Grandmaster Chojun Miyagi was born on April 25, 1888. He began training in karate under Kanryo Higaonna at the age of 14, in 1902. Like his teacher before him, because of his great natural talent and fierce determination, he progressed very rapidly. The training was severe beyond belief at times but he practiced ever... more »
Gekisai means “attack and destroy”. These kata were created around 1940 by Chojun Miyagi and Nagamine Shoshin as beginners’ kata, to introduce the basic forms of karate (kihon) to middle school students in Okinawa, to help bring about the standardization of karate, and to teach a basic set of techniques for self-defense. Gekisai kata... more »
Gekisai means “attack and destroy”. These kata were created around 1940 by Chojun Miyagi and Nagamine Shoshin as beginners’ kata, to introduce the basic forms of karate (kihon) to middle school students in Okinawa, to help bring about the standardization of karate, and to teach a basic set of techniques for self-defense. Gekisai kata... more »
Goju Ryu (Japanese for “hard-soft style”) is one of the main traditional Okinawan styles of karate, featuring a combination of hard and soft techniques. Both principles, hard and soft, come from the famous martial arts book Bubishi (Chinese: wu bei ji), used by Okinawan masters during the 19th and 20th centuries. Go which means... more »
Kanryo Higaonna (March 10, 1853 – December 1916), also known as “Higashionna West”, was a native of Nishi-shin-machi, Naha, Okinawa. He was born in Nishimura, Naha to a merchant family, whose business was selling firewood, an expensive commodity in the Ryukyu Islands. He founded the fighting style later to be known as Gōjū ryū... more »
Kururunfa “Holding Ground” epitomizes the ideals of Go-“hard and Ju-“soft”. Stance transitions are quick and explosive while the hands techniques are employed using “muchimi” or a heavy, sticky movement. As in the other kata of Goju-Ryu, it is quite evident that grappling and close-quartered fighting is the favored fighting style. The same kanji “fa”is... more »
Morio Higaonna (born December 25, 1938) is a prominent Okinawan karate practitioner who is the founder and Chief Instructor of the International Okinawan Goju-ryu Karate-do Federation (IOGKF). He is a holder of the highest rank in Goju-ryu karate, 10th dan. Martial arts scholar Donn Draeger (1922–1982) reportedly once described him as “the most dangerous... more »
Saifa means “smash and tear” and it’s a Karate Kata. Saifa has its origins in China, and was brought to Okinawa by Higashionna. It contains quick whipping motions, hammerfists, and back fist strikes; it particularly emphasizes moving off-line from an opponent’s main force, while simultaneously closing distance and exploding through them.This is usually the... more »
Sanchin means “three battles”. This kata is a sort of moving meditation, whose purpose is to unify the mind, body and spirit. The techniques are performed very slowly so that the student masters precise movements, breathing, stance/posture, internal strength, and stability of both mind and body. In Goju Ryu Sanchin is the foundation for... more »
Sanchin literally means “three battles” or “three conflicts”. It is the principal kata in certain Okinawan karate styles, such as Goju Ryu and Uechi Ryu, and it is likely one of the oldest kata. Certain legends attribute the creation of Sanchin to Bodhidharma in the early sixth century. Sanchin kata seeks to develop three... more »
Sanseru (36 hands) is unique as Miyagi Sensei studied this Kata under a direct student of RuRuKo during his studies in Fuzhou, China beginning in 1916. Sanseru, from its numerical designation, would seem to have its roots in Buddhism. This is not to infer that there is a religious connection or implication with this... more »
Seiyunchin (control/suppress and pull) is a Goju Ryu Kata (form). The name Seiyunchin implies the use of techniques to off balance, throw and grapple. It is this understanding that imparts the original intentions of the Kata of Naha-te before the sport alignment of modern Karate. Seiyunchin contains close-quartered striking, sweeps, take-downs and throws. Though... more »
The reference to “18” in naming this Kata has a couple of interpretations. Like Sanseru kata, there is suggested a connection to Buddhist philosophy. Another insinuates “18 guards for the King”. The most apparent and most meaningful in the naming of Sepai is again from the martial arts development and the use of attacking... more »
Sesan “13 hands”, Sanseru and Sepai all share the kanji “se”. This may well be a Chinese dialect of the Okinawan term “te” or “fighting hand”, referring to life-protection techniques. To better understand these Kata requires a more defined understanding of the language and culture of the people from which these Kata originated. Sesan... more »
Shisochin translates as “Four Gates” or “Four Directions of Conflict”. To leave it at that discounts a truer understanding. The third kanji is the same found in Sanchin and Seiyunchin, which translates as “battle” or “conflict”. This lends to a deeper definition of its meaning. The idea of four directions can come from the... more »
Suparinpei “108 Hands” is the most advanced Kata in Goju-Ryu. It contains the greatest number of techniques and variations. Suparinpei is deceptive in that it appears simple in execution but when combined with transitions and changing tempos, it is only surpassed by Sanchin in technical difficulty and understanding. The number “108” is suggested to... more »
Tensho “Turning Palms” is derived from the Chinese form “Rokkishu”. Unlike Sanchin, which is almost identical to its Chinese counterpart, Tensho is uniquely Okinawan. From his understanding of the Kata of Goju-Ryu and the “nature of man”, Miyagi Sensei developed Tensho to further complete his Goju-Ryu where Sanchin left off. Tensho has many of... more »