Goju-Ryu
in Okinawa
It has been commonly accepted that Okinawa-the
main island of the Ryukyu Island chain between Japan and
Taiwan-had interaction with China for centuries. Cultural
and artistic exchanges were common among both countries.
The indigenous fighting arts of this island were also heavily
influenced by the Chinese fighting arts. The first of these
Okinawa-systems was called Te, meaning hand. This system
was later renamed Toudi or Toudijutsu-China hand art. The
Japanese also called this system Kempo-fist way. Within the
traditions of Okinawa, three main schools developed before
the advent of Karate in Japan; these three schools were:
Shuri-te, Naha-te, and Tomari-te. Eventually, these systems
further evolved into what is known presently as Goju-Ryu,
and Shorin-Ryu. The people of Okinawa were known for their
tenacity, bravery, and adherence to tradition. Their martial
arts tradition exemplifies their commitment to honor.
Even though there are stylistic similarities
in the fighting arts of both India and China, there is no
substantive evidence that the Chinese fighting arts derived
from India. Daruma was intent on teaching the rigorous, monastic
lifestyle demanded of all monks. Because of the ascetic and
severe training demanded of all Shaolin monks, they were
widely regarded and respected for their skill in combat.
Goju-Ryu in Japan
In 1917, a teacher from Okinawa-Gichin
Funakoshi is credited with introducing Okinawa-martial arts
to the Japanese. He named his system, Shotokan. Although
the Japanese had practiced Sumo and Jiu-Jitsu for centuries,
Karate was in its infancy stages. I want to mention here
that term Karate was not widely used until the 1930’s, but
prior to Funakoshi’s arrival in Japan, an Okinawa-master
Chomo Hanagi had first used the term Karate in 1905. Miyagi
Sensei is credited with bringing Goju-Ryu to Japan as an
official combat art.
Goju-Ryu Karate
Goju-Ryu-hard/soft system-has its origins
in Chinese martial arts. For the purposes of our specific
lineage, the journey commences with Kanryo Higaonna. Higaonna
Sensei was born in 1853 in Okinawa. As a teenager, he traveled
to Fuzhou (Fugian), China and began his studies with Ryu
Ryu Ko-Xie Zhongxiang. Although the exact identity of his
training under Ryu Ryu Ko is speculative, it is believed
that he trained in the White Crane (Bai He) system. The White
Crane system that was practiced after the 17th century was
heavily influenced by the Monk Fist and Black Tiger systems
and was probably the foundation of Ryu Ryu Ko’s knowledge
of martial arts. As Ryu Ryu Ko’s uchi-deshi, Higaonna Sensei
received the inner teachings of the entire system, including
weapons and traditional Chinese medicine.
After years of arduous training, Higaonna
Sensei returned to Okinawa in 1881. During that time, he
developed a reputation for his training methods, swift kicking,
and gracefulness. It is not clear, however, when Higaonna
Sensei actually began teaching students. In 1905, Higaonna
Sensei began teaching the art he had learned from Ryu Ryu
Ko at the Naha Kuritsu Shogyo Koto Gakko, a public high school
in Okinawa. His attention to details, in addition to his
commitment to excellence permeated his love of teaching.
His most notable students include Chojun Miyagi---founder
of Goju-Ryu, and Kenwa Mabuni---founder of Shito-Ryu. Higaonna
Sensei continued to propagate and research Naha-te until
his death in 1915.
Chojun Miyagi Sensei, one of Higaonna
Sensei’s top disciples, was born in 1888 in Okinawa. In 1899,
he began his formal training under Ryuko Aragaki. Three years
later, in 1902, he was introduced to Higaonna Sensei for
formal instruction. Miyagi Sensei came from a wealthy family
involved in the pharmaceutical business. After three years
of formal instruction from Higaonna Sensei, he traveled to
China to pay his respects to his predecessor’s teacher, Ryu
Ryu Ko. This is one of his two trips to China for research.
The first tenure lasted approximately two months, the latter
was more fruitful. In 1921, Miyagi Sensei performed the Naha-te
style for crown prince Hirohito. Five years later, in 1926,
he along with Chomo Hanashiro (Shuri-te), Choyu Motobu (Tomari-te),
and Kenwa Mabuni founded the Okinawa Karate Kenkyu-Kai-Okinawa
Karate Research Club. Three years later, in 1929, he was supposed
to attend a martial arts symposium in Kyoto, Japan. Miyagi
Sensei could not attend the function. In his place, he sent
Master Shinsato to the function. Having no formal name for
Naha-te, Shinsato called the art Hanko-Ryu-half-hard style.
In 1933, he renamed the system to Goju-Ryu
Karate—taken from the poem titled Bubishi-“Everything in
the universe is breathing hard and soft” That same year,
Karate was formally accepted to the Dai Nippon Butokukai—All
Japan Martial Arts Association. A year later, in 1934, he
demonstrated Goju-Ryu in Hawaii. Two years later, Miyagi
Sensei, along with Okinawa-masters—Chomo Hanashiro, Chotoku
Kyan, Choki Motobu, Chosin Chibana, and Juhatsu Kiyoda officially
changed the name of the art from Toudijutsu to Karate-do.
In 1940, Miyagi Sensei created one of his crown jewels-Geki-Sai
Dai Ichi and Geki-Sai Dai Ni. He died in 1953.
Goju-Ryu in America
Sensei, enlisted in the United States
Navy. While stationed in Japan, Urban Sensei began his studies
of Goju-Ryu under the direction of Gogen Yamaguchi Sensei-the
cat He spent the next 7 years training under the direction
of Japan’s greatest Karate-ka Yamaguchi Sensei, Masutatsu
Oyama Sensei, and Richard Kim Sensei, respectively. After
his discharge, Urban Sensei left Japan, and in 1959 opened
his first studio in Union City, New Jersey. In 1967, he left
the Japanese and incorporated USA Goju-Ryu. He has trained
or supervised some the United States greatest Karate practitioners,
and has been instrumental in the development of a myriad
of GojuRyu organizations. Some of these organizations are
among the largest and most respected in the world. He is
singularly responsible for propagating Goju-Ryu in the United
States.
Sekai Seito Goju-Ryu Karate-Do Kyokai
Sekai Seito Goju-Ryu Karate-Do Kyokai/World
Orthodox Goju-Ryu Karate-Do Organization (WOGKO), formerly
Neko-Do Goju-Ryu, was founded in 1987 by Dr. J.M.Gallego
Kaicho. In 1969, Gallego Sensei began his martial arts studies
in Union City, New Jersey. He first studied the discipline
of Judo under Orlando Mesa Sensei. Shortly thereafter, seeking
proficiency in diverse fighting principles, he began to practice
the combat arts. This led him to martial arts legend, Yoshisada
Yonezuka in Cranford, New Jersey. He later apprenticed in
Goju-Ryu under the direction of Peter G. Urban Sensei. Since
1997, Dr. Gallego has been steadily evolving, refining, and
researching authentic Okinawan Goju-Ryu. This led him to
standardize his curriculum including kihon, kumite, and kata
to align the organization with mainstream, classical Goju-Ryu.
By 2005, the evolution was complete. Today, the WOGKO has
branches in North America, the Caribbean, Russia, India,
and Middle East respectively. The WOGKO is affiliated with
the World Traditional Karate-Do Union. Our mission is to
continue to research authentic Karate-Do, but to remain devoid
of external control. We are a large organization that will
not affiliate with the Renmei, or with the JKF. The WOGKO
is committed to learning, teaching, and technical excellence.
Kaicho continues to research technical aspects of Goju-Ryu,
self-defense, bunkai, and methodology. He has seven earned
university degrees, and three honorary doctorates.
WOGKO
The WOGKO continues to expand into other
parts of the world. Our system in not commercial; hence,
many of our affiliates cater to the impoverished and disadvantaged
segments of society. We continue to work closely with other
traditional organizations to better serve the needs of the
modern practitioner.
|
