A Glimpse Of Okinawan Meibukan Goju-Ryu Karate-Do

For those of you not that familiar with this style of Okinawan karate introduced in 1890 by Kanryo Higaonna, let’s have a look at it:

Meibukan = pure martial association

Goju-Ryu = hard and soft style

Karate-Do = Way of the empty hand

Their guiding principle is to seek the way of virtue which is respect, loyalty, cooperation, discipline and hard work.

I don’t know where you live, but we could use a lot more of that around here. But before I digress any further….

Okinawa is widely recognized at the birthplace of karate. One of the original styles is Goju-Ryu which has generated a number of different branches.

The original style was first called Naha-Te and emphasized correct breathing, along with body strengthening and conditioning.

Goju-Ryu offers circular and linear techniques through hard striking and kicking as well as softer open hand techniques for blocking and controlling the opponent. Locks, throws, grappling and takedown techniques complete their arsenal of a very effective fighting style that is complemented by weapons.

Further, Goju-Ryu tends to emphasize meeting opponents with the opposite of what they are utilizing.

For better understanding, striking the head (a hard part of the body) with the open hand (a soft part of the body) or striking the groin (soft) with a groin kick (hard).

According to reports, GojuRyu karate was the style of karate that Ralph Macchio practiced under his teacher, Mr. Miyagi, in the movie, The Karate Kid.

Some of you might know that I started TheMartialArtsReporter.com in 09/2009.

What’s kinda funny is that in May 2005, I spent several days attending a business seminar (that had nothing to do with martial arts!) in a laid-back Boston suburb called Wakefield/Watertown.

And I had no idea then what I know now:

The most senior instructor of Meibukan Goju-Ryu Karate-Do actually teaches there!

9th Dan Anthony Mirakian, who was born in 1933 in Havana, Cuba, was the first Westerner ever to be accepted as a student under Grandmaster Meitoku Yagi in the 50s while stationed in Okinawa with the United States Air Force.

In November 1959, Mirakian returned and introduced Meibukan Goju-Ryu to the United States.

In 1961, he was granted official permission by Meitoku Yagi to open his own dojo, the first foreign dojo in the history of the Meibukan and one of the first foreign (founded outside Japan) dojos in the history of Okinawa Goju-ryu where he continues to teach today.

And here is a a clip showing Mr. Mirakian’s instructor, Grandmaster Yagi, performing a kata at the age of 80. Enjoy!

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Wednesday, June 9th, 2010 Anthony Mirakian, Grandmaster Meitoku Yagi, Grandmaster Yagi, karate, kata, martial art, Martial Arts Philosophy, Meibukan Goju-Ryu, Okinawa

8 Comments to A Glimpse Of Okinawan Meibukan Goju-Ryu Karate-Do

Matt Klein
June 10, 2010

Enjoyed this video. Can see a lot of parallels between Goju-Ryu and American Kenpo. They both have elements of the hard and soft. If I can move like this man at 80, I will be ecstatic!

Tiger
June 13, 2010

Thanks, Matt.
Yeah, there do seem to be similarities between the styles.
My hunch is that you’re already laying the foundation to move like this great master when you’re 80.
Thanks again, Matt.

Martial Arts News 6.13.10 « Striking Thoughts
June 13, 2010

[...] gives us a peek at Okinawan Meibukan Goju-Ryu Karate-Do. 9th Dan Anthony Mirakian, who was born in 1933 in Havana, Cuba, was the first Westerner ever to [...]

Introduction to Okinawa | world travel tours
June 19, 2010

[...] A Glimpse Of Okinawan Meibukan Goju-Ryu Karate-Do … [...]

marcelo monte navarroza
July 14, 2010

PUKKO – Philippine Union of Karate and Kobudo Organizations, W.U.K.F. Philippine Member has International Goju Ryu Meibukan Karate Association (IGMKA)-Philippine Branch as one of the Founding Member-association.

The IGMKA is under the tutelage of the Meibukan’s Founder’s SON, Hanshi 10th Dan Meitatsu YAGI who used to visit the Philippines periodically conducting updating seminars of the Meibukan KATAs…

We can be found at http://wukf2008philippines.multiply.com

Nice seeing this website.. Very accurately informative….

YOurs in Budo:

Marcelo MOnte Navarroza
President, PUKKO
Official Representative to Philippines
WUKF – World Union of Karatedo Federations http://www.wukf-karate.org
World Okinawan Shorin Ryu Karate-do KYUDOKAN Renmei

Tiger
July 16, 2010

Thank you very much for writing in.
I am glad you enjoy the site and the article about this Goju Ryu Meibukan.
Hope you come back soon again.

marcelo monte navarroza
May 13, 2011

Hello fellas, I’m back…
PUKKO which is under my tutelage, and as earlier mentioned in my first post, has Meibukan Goju Ryu (Philippine Branch) as one of the co-founders, along with my own Association (WASHIMEKA.

Our Style (Ryu) is Okinawan Shorin Ryu under the KYUDOKAN school of the equally great founder O’sensei Yochoku HIGA, contemporary of the Meibukan Founder O’sensei Meitoku YAGI.

Official record/historical background denotes that KYUDOKAN Founder O’sensei Yochoku first studied and trained the Naha-te (Goju ryu) system before he shifted to Shorin Ryu (under the stewardship of the great O’Sensei Choshin CHIBANA of the “Kobayashi” Ryu.

O’Sensei HIGA made a deep study/analysis of the technical contents of both systems Gojuryu and Shorinryu that eventually produced the blend of “Shorin Ryu KYUDOKAN: system, combining or fusing into the Shorin Ryu system important technical principles of Goju Ryu.

If Okinawa Karate practitioners will carefully analyze, the KYUDOKAN system is different now in its technical contents and principles from the rest of the traditional Shorin Ryu systems (Linear) but without losing the spirit of the original.

In Shorin Ryu KYUDOKAN Karate, the basic hand blocking techniques are circular in movements (employing “soft” movements) and in the completion of the technique (Focus), the “hardness” is employed. Thus, Kyudokan Shorinryu employs the “hard-soft”, “slow-fast” dynamics (“ying and yang” principle) in the execution of techniques and the employment of the “hip rotation” (to generate power)is equally emphasized.

This explains why the Shorinryu “Kyudokan” and the Gojuryu “Meibukan” in our Union are the “BEST OF FRIENDS”. We share the same technical principles of “hard-soft”..

We can also be found @ http://kyudokanphilippines.multiply.com

Regards….