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Okinawa Goju Ryu was created by Master Miyagi Chojun Sensei , who studied Nafadi with Kanryo Higashionna Sensei . Higashionna Sensei studied Whooping White Crane & Tiger style Kung Fu while in Fuchuo , Fukien Province China , then he returned to Okinawa . At that time in Okinawa , the Martial arts were divided up by the area in which they were practiced . So the Kenpo that Higashionna Sensei had learned in China from Ryuruko ,became known as Naha Te ( or Nafadi in Okinawan ) . Miyagi Sensei was once invited to put on a demonstration in mainland Japan , and was unable to attend , so he sent his senior student , Jinan Shinazato as his represenative . While at the demo , a Kobudo instructor had asked Shinazato San , what the name of the style was that he had practiced , somewhat flustered at the time , he replied Hanko Ryu , meaning half hard style . When Shinazato returned to Okinawa , he told Miyagi Sensei what had happened , and later named the style Goju Ryu ( Hard Soft style ) , because he thought it would be more appropriate . In addition to the Naha Te Kata that he had learned from Higashionna , Miyagi Sensei created the Gekisai Kata's for the purpose of teaching school aged kids , and also created the Kata Tensho , which is the epitomy of Goju Ryu . He also changed the Kata Sanchin from an open handed Kata to being close handed , because he felt it was too dangerous . Miyagi Sensei had picked Shinazato Sensei as his successor , however he had died in the war , leaving the system without a leader with the passing of Miyagi Sensei in 1953 . His system was carried on by the work of his senior students - Seiko Higa , Meitoku Yagi , & Eiichi Miyazato Sensei's , and several of their senior students as well .
My Favorite Web Sites
Okinawa Goju-Ryu website
Okinawa Goju-Ryu Yahoo Group
Florida Okinawa Goju-Ryu Karate Kobudo Kenkyukai
Email me here
CNY Karate & The Okinawa Goju Ryu Seibukai
Okinawa Goju Ryu Goyu-Kan
The National Karate Kobudo Federation
The Shobukan
Roy Hobbs - Dentokan
