(22.4.1888 – 8.10.1953)
Born into a rich royal family in NAHA which owned 2 ships and traded with China.
In 1899 at the age of 11, he started his training under the guidance of RUYKO (SEISHO) ARAGAKIHO.
In 1902 he was introduced to KANRYO HIGASHIONNI by Aragaki, who began to train him. At this time, KYODA JUHATSU also started his training. Even though the training was strict and harsh, he managed to master it and was his student until his death in 1916.
In 1912 he befriended 2 Chinese tradesmen with tea, who taught him WHITE CRANE BOXING until 1920 (WU XIAN HUI = GO GENKI), also called TIGER BOXING (TANG DAJI – TO DAIKI)
In 1916 after the death of KANRYA HIGASHIONNA he went to China together with GO GEKI and EISHO KAKAMOTO to pay respect to the places he was getting trained at with RYU RYU KO. After 2 months he came back. During this stay, they also visited the southern Shaolin Monastery in FUKIEN. He began studying ROKKISHU kata, from which he later created TENSHO.
1921 in Tokyo he demonstrated karate to a royal prince HOROHITO.
1926 he founded OKINAWA KARATE RESEARCH CLUB where other masters taught their students.
1927 JIGORO KANO visited this club, the creator of Judo and CH. Hanashiro showed TODE with other aspects of fighting.
On the break of the 20-ties and 30-ties of the last century, he left South China to Fuzou with his favorite student Jinano Shizato. He learned kata Sanzeru 2 there.
1930 He came back from the coronation of HIROTO together with his student JINAN SHIZATO. He got questions about the name of the style. CHOJUN MIYAGI, inspired by BUBISHI, named his style GOJU – soft, tough. This style was later In 1933 officially registered under this name in Japanese BUTOTUKAI (Japanese association of martial arts).
1934 he spent 10 months in Hawaii.
In 1936 he visited Shanghai with GO GEKI and EISHO KAKAMOTO where he met MIAJ XING, a great master of CHUAN FA( Chinese box).
25.10.1936 a union of masters of karate changed the name TODE to KARATE – DO
Before World War II. he finished 2 student kata GEKISAI DAI 1, GEKISAI DAI 2.
He was very kind, humble and donated his property to the development of karate.
During war he lost 2 daughters, a son and his favorite student Jinan Shinzata.
KEMPO HAKKU
It was his favorite poem of which essence originated from ancient Chinese texts Bubishi. Third row was an inspiration for the name Goju ryu.
“JINSHIN WA TENCHI NI ONAJI” – Mind is connected with the skies and earth.
“KETSUMYAKU WA NICHIGETSU NI NITARI“ – The circulatory rhythm of the body (the rhythm of the circulation of energy in the body) is similar to the cycle of alternation of the sun and the moon.
“HO WA GOJYU WO DONTO SU” – The law/rule respects the strong and the weak.
“MI WA TOKI NI SHITAGAI HEN NI ÓZU” – The activity of the body must be in accordance with time and change.
“TE WA KÚ NI AJ SUNAWACHI HAIRU” – The hands attack (come) on the occasion of the decisive moment (in the moment of truth).
“SHINTAI WA HAKARITE RIHO SU” – foot must step in, enter, divide and meet.
“ME WA SHIKÓ WO MIRU WO ÝOSU” – Eyes should look into 4 directions.
“MIMI WA YOKU HAPPO WO KIKU” – Ears should listen in 8 directions.