History of Karate

The origins of karatedo go back to the ancient travels of Buddhist monks throughout the Asian frontier. Unarmed and oppressed; it became necessary for them to develop a weaponless form of self-defence for their survival.

In 1477 the three kingdoms of Okinawa were unified, and the ruler King Sho Shin banned the use of weapons in all of Okinawa. Unarmed combat flourished.

Gichin Funakoshi, founder of Shotokan karate, introduced karate on the main islands of Japan. Funakoshi was a student of both Asato Anko and Itosu Anko. Prominent teachers who also influenced the spread of karate in Japan include Kenwa Mabuni, Chojun Miyagi, Choki Motobu, Kanken Toyama, and Kanbun Uechi.

By 1930 Japan was invading China; Funakoshi knew that the art of Tang/China hand would not be accepted; thus the change of the art's name to "way of the empty hand."

After the death of Master Kanryo Higashionna, Miyagi travels to Fukien Province in China as his teacher had done before him. In China he studied the Shaolin and Pa Kua forms of Chinese boxing.

From the blending of these systems, the hard linear/external form of Shaolin, the soft circular/internal form of Pa Kua, and his native Naha-Te, a new system emerged. However, it was not until 1929 that Chojun Miyagi named the system Goju-ryu, meaning hard-soft style.

After some years in China, Chojun Miyagi returned to Naha where he opened a dojo (training hall). He taught for many years. Miyagi's reputation as a karate man was enormous - even Kano Jigoro, the founder of judo, came to Okinawa to learn specific karate takedowns from him - Miyagi's greatest achievements lay in the popularisation and organisation of karate teaching methods. He introduced karate into Okinawa police work, high schools and other fields of society. He revised and further developed Kata Sanchin - the hard aspect of Goju, and created Kata Tensho - the soft aspect. These kata are considered to contain the essence of the Goju-ryu style. The highest kata, Suparimpei is said to contain the full syllabus of Goju-ryu kata. Shisochin was Miyagi's favourite kata at the end of his years. Tensho was influenced by the White Crane kata Ryokushu, which he learned from his long-time friend Gokenki. With a goal of unification of various karate styles which was in fashion at that time (see Funakoshi Gichin for his works in Japan), he also created more Shurite-like katas Gekisai Dai Ichi and Gekisai Dai Ni in 1940, taking techniques from higher forms (notably Suparimpe also upper block was uncommon for Goju-ryu at that time) and incorporating them into a shorter forms. It is said he created these kata to bridge the gap between Sanchin-kata and Saifa kata, which contains much more complex moves compared to Sanchin kata.

Chojun Miyagi was a very humble man of extremely mild temperament. He lived according to the principles of martial arts, including the principle of non-violence. Master Miyagi died in Okinawa on October 8, 1953 from a heart attack.

One of his more notable students Gogen Yamaguchi systemised the style into the system used all over the world today.

On his death bed, the old master Miyagi called for all the Senior Members and announced to them his choice of a successor. It was then that Gogen Yamaguchi became 10th Dan and the Grand Master of Goju Karate - the Kaicho!

Yamaguchi travelled to Hawaii on the invitation of Instructor Masaichi Oshiro. (Hanshi Tino Ceberano's Instructor.) It was here at the Hawaiian Goju Karate School back in 1966 that Hanshi Tino first met and studied under Grand Master Yamaguchi.

After receiving his 3rd Dan by the Grand Master, Tino Ceberano left his native Hawaii to start life in Australia with the purpose of establishing the style of Goju Karate. The School of Goju Karate is probably the most widely practiced of the styles in Australia.

In May 1989 Hanshi Ceberano formed the International Goju Karate School maintaining the ideals of the truly traditional Style of Goju Karate.

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