th Dan all came to celebrate the occasion and were guest instructors for the event. Johnson Sensei and Hallburg Sensei brought along some of their students as well.

We started the day with of course Junbi Undo and then followed with a review of kihon waza by Willis Sensei, we then moved on to Sanchin kata and received instruction from Johnson Sensei. It was then on to a review of Gekisai Dai Ichi, Gekisai Dai Ni, Saifa and Seiunchin with me acting as lead instructor for that portion, with comments and suggestion from the guest instructors. We also had several discussions about the different ways each of our kai-ha performed different sections of the kata and why.

We then took a lunch break, and enjoyed a nice lunch as prepared by my lovely wife. After lunch, we resumed training with some more kata and then Hallburg Sensei  taught a session on how to use Koshi and Gamaku as taught in the Shinjinbukan, he then continued by teaching alternate methods for hikite. I then gave a brief overview of the two person drills taught at the yushikan. We then ended by Hallburg Sensei leading us through the Seri Undo as used at the Shinjinbukan.

We then spent a nice evening sitting and talking about budo and firearms, while drinking some Kirin. I enjoyed myself and am grateful that some of my friends came to help me celebrate the occasion

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The days leading up to the anniversary and a few days since has had me reminiscing about the past and what lead me to the foundation of the Yushikan. I remember assisting my father at his dojo for several years, I remember him appointing me as the Chief Instructor for his Marion dojo in January of 1992 and in January of 1993 we took on one of the yudansha as a partner, like anything when you have partners it does not always work out. I remember that over the Christmas break in December of 1993 sitting at home with my wife and our eight month old twins, that we had several discussion about how I did not like or agree with certain things regarding the dojo and expressed a wish to start my own.  Having two new babies and leaving an established dojo behind seemed crazy but I did it. After my wife and I spoke, I made some phone calls to my seniors and decided that I would leave the dojo and establish my own. My wife (Amber) drew the dojo mon (patch) that I still use to this day.

My father ended his part in the partnership and concentrated his efforts on his Indianapolis dojo and on January 2, 1994 I began my first class at my new dojo in a dedicated room at the YMCA in Marion, Indiana. For the first time since I started karate or started teaching I used a different name for my dojo then my father did for his. Of course we were still teacher and student but I was pretty much on my own. With-in a month I had branch dojo in Gas City, Upland and Sweetser. By the next month I had 100 students at each branch dojo and 325 students at the main dojo.  In 1995 my wife and I found out we were going to have a third child and I ran all four dojo until May of 1995 when I took a job with benefits for my family and moved to Carmel, Indiana. I turned the dojos over to Pat Mitchell and within a few weeks set up a small dojo in Carmel. In 2000, I moved the dojo to a much larger location in Carmel and in 2005 I moved the dojo to its current location in Swayzee.

My wife is extremely organized and kept records of my students and the promotions I issued over the years. From the first class until the 20^th Anniversary I have had a couple thousand students through the doors and out of those I have 10 that I have promoted to black belt. I also have a third generation of my family on the floor training at all most every class. There have been ups and downs like anything but I am proud of my students and happy with the progress.

2013 was a good year and we had a lot of good training, 2014 started out with a bang and I hope w make it through at least another 20.