SENSEI
Those who made the road
before
Kanryo Higa(shi)onna
Isshinryu lineage:
Kanryo Higa(shi)onna >
Chojun Miyagi /
Choki Motobu > Tatsuo Shimabukuro
Grandmaster Kanryo Higaonna (Higashionna was the
original Okinawan pronunciation) was born on March 10, 1853, in
Naha, the capital city of Okinawa. His father, Kanyo, worked as a
merchant sailing between the small islands of Okinawa, trading
everyday goods. From a young age Kanryo Higaonna helped his father
in this work. This was strong physical labour, that helped Higaonna
develop a strong body. Kanryo Higaonna was still in his teens when
his father died suddenly.
Higaonna began his martial arts training in 1867 in
Monk Fist Boxing from Seisho Aragaki. In 1870, at the age of 16, he
travelled with his instructor to Fuzhou, China. Once in Fuzhou, he
studied the Chinese martial arts under the great Master RuRuKo (Xie
Zhonhxiang in Chinese). RuRuKo was the founder of Whooping Crane
Kungfu and was a student of Pan Yuba who was in turn the student of
Lin Shixian, a master of White Crane Kungfu. Higaonna also received
instruction from numerous other Kungfu masters including Wai Xinxian
and Iwah. Higaonna remained in China for approximately 13 years. In
addition to studying the empty hand way and the weapon arts, he also
became accomplished in herbology and Chinese medicine.
Chojun Miyagi (founder of Goju-Ryu and successor to
Higaonna) said of Higaonna, "My sensei possessed incredible
strength; the severity of the training he underwent in China is
beyond comprehension.... Kanryo Sensei's speed and power were truly
superhuman; his hands and feet moved faster than lightning".
Higaonna taught also Choki Motobu, especially Zen
breathing methods. Choki Motobu taught Tatsuo Shimabukuro the
same breathing methods between 1938-1940.
In the year 1881, he returned to Okinawa where his
martial arts would become known as Naha-te though he always referred
to it as chuanfa. Kanryo Higaonna taught these martial arts to the
people of Okinawa and at the same time continued his own research
and practice. In order to teach the youth of Okinawa he developed a
teaching method that was specifically designed to develop the mind
and body; to improve both physical well-being.
The first occasion on which the previously
secretive art of Naha-te "opened" to society in general, occurred in
October 1905, when Higaonna began teaching at the Naha Commercial
High School. When teaching, Higaonna was an extremely hard task
master. However, in his everyday life he was a quiet and humble man
and one who was renowned for his virtuous character. He was a person
who had no need or desire for worldly things. He lead a simple life
that was devoted to the study and practice of martial arts.
Kanryo Higaonna's whole life was devoted to karate.
He passed away in December 1915 at the age of 63. Kanryo Higaonna
had four main students: Chojun Miyagi, his successor and the founder
of Goju Ryu, Seiko Higa, became assistant to Miyagi after Higaonna's
death, and Kenwa Mabuni, founder of the Shito Ryu style (who was
also taught by Ankoh Itosu).
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