Miyagi Chōjun
宮城長順
Born
1888-04-25, Naha
Died 1953-10-08, Okinawa Prefecture
Also known as
Chojun Miyagi · Choujun Miyagi · みやぎ ちょうじゅん
Description
Okinawan martial artist (1888-1953), founder of the Gōjū-ryū school of karate by blending the Naha-te of his teacher Higaonna Kanryō with Chinese martial arts studied in Fuzhou; the first karate style officially recognized by the Dai Nippon Butokukai.
Teachers (2)
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Arakaki Seishōsports_martial_artsNaha-te ConfirmedConfirmedEN Wikipedia and the IOGKF biography state Chojun Miyagi began studying Okinawan martial arts under Ryuko Aragaki (Arakaki Seishō) at age 11; two other sources give age 12The evidence establishes the claim: it is sufficient and consistent, and any conflicting evidence is resolved.(1899)
fact_checkassessed by FSMverified
4 sources expand_moreFrederico MuñozResearcher, Martialisfact_checkEN Wikipedia and the IOGKF biography state Chojun Miyagi began studying Okinawan martial arts under Ryuko Aragaki (Arakaki Seishō) at age 11; two other sources give age 12 -
Higaonna Kanryōsports_martial_artsNaha-te ConfirmedConfirmedFour sources state Miyagi was introduced to Higaonna Kanryō by Aragaki at age 14 (1902) and trained under him until Higaonna's death; they differ on the end (1915 or 1916)The evidence establishes the claim: it is sufficient and consistent, and any conflicting evidence is resolved.(1902–1915)
fact_checkassessed by FSMverified
4 sources expand_moreFrederico MuñozResearcher, Martialisfact_checkFour sources state Miyagi was introduced to Higaonna Kanryō by Aragaki at age 14 (1902) and trained under him until Higaonna's death; they differ on the end (1915 or 1916)
Lineage
- Naha-te Higaonna KanryōArakaki Seishō · 2 generations
Member of (1)
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corporate_fareKarate Kenkyukai ProbableProbableSingle source.The evidence favours the claim and nothing credible contradicts it, but it falls short of establishing it.
fact_checkassessed by FSMverified
1 source expand_moreFrederico MuñozResearcher, Martialisfact_checkSingle source.“This group included Gichin Funakoshi, Chojo Oshiro, Chomo Hanashiro, Chotoku Kyan, Chojun Miyagi, Kenwa Mabuni, Go Ken Ki [Wu Xiangui] (Chinese Master of White Crane Boxing), Kentsu Yabu, Chuhatso [Juhatsu] Kyoda, and Moden Yabiku.”
Students (7)
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Yamaguchi Gōgensports_martial_artsGoju-ryu PossiblebalancePossible – conflicting evidence recordedHis own account. Miyagi's 1936 list of his students omits him, and Okinawan Goju teachers dispute the relationship.Some evidence points to the claim, but it is thin, indirect, or in unresolved conflict with other evidence.
fact_checkassessed by FSMverified
2 sources expand_moreFrederico MuñozResearcher, Martialisfact_checkHis own account. Miyagi's 1936 list of his students omits him, and Okinawan Goju teachers dispute the relationship.visibilityFirst-hand alt_routeIndirect“Yamaguchi tells us that he was named as the successor to Miyagi, the founder of Goju Ryu. Yamaguchi asserts that Miyagi told him, “Yamaguchi, you are well qualified to become the successor of Goju School Karate.… I have nothing more to teach you.”
blockdisputes search_offNegative“Finally, in 1936, Miyagi listed all of his students in both Okinawa and Japan, and Yamaguchi’s name is conspicuously missing from that list.”
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Shimabuku Tatsuosports_martial_artsGoju-ryu ConfirmedConfirmedWikipedia and the Advincula biography agree on the relationship. The period follows the biography (around 1936, for three years; approximate), against Wikipedia's late 1946 or early 1947.The evidence establishes the claim: it is sufficient and consistent, and any conflicting evidence is resolved.(1936–1939)
fact_checkassessed by FSMverified
2 sources expand_moreFrederico MuñozResearcher, Martialisfact_checkWikipedia and the Advincula biography agree on the relationship. The period follows the biography (around 1936, for three years; approximate), against Wikipedia's late 1946 or early 1947. -
Miyazato Eikōsports_martial_artsGoju-ryu ProbableProbableSingle source.The evidence favours the claim and nothing credible contradicts it, but it falls short of establishing it.
fact_checkassessed by FSMverified
1 source expand_moreFrederico MuñozResearcher, Martialisfact_checkSingle source.“Eiko Miyazato, who studied under both Juhatsu Kyoda and Chojun Miyagi, tells us that “there were a number of differences between [Kyoda’s] teaching and Chojun Miyagi’s. I remember in particular that the [Seisan] kata I learned from the two sensei were different.””
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Miyazato Eiichisports_martial_artsGoju-ryu ConfirmedConfirmedEN Wikipedia states Miyazato began training under Miyagi around age 13 (or 15 per some sources) and trained with him continuously until Miyagi's death in 1953; the Kent Moyer interview states he began training with Miyagi in 1935 at age 13The evidence establishes the claim: it is sufficient and consistent, and any conflicting evidence is resolved.(1935–1953)
fact_checkassessed by FSMverified
3 sources expand_moreFrederico MuñozResearcher, Martialisfact_checkEN Wikipedia states Miyazato began training under Miyagi around age 13 (or 15 per some sources) and trained with him continuously until Miyagi's death in 1953; the Kent Moyer interview states he began training with Miyagi in 1935 at age 13“Some sources indicate that Miyazato began training under Miyagi at the age of 13, while others state that Miyazato first trained under his own father and only began training under Miyagi at the age of 15 [...] Except for an interrupted period due to World War II, Miyazato learned from Miyagi continuously until the death of the latter in 1953.”
“His father introduced him to Chojun Miyagi, who had been a neighbour of the family for many years [...] Miyazato's elder brother, Eiko, was a longtime student of Miyagi at his Garden Dojo [...] Following Miyagi's death, several of his senior students establish their own Goju-Ryu schools. At the age of 32 Miyazato took over the running of the Garden Dojo. This was at the request of Miyagi's family and his fellow students.”
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Kishaba Chōgisports_martial_artsGoju-ryu ProbableProbableHaff interview with Toshihiro Oshiro (himself Kishaba's bo student) states his bo teacher was a direct student of Chojun Miyagi, the founder of Goju-Ryu; a single secondary interview, hence probableThe evidence favours the claim and nothing credible contradicts it, but it falls short of establishing it.
fact_checkassessed by FSMverified
1 source expand_moreFrederico MuñozResearcher, Martialisfact_checkHaff interview with Toshihiro Oshiro (himself Kishaba's bo student) states his bo teacher was a direct student of Chojun Miyagi, the founder of Goju-Ryu; a single secondary interview, hence probable -
Higa Sekōsports_martial_artsGoju-ryu ConfirmedConfirmedEN Wikipedia states Higa continued his studies with Miyagi Chōjun for 38 years until Miyagi's death in 1953; corroborated by the Shuriway biography (trained with Miyagi after Higaonna's death), the Okinawa Karate Navi and ODKS tourism pages (also studied with Miyagi)The evidence establishes the claim: it is sufficient and consistent, and any conflicting evidence is resolved.(1916–1953)
fact_checkassessed by FSMverified
4 sources expand_moreFrederico MuñozResearcher, Martialisfact_checkEN Wikipedia states Higa continued his studies with Miyagi Chōjun for 38 years until Miyagi's death in 1953; corroborated by the Shuriway biography (trained with Miyagi after Higaonna's death), the Okinawa Karate Navi and ODKS tourism pages (also studied with Miyagi) -
Chinen Masamisports_martial_artsGoju-ryu PossiblePossibleSingle hedged mention in the Haff interview with Toshihiro Oshiro ("studied Shuri style karate, I believe, and also some under Sensei Miyagi") - a step below a generic mention and retractableSome evidence points to the claim, but it is thin, indirect, or in unresolved conflict with other evidence.
fact_checkassessed by FSMverified
1 source expand_moreFrederico MuñozResearcher, Martialisfact_checkSingle hedged mention in the Haff interview with Toshihiro Oshiro ("studied Shuri style karate, I believe, and also some under Sensei Miyagi") - a step below a generic mention and retractable
Honours (1)
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receipt_longKyoshi (教士) in karate-jutsu, Dai Nippon Butoku Kai Kyoshi ProbableProbableThe Japanese Wikipedia article dates the award to the Butoku Kai's Butokusai of 5 May 1937 and names Konishi Yasuhiro as the co-recipient. A second passage notes Miyagi was made kyoshi directly, where new registrants normally started at renshi.The evidence favours the claim and nothing credible contradicts it, but it falls short of establishing it.Title (1937-05-05 (昭和12年5月5日))granted by Greater Japan Martial Virtue Society
fact_checkassessed by FSMverified
2 sources expand_moreFrederico MuñozResearcher, Martialisfact_checkThe Japanese Wikipedia article dates the award to the Butoku Kai's Butokusai of 5 May 1937 and names Konishi Yasuhiro as the co-recipient. A second passage notes Miyagi was made kyoshi directly, where new registrants normally started at renshi.
Sources
Identifiers
https://martial.is/entity/01KZBRSRZ7DF87MMQPTAD4542E
Cite and reuse
CC BY-SA 4.0expand_more
Plain text
Muñoz, Frederico (YEAR_PLACEHOLDER). Miyagi Chōjun. In Martialis: Martial Arts
Lineage Database. https://martial.is/entity/01KZBRSRZ7DF87MMQPTAD4542E - CC
BY-SA 4.0. Accessed ACCESSED_DATE_PLACEHOLDER.
BibTeX
@incollection{martialis_01KZBRSRZ7DF87MMQPTAD4542E, author = {Muñoz, Frederico},
title = {Miyagi Chōjun}, booktitle = {Martialis: Martial Arts Lineage Database},
year = {YEAR_PLACEHOLDER}, url =
{https://martial.is/entity/01KZBRSRZ7DF87MMQPTAD4542E}, urldate =
{ACCESSED_DATE_PLACEHOLDER}, note = {CC BY-SA 4.0} }
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