History of the Meibukan

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Meibukan is a lineage within Gōjū-Ryū karate, founded by Dai Sensei Meitoku Yagi (1912–2003), a direct student of Chōjun Miyagi (宮城長順). Yagi began training under Miyagi in 1926 at the age of 14 and in 1963 was designated his successor by the Miyagi family, receiving Miyagi’s Do-Gi (uniform) and Obi; according to the IMGKA he also received the Menkyo Kaiden (免許皆伝), the certificate of complete transmission. (Note: the IMGKA biography gives April 1927 as the start of training, the IMGKA succession page 1926 at the age of 14.) The name “Meibukan” means “house of the pure-minded warrior” and was chosen when Yagi opened his own Dōjō in Naha, Okinawa, in 1952. Meibukan preserves the traditional kata of Gōjū-Ryū, including the 12 kata Miyagi taught, and adds Yagi’s innovations such as the five Meibuken kata. After Yagi’s death his son Meitatsu Yagi (八木明達) took over the leadership as 2nd Sōke.

Akihito Yagi (b. 1977), son of Meitatsu Yagi, has been the third Sōke of Meibukan Gōjū-Ryū since 25 July 2026, Hanshi 10th Dan and president of the IMGKA.

The International Meibukan Goju-ryu Karate-do Association (IMGKA) was founded to spread the style globally, with Dōjōs in Japan, the USA, Europe and elsewhere. Meibukan emphasises authenticity, discipline and the philosophical aspects of karate, including Hojo Undō (supplementary training with tools) and Kake-Te (push-hands exercises). It remains closely tied to its Okinawan roots and teaches a harmonious integration of body, mind and spirit.

The Meibukan crest

One character carries the whole school: 明 (mei). It appears in the name Meibukan, in the crest (Mon) – and in the given names of the men of the Yagi family: Meitoku, Meitatsu, Akihito. In Akihito, 明 is read aki – the same character, spoken differently. According to the IMGKA, the crest condenses five ideas into this single character.

  • Clear character. Mei means “bright, clear”. It refers to the attitude of the karateka: pure, clear-minded, with a good heart. The person first, then the technique.
  • Sun and moon – In and Yō. 明 is made up of 日 (hi, sun) and 月 (tsuki, moon). Two poles, one character – like hard and soft in the name Gōjū-Ryū. The whole school revolves around such opposites in nature.
  • A and Un – breath. A stands for exhaling, open, associated with the moon; Un for inhaling, closed, associated with the sun (“the sun closes, the moon opens”). Again a pair that complements itself (see Breathing – Ibuki and Nogare).
  • Hard and soft. The sun is broad and constant, the moon narrow and changeable. This is how the crest sees Gō (剛, hard) and Jū (柔, soft) of Gōjū-Ryū.
  • One strike – Ichigeki Hissatsu. Sun and moon read side by side: hi to tsuki – close in sound to hitotsuki, “one strike”. From this follows the demand: every technique in the Dōjō with full commitment, physically and mentally, as if it could be the last. Ichigeki hissatsu (一撃必殺) literally means “one blow, certain death”.

On the names and maxims of the school, see also Meibukan philosophy. The IMGKA shows the crest itself on its website.

Source: IMGKA: Meibukan Crest (summarised).

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