The lineage is clearly traceable: Kanryo Higaonna → Chōjun Miyagi (宮城長順) → Meitoku Yagi (八木明徳) → Meitatsu Yagi (八木明達). The information on this page comes mainly from the Czech Meibukan association (meibukan.eu, „Linie mistrů Gojyu-Ryu“) and has been checked against the official website of the IMGKA (imgka.com); where the two differ, imgka.com applies.
Kanryo Higaonna (1853–1915)
Born on 10 March 1853 in Nishi Machi, Naha. At 16 he began learning Kempo (Chinese Chuan-fa) from an unknown teacher. Probably in 1877 he travelled to Fuzhou in China’s Fujian province, trained there first under Master Ryoto and later became a personal student of Master Ryu Ryuko. In 1885 he returned to Okinawa and opened his own Dōjō in Naha. His style became known as Naha-Te. He reshaped the kata Sanchin, performing it with a closed fist, and is said to have been the first to introduce group teaching. He died on 15 October 1915. His personal students included Kyoda Juhatsu, Kenwa Mabuni and Chōjun Miyagi.
He taught the kata Sanchin, Saifa, Shisochin, Sanseiryu, Sesan, Seienchin, Sepai, Kururunfa and Suparinpei.
Chōjun Miyagi (1888–1953)
Born on 28 April 1888 in Higashi Machi, Naha. In 1900, at the age of 12, he came to Ryuko Arakaki; in 1902 he became a student of Kanryo Higaonna and remained so until Higaonna’s death in 1915. That same year he travelled to Fujian to study Chuan-fa. After his return he created the basic forms Geki Sai Ichi and Geki Sai Ni and later the kata Tenshō. In 1926 he founded the Karate Research Club. In 1930 he named his style Gōjū-Ryū, and in 1933 it was registered under that name with the Dai Nippon Butoku Kai. In the Second World War he lost his son and his most senior student, withdrew to Ishikawa and resumed teaching in 1946. He died on 8 October 1953. On Okinawa, Seiko Higa, Eiichi Miyazato and his highest-ranking student (Uchi-deshi) Meitoku Yagi were regarded as his heirs; in Japan, Gogen Yamaguchi.
He taught the kata Sanchin, Saifa, Shisochin, Sanseiryu, Sesan, Seienchin, Sepai, Kururunfa, Suparinpei, Tenshō, Geki Sai Ichi and Geki Sai Ni.
Meitoku Yagi (1912–2003)
Born on 6 March 1912 in Naha. At 14 his grandfather brought him to Chōjun Miyagi, who instructed him in all forms of Gōjū-Ryū; while still at grammar school he was the only student initiated into the entire system. After Miyagi’s death in 1953, the Miyagi family decided that Meitoku Yagi should take responsibility for continuing the school, and he was allowed to train in Miyagi’s Dōjō. On the tenth anniversary of Miyagi’s death the family gave him Miyagi’s karate gi and obi. To distinguish himself from other students, he named his school “Meibukan” (“house of the pure-minded warrior”, translation by Tobias Zander; meibukan.eu translates “house of the pure warrior”). Between 1976 and 1991 he created the Meibuken kata Tenchi, Seiryu, Byakko, Shujakku and Genbu as well as Kobudō kata with Sai and Bo based on Geki Sai Ichi, Geki Sai Ni, Saifa and Shisochin. He died on 7 February 2003.
Meitatsu Yagi (b. 1944)
Born on 7 July 1944 in Naha as Meitoku Yagi’s eldest son, under whom he trained from the age of five as his only teacher. In 1997 his father awarded him the title of Hanshi and the 10th Dan. For twenty years he was director of the All Okinawa Karate-Do Gojyu-Kai. As 2nd Sōke of the Meibukan he now plays mainly an advisory role. On 25 July 2026 his eldest son Akihito Yagi, Hanshi, 10th Dan, was appointed 3rd Sōke; he is president of the International Meibukan Goju-ryu Karate-do Association (IMGKA).
Akihito Yagi (b. 1977)
Akihito Yagi was born in Naha in 1977. He is the eldest son of Meitatsu Yagi and grandson of the Meibukan founder Meitoku Yagi. He started karate at the age of three – first under his grandfather, later under his father.
On 25 July 2026 he was appointed 3rd Sōke of the Yagi family; he holds the title of Hanshi and the 10th Dan. He is president of the International Meibukan Goju-ryu Karate-do Association (IMGKA) and secretary general of the Okinawa Karate Kobudo Association. Like his father, he travels the world giving seminars in traditional Meibukan Gōjū-Ryū – including several times with the Czech ČMGKA in Sokolov. He also became known for one of the leading roles in the film “Kuro Obi – Black Belt” (2007); he is also the author of the children’s book “Karate Man”.
Since 2023, Tobias Zander, instructor at Ōkami Dō, has been a member of the Meibukan and the first official international student of Akihito Yagi Sensei. Officially he holds the 2nd Kyu and is preparing for his 1st Dan examination under Akihito Yagi Sensei.
Sources: imgka.com – Goju-Ryu after Miyagi Sensei; novinky.cz (2015, seminar in Sokolov); Living in OKINAWA: People.4 – Tee-Nchu – Akihito Yagi (year of birth); film Kuro Obi (黒帯), directed by Shunichi Nagasaki, Toei 2007 (Akihito Yagi as Giryu).
From the IMGKA to Ōkami
The lineage of Ōkami Dō runs directly through Akihito Yagi: Tobias Zander, instructor at Ōkami Dō, has been his first official international student since 2023 and trains at the Meibukan Hombu Dōjō in Naha on each of his annual trips to Okinawa.
Kanryo Higaonna → Chōjun Miyagi → Meitoku Yagi → Meitatsu Yagi → Akihito Yagi → Tobias Zander (Ōkami Dō)