Higaonna Kanryō

東恩納寛量
Japan Ryukyu Kingdom
Born 1853-03-10, Naha
Died 1915-10, Naha
star43.8 · Notable

Also known as

Higaonna Kanryou · Higaonna Kanryo · Higashionna Kanryō · Higashionna West · ひがおんな かんりょう

Description

Ryukyuan martial artist (1853-1915), founder of the fighting style known at the time as Naha-te; studied Fujian White Crane kung fu under Ryū Ryū Ko in Fuzhou and taught Chōjun Miyagi, founder of Goju-ryu.

Teachers (2)

  • Arakaki Seishō
    sports_martial_artsNaha-te Confirmed
    Confirmed
    EN Wikipedia explicitly states Higaonna began studying boxing from Aragaki (Arakaki) Tsuji Pechin Seisho in 1867; the JA Wikipedia and the Cabinet Office biography state he studied tōde under Arakaki Seisho from about age 17 (or 20), i.e. around 1870-1873, for about three years
    The evidence establishes the claim: it is sufficient and consistent, and any conflicting evidence is resolved.
    (1867)
    fact_checkassessed by FSMverified
    Frederico Muñoz
    Researcher, Martialis
    3 sources expand_more
    fact_check
    EN Wikipedia explicitly states Higaonna began studying boxing from Aragaki (Arakaki) Tsuji Pechin Seisho in 1867; the JA Wikipedia and the Cabinet Office biography state he studied tōde under Arakaki Seisho from about age 17 (or 20), i.e. around 1870-1873, for about three years
    “In 1867, Higaonna began to study Boxing from Aragaki Tsuji Pechin Seisho who was a fluent Chinese speaker and interpreter for the Ryūkyūan court.”
    — Higaonna Kanryō - Wikipedia (EN). Wikipedia (English)link history info
    “一説では1873年（明治6年）、20歳（17歳とも）の頃、那覇手の新垣世璋（1840年 - 1920年）に唐手を師事したとされる。[...]東恩納は新垣のもとで3年間ほど那覇手を師事した。”
    — 東恩納寛量 - Wikipedia (JA). Wikipedia (Japanese) link history info
    “東恩納は17歳頃に（20歳とも）、那覇手の大家新垣世璋（あらかき せいしょう）に唐手を師事したとされています。[...]東恩納は新垣のもとで3年間ほど那覇手を師事し”
    — 東恩納寛量 - 沖縄空手 偉人伝 (内閣府)link history info
  • Ryū Ryū Ko
    (1870–1881)
    fact_checkassessed by FSMverified
    Frederico Muñoz
    Researcher, Martialis
    5 sources expand_more
    fact_check
    Five sources document Higaonna's study under Ryu Ryu Ko (Lulukou) in Fuzhou; the period differs across sources (EN wiki 1867-1881, Selah 1869-1881, CAO 1874-1877)
    “He had been teaching martial arts at his home to a very small group of students, which included Higaonna Kanryō, who stayed with Ryū Ryū Ko from 1867 to 1881.”
    — Ryū Ryū Ko - Wikipedia (EN). Wikipedia (English) link history info
    “Kanryo then trained under a man referred to as Ryū Ryū Ko, but his name was never recorded as Kanryo Higaonna was illiterate.”
    — Higaonna Kanryō - Wikipedia (EN). Wikipedia (English)link history info
    “やがて中国武術の大家ルールーコウ（トゥルーコウとも）に師事することになった[...]しかし、あるとき起こった大洪水のおり、東恩納は命がけで師匠の家族を救ったことでルールーコウの信頼を得、師から本格的な武術教授を受けることになったといわれる。”
    — 東恩納寛量 - Wikipedia (JA). Wikipedia (Japanese) link history info
    “福州に到着した東恩納は、当地の武術家ルールーコウ（謝崇祥など諸説あり）に弟子入りしました”
    — 東恩納寛量 - 沖縄空手 偉人伝 (内閣府)link history info
    “Everything started with Higaonna Kanryo Sensei (1853-1915), who went to the Chinese Province of Fujian at the age of 15 to avenge his father's enemies and to study under the Chinese Martial Arts Master Lulukou.”
    — Mardon, Daniel; Takahashi, Yuko. (2024). Exploring the Spirit of the Ryukyu: Higaonna Morio Sensei. Hiden (BAB Japan)linkhistory info

Students (5)

  • Miyagi Chōjun
    sports_martial_artsNaha-te Confirmed
    Confirmed
    Four 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
    Frederico Muñoz
    Researcher, Martialis
    4 sources expand_more
    fact_check
    Four 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)
    “At age 14, Miyagi was introduced to Kanryo Higashionna (Higaonna Kanryō) by Aragaki [...] Miyagi trained under Higaonna for 15 years until Higaonna's death in 1916.”
    — Chōjun Miyagi - Wikipedia (EN). Wikipedia (English) link history info
    “When he was fourteen his teacher introduced him to Higaonna Kanryo Sensei. Chojun Sensei trained with Kanryo Sensei from 1902 until October 1916, when Kanryo Sensei passed away.”
    — Gillan, Mike. Sensei Miyagi, Chojun - IOGKF Internationallink history info
    “In 1902, at the age of 14, Chōjun Miyagi Sensei commenced training with Kanryo Higaonna Sensei [...] At the age of 20 Chōjun Miyagi became Higaonna's top student [...] For the next 3 years Kanryo Higaonna taught him privately until Higaonna died in 1915.”
    — Chōjun Miyagi - Kaizen Gojukan (IKGA)link history info
    “After three years, he was introduced to Higashionna in 1902.”
    — The Creation of Goju-Ryu Karate: History Series 2-3 link history info
  • Kyoda Jūhatsu
    sports_martial_artsNaha-te Confirmed
    Confirmed
    Independent sources state it.
    The evidence establishes the claim: it is sufficient and consistent, and any conflicting evidence is resolved.
    (1901)
    fact_checkassessed by FSMverified
    Frederico Muñoz
    Researcher, Martialis
    2 sources expand_more
    fact_check
    Independent sources state it.
    “He may have had several teachers prior to becoming a devoted student of Kanryo Higaonna in 1901.”
    — Cramer, Mark I.. (2018). The History of Karate and the Masters Who Made It: Development, Lineages, and Philosophies of Traditional Okinawan and Japanese Karate-doinfo
    “His students included Kyoda Juhatsu (1887–1968), founder of the To On Ryu”
    — Green, Thomas A.; Svinth, Joseph R.. (2010). Martial Arts of the World: An Encyclopedia of History and Innovation info
  • Kenwa Mabuni
    sports_martial_artsNaha-te Confirmed
    Confirmed
    Independent sources state it.
    The evidence establishes the claim: it is sufficient and consistent, and any conflicting evidence is resolved.
    fact_checkassessed by FSMverified
    Frederico Muñoz
    Researcher, Martialis
    2 sources expand_more
    fact_check
    Independent sources state it.
    “Kenwa Mabuni was a student of both Higaonna and Yasutsune Itosu. Mabuni founded the style of Shito Ryu that preserved the teachings of both Higaonna and Itosu”
    — Cramer, Mark I.. (2018). The History of Karate and the Masters Who Made It: Development, Lineages, and Philosophies of Traditional Okinawan and Japanese Karate-doinfo
    “His students included Kyoda Juhatsu (1887–1968), founder of the To On Ryu; Miyagi Chojun (1888–1953), founder of the Goju Ryu; and Mabuni Kenwa (1889–1952), who combined the Naha di of Higashionna with the Shuri di of Itosu Anko to create the Shito Ryu.”
    — Green, Thomas A.; Svinth, Joseph R.. (2010). Martial Arts of the World: An Encyclopedia of History and Innovation info
  • Higa Sekō
    sports_martial_artsNaha-te Confirmed
    Confirmed
    EN Wikipedia states Higa began studying under Higaonna Kanryō at age 13 (1911) until Higaonna's death; corroborated by the Shuriway biography (age 13) and the Okinawa Karate Navi monument page (from 1911)
    The evidence establishes the claim: it is sufficient and consistent, and any conflicting evidence is resolved.
    (1911–1915)
    fact_checkassessed by FSMverified
    Frederico Muñoz
    Researcher, Martialis
    3 sources expand_more
    fact_check
    EN Wikipedia states Higa began studying under Higaonna Kanryō at age 13 (1911) until Higaonna's death; corroborated by the Shuriway biography (age 13) and the Okinawa Karate Navi monument page (from 1911)
    “At age 13, Higa began to study under Higaonna Kanryō until Higaonna's death 4 years later.”
    — Sekō Higa - Wikipedia (EN). Wikipedia (English) link history info
    “Seiko Higa was born in Naha, Okinawa on November 8th 1898, and began his training with Kanryo Higaonna at the age of 13. After Sensei Higaonna's death in 1915, he trained with Chojun Miyagi.”
    — Master Seiko Higa - Goju-Ryu (Shuriway). International Shuriway Karate & Kobudo Societylinkinfo
    “Master Higa Seko was born in 1898 and studied under Higaonnna from 1911.”
    — Praising Monument of Masters Higa Seko & Higa Seikichi - Okinawa Karate Navilink history info
  • Gusukuma Shinpan
    sports_martial_artsNaha-te Probable
    Probable
    EN Wikipedia states Gusukuma began training with Kanryo Higaonna in 1908, along with Kenwa Mabuni
    The evidence favours the claim and nothing credible contradicts it, but it falls short of establishing it.
    (1908)
    fact_checkassessed by FSMverified
    Frederico Muñoz
    Researcher, Martialis
    1 source expand_more
    fact_check
    EN Wikipedia states Gusukuma began training with Kanryo Higaonna in 1908, along with Kenwa Mabuni
    “in 1908 he began training with Kanryo Higaonna, along with Kenwa Mabuni.”
    — Shinpan Gusukuma - Wikipedia (EN). Wikipedia (English)link history info

Sources

Higaonna Kanryō - Wikipedia (EN). Wikipedia (English)link history info
東恩納寛量 - Wikipedia (JA). Wikipedia (Japanese)link history info
東恩納寛量 - 沖縄空手 偉人伝 (内閣府)link history info
Gillan, Mike. Sensei Higaonna, Kanryo - IOGKF International link history info
Mardon, Daniel; Takahashi, Yuko. (2024). Exploring the Spirit of the Ryukyu: Higaonna Morio Sensei. Hiden (BAB Japan)link history info

Identifiers

https://martial.is/entity/01KZBS9WCMQ58J7VRHTDQJN9HE
Wikidata

Cite and reuse

CC BY-SA 4.0expand_more
Plain text
Muñoz, Frederico (YEAR_PLACEHOLDER). Higaonna Kanryō. In Martialis: Martial Arts Lineage Database. https://martial.is/entity/01KZBS9WCMQ58J7VRHTDQJN9HE - CC BY-SA 4.0. Accessed ACCESSED_DATE_PLACEHOLDER.
BibTeX
@incollection{martialis_01KZBS9WCMQ58J7VRHTDQJN9HE, author = {Muñoz, Frederico}, title = {Higaonna Kanryō}, booktitle = {Martialis: Martial Arts Lineage Database}, year = {YEAR_PLACEHOLDER}, url = {https://martial.is/entity/01KZBS9WCMQ58J7VRHTDQJN9HE}, urldate = {ACCESSED_DATE_PLACEHOLDER}, note = {CC BY-SA 4.0} }
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