Library › 9. History › History of Gōjū-Ryū

Gōjū-Ryū, one of the four main styles of Okinawan karate, was founded in the 1930s by Chōjun Miyagi (1888–1953). The name “Gōjū” means “hard-soft” and derives from a line in the Bubishi, an old martial arts text: “Hard and soft, inhaling and exhaling.” Miyagi first learned Naha-te from Kanryo Higaonna, a master who integrated Chinese influences from Fuzhou. In 1915 Miyagi travelled to China to deepen his techniques and developed kata such as Tenshō (soft movements), which together with the traditional Sanchin (hard breathing) embody Go (hard) and Ju (soft). After Higaonna’s death in 1915, Miyagi founded his own school in Naha. In 1930 Miyagi named his style Gōjū-Ryū; in 1933 Gōjū-Ryū was admitted to the Dai Nippon Butoku Kai as part of the Japanese martial arts. After Miyagi’s death the style split into several lineages, including those of his students such as Eiichi Miyazato (Jundokan) and Seiko Higa. Gōjū-Ryū emphasises circular movements, close-range fighting and breathing techniques for inner strength. It has spread worldwide through organisations such as the IOGKF and cultivates a balance of power and flexibility.

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