Library › 9. History › Gōjū-Ryū after Miyagi Chōjun
In 1953 Chōjun Miyagi (宮城長順) dies. Gōjū-Ryū breaks into several lineages. One of them has been led by the Yagi family for three generations: father, son, grandson – each as Sōke (宗家, head of the school).
1st Sōke: Meitoku Yagi (1912–2003)
Trained under Miyagi from 1926** at the age of 14. According to the IMGKA, he was the only student to learn every one of Miyagi’s kata.* In 1963 the Miyagi family handed him the teacher’s gi and belt and the Menkyo Kaiden – naming him the official successor. Until his death in 2003 he kept teaching, created new kata and added weapons training to the school. In detail: Meitoku Yagi – biography.
2nd Sōke: Meitatsu Yagi (b. 1944)
Meitoku’s eldest son, 10th Dan. Trained under his father from 1949, at the age of five – more than fifty years under a single teacher. Goal: to carry the Meibukan out into the world. Literally:
- USA 1964–1970, Guam 1971–1975, Saipan 1995–1997, Philippines 1997–1998.
- 1975 Renshi, 6th Dan; from 1976 director of the All Okinawa Karate-Dō Association and in charge of teaching at the Hombu Dōjō as president of the Gōjū-Ryū Meibu-Kai.
- Twenty years as director of the Okinawa Karate-Dō Gōjū-Kai, and its president for two years from 1987.
- President of the Okinawa Karate Kobudō Association; founding member of the Okinawa Traditional Karate-Dō Kobudō International Study Centre in Yomitan; author of The Importance of Spiritual Karate.
- On 24 July 2026 recognised by Okinawa Prefecture as a holder of intangible cultural heritage.
Today he advises the association, gives occasional seminars – and lives in the Hombu Dōjō in Kume, Naha.
3rd Sōke: Akihito Yagi (b. 1977)
Meitatsu’s eldest son, Hanshi, 10th Dan, 3rd Sōke since 25 July 2026. On the mat at the age of three, first under his grandfather, then under his father. President of the IMGKA and secretary general of the Okinawa Karate Kobudō Association. Travels the world for seminars, promotes Okinawa and Japan in tourism, played a leading role in the film Kuro Obi – Black Belt and wrote the children’s book Karate Man. He lives with his family on the upper floor of the Hombu Dōjō.
Akihiro Yagi
Meitatsu’s younger son, Hanshi, 9th Dan, vice president of the IMGKA. Also trained from the age of three under grandfather and father; taught for a year on Prince Edward Island (Canada); kata winner in his class at the World Traditional Karate Association Championship in Italy.
The lineage continues down to Ōkami Dō: Lineage of masters.
* Statement of the IMGKA; other Gōjū-Ryū lineages (e.g. Jundōkan, IOGKF) also claim a complete transmission.
** Start of training: 1926 (IMGKA, succession) or April 1927 (IMGKA biography).
Sources
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