It is Chojun Miyagi that is widely credited with the creation of Goju Ryu Karate-Do, but its origins go back much further than this, probably many centuries. However beyond the 19th Century there is no record of its history. We do know however that its origin lies in China. How it got to Okinawa was due to a single event in 1867 when a fisherman called Kanyo Higaonna was killed in a fight. His son, Kanryo, was fourteen at the time. The reasons for the fight are not known but it had a profound effect on the young Kanryo. He overcome by grief, rage and a desire for revenge. He had heard stories of the southern Chinese fighting arts and their devastating combative techniques. He decided to travel to China to learn these techniques with the intention of returning and avenging his father’s death. He set sail for Fuzhou city in the autumn of 1867 at the age of 15.

Initially Higaonna spent time familiarizing himself with his new surroundings and getting to know the local people. When he told the manager of his boarding house of his desire to learn Chinese martial arts he was told of a great martial artist in Fuzhou named Ryu Ryu Ko Roshi. To become a student of any master at that time was very difficult. However, after assessing the young Higaonna, he was accepted as a student of Ryu Ryu Ko. Higaonna would travel every day to the house of Ryu Ryu Ko where he would help his master with his work. Working with diligence and tenacity he came to be trusted by Ryu Ryu Ko. It was only then that martial arts instruction would begin.

During this period martial arts were still practiced in secret. In the beginning a student would not be taught much in depth. It was not unusual for even a serious student to be taught only one or two kata even after years of training. However every student would always be taught Sanchin kata. Martial arts masters selected their students carefully and taught them according to what they observed in the character of each. It was common for the top student to be the master's son. It is therefore exceptional that Kanryo Higaonna formed such a close relationship with Ryu Ryo Ko, who treated Kanryo like he was his own son.

Kanryo Higaonna underwent extreme hardship in this training, but the result of these could be seen in his incredible speed and power. For the first five or six years it is likely that Higaonna only learned one kata, but eventually his instruction was expanded to include the whole system: Sanchin, Saifa, Seiyunchin, Shisochin, Sanseru Sepai, Kururunfa, Sesan and Suparinpei. You will notice that there are several kata missing from this list that are part of the modern Goyu Ryu syllabus. That is because the katas Gekisai Dai Ichi, Dai Ni and Tensho were created later in the next century by Chojun Miyagi. Kanryo Higaonna spent fourteen years in China devoting himself to the study of the martial arts, before his ageing teacher told him that it was time for him to return to his homeland. He set sail for Okinawa in 1881 bringing with him the nine kata, training methods and weapon techniques he had learned from Ryu Ryu Ko Roshi.

Having returned to Okinawa Higaonna continued to practice the martial arts, but initially he taught no one. It is not known when exactly he started to teach martial arts, but he started taking students in his home. However many of his students gave up very quickly due to the severity of his instructions.

Chojun Miyagi was introduced to Kanryo Higaonna at the age of fourteen and he was accepted as a student in 1902 when Higaonna was 49 years old. Many young men were introduced to Higaonna as prospective students, but Higaonna would first spend some time observing their character. Initially they would be given chores to do such as weeding and tending the garden or cleaning the house. Many fell by the wayside at this early point. However Chojun Miyagi was a very committed student.

In the early years Higaonna taught Sanchin exactly as he had been taught by Ryu Ryu Ko Roshi. The breathing method was rapid and the hand movements were performed with nukite (spear hand) rather than with a clenched fist as is taught today. In is not certain at what point is changed to a closed fist, but this slowed down the breathing method, further enhancing physical strength and health. Miyagi practiced Sanchin repeatedly. As we have already mentioned before it was usual for a master to study a student and chose a kata for him. Miyagi was naturally gifted and his second kata was Suparinpei, which today is the highest kata in the Goju Ryu system. Higaonna taught as he had been taught, so it was not until a student had earned the trust of his teacher that he would be given the essence of the art. For Higaonna that special student was Chojun Miyagi. After the normal two hours training Miyagi would stay behind for personal tuition.

Miyagi was drafted into the army in 1910 and he did two years of national service. Naturally Miyagi developed a reputation as a highly skilled practitioner of karate, and it was decided to include karate in the general training regime of the soldiers, with Miyagi as the instructor. On completion of his military service Miyagi was asked to stay on as a professional soldier. However he wanted to return to Okinawa to continue his training with Kanryo Sensei, but also becuase he was concerned about the welfare of his teacher who was now in his sixties.

Kanryo Higaonna lived for only three more years after Moyagi's return from service. In this time Miyagi went every day to collect his teacher and take himn to his home where they would train all day. In the evening he would escort the master back home again.

Higaonna did not accept any fees for teaching, even if his students attempted to pay him. When Miyagi suggested hanging a sign outside the dojo Higaonna refused as it would be inviting anyone to come and train. He viewed the martial arts as a weapon and he did not want to hand that weapon to the wrong person. This might seem at odds with Higaonna's motivations for first travelling to China to learn the martial arts, but Ryu Ryu had taught him well, not just in the techniques of combat, but also in morals and character building. When Higaonna got the opportunity to confront his father's murderers he did not take revenge, although he could very easily have done so.

By October 1915 Higaonna's health had deteriorated rapidly and he passed away quietly in his sleep at the age of 62. Miyagi described him as "a genius of the martial arts, one who is seen only once in a 100 years". He was a stern teacher, but in everyday life he was a person of warm hearted and noble character, with a strong sense of justice. His humility and wisdom won him great respect. He had persued the martial arts in the cause of revenge, but his training changed him into a role model and educator who wanted only the best for his fellow man.