Morio Higaonna
Encyclopedia
is a prominent Okinawan karate
practitioner who is the founder and Chief Instructor of the International Okinawan Goju-ryu Karate-do Federation
(IOGKF). He is a holder of the highest rank in Goju-ryu karate, 10th dan
. Higaonna has written several books on Goju-ryu karate, including Traditional Karate-do: Okinawa Goju Ryu (1985) and The history of Karate: Okinawan Goju Ryu (2001). Martial arts scholar Donn Draeger
(1922–1982) reportedly once described him as "the most dangerous man in Japan in a real fight."
karate at the age of 14 with his father and then with his friend Tsunetaka Shimabukuro. It was Shimabukuro who recommended that Higaonna learn Goju-ryu karate at Chojun Miyagi
's garden dojo
(training hall). In the late 1950s, he began training under Ei'ichi Miyazato (the most senior student of Chojun Miyagi, 1888–1953, who founded the Goju-ryu style) and An'ichi Miyagi (who was reportedly like an adopted son of, though not related to, C. Miyagi).
Higaonna was awarded black belt status by Miyazato in 1957. In 1960, he moved to Tokyo to study at Takushoku University
. On December 30 of that year, Higaonna was promoted to the rank of 3rd dan at the first all-style dan grading of the Okinawa Karate-do Renmei. He was invited to teach at Tokyo's Yoyogi
dojo, where he attracted a large following of karateka (practitioners of karate).
, England. He was ranked 7th dan at the time. In 1980, Higaonna married a US student, Alanna Stevens, and their son Eric was born in November that year. The family lived in Okinawa from May 1981 to May 1985, then in Tokyo from 1985 to 1987.
In September 1987, Higaonna moved with his family to Southern California to establish a new dojo. With San Marcos
as a base, he began hosting budo
festivals while continuing to research, practice, and travel worldwide to teach, such as in the former Soviet Union. Higaonna received his 8th dan and 9th dan promotions from Yuchoku Higa
. In 2004, Higaonna was a member of the Okinawan Karatedo and Kobudo Encyclopedia Committee.
Higaonna later returned to live in Japan, and attained the rank of 10th dan in September 2007. His wife, Alanna Higaonna, is Administrative Director and an Advisor for the IOGKF, and his son, Eric Higaonna, is also a karateka. Higaonna remains active in karate, teaching in his home city, in Tsuboya, Naha, Okinawa.
Karate
is a martial art developed in the Ryukyu Islands in what is now Okinawa, Japan. It was developed from indigenous fighting methods called and Chinese kenpō. Karate is a striking art using punching, kicking, knee and elbow strikes, and open-handed techniques such as knife-hands. Grappling, locks,...
practitioner who is the founder and Chief Instructor of the International Okinawan Goju-ryu Karate-do Federation
International Okinawan Goju-ryu Karate-do Federation
International Okinawan Gōjū-ryū Karate-dō Federation , also known as the International Federation of Karate-do Goju-ryu Okinawa, is an international martial art organization covering Gōjū-ryū karate. It was founded by Morio Higaonna in July 1979. Higaonna is the current Chief Instructor and...
(IOGKF). He is a holder of the highest rank in Goju-ryu karate, 10th dan
Dan (rank)
The ranking system is a Japanese mark of level, which is used in modern fine arts and martial arts. Originally invented in a Go school in the Edo period, this system was applied to martial arts by Kanō Jigorō, the founder of judo and later introduced to other East Asia countries.In the modern...
. Higaonna has written several books on Goju-ryu karate, including Traditional Karate-do: Okinawa Goju Ryu (1985) and The history of Karate: Okinawan Goju Ryu (2001). Martial arts scholar Donn Draeger
Donn F. Draeger
Donald 'Donn' Frederick Draeger was an expert practitioner of Asian martial arts, an author of several martial arts books, and a United States Marine...
(1922–1982) reportedly once described him as "the most dangerous man in Japan in a real fight."
Early life
Higaonna was born on December 25, 1938, in Naha, Okinawa. He began studying Shōrin-ryūShorin-Ryu
is one of the major modern Okinawan martial arts. It was founded by Choshin Chibana in 1933. Shōrin-ryū combines elements of the traditional Okinawan fighting styles of Shuri-te.-History:Chosin Chibana was a top student of the great master of shuri-te, Anko Itosu...
karate at the age of 14 with his father and then with his friend Tsunetaka Shimabukuro. It was Shimabukuro who recommended that Higaonna learn Goju-ryu karate at Chojun Miyagi
Chojun Miyagi
was an Okinawan martial artist who founded the Goju-ryu school of karate.-Early life and training:Miyagi was born in Higashimachi, Naha, Okinawa on April 25, 1888, the adopted son of a wealthy businessman. He began his study in Karate-do at the age of nine . He first learned martial arts from Ryuko...
's garden dojo
Dojo
A is a Japanese term which literally means "place of the way". Initially, dōjōs were adjunct to temples. The term can refer to a formal training place for any of the Japanese do arts but typically it is considered the formal gathering place for students of any Japanese martial arts style to...
(training hall). In the late 1950s, he began training under Ei'ichi Miyazato (the most senior student of Chojun Miyagi, 1888–1953, who founded the Goju-ryu style) and An'ichi Miyagi (who was reportedly like an adopted son of, though not related to, C. Miyagi).
Higaonna was awarded black belt status by Miyazato in 1957. In 1960, he moved to Tokyo to study at Takushoku University
Takushoku University
Takushoku University is a private university in Japan. It was founded in 1900 by Prince Taro Katsura . The university is located in Tokyo and has two campuses: the main campus in the Bunkyō district, and a satellite campus in the Hachiōji district...
. On December 30 of that year, Higaonna was promoted to the rank of 3rd dan at the first all-style dan grading of the Okinawa Karate-do Renmei. He was invited to teach at Tokyo's Yoyogi
Yoyogi
is a neighborhood in the northern part of Shibuya, Tokyo, Japan.-Geography:The area encompassed by Yoyogi is typically defined two ways:* Only the five Yoyogi ....
dojo, where he attracted a large following of karateka (practitioners of karate).
Promoting Goju-ryu across the world
In July 1979, Higaonna founded the IOGKF in PoolePoole
Poole is a large coastal town and seaport in the county of Dorset, on the south coast of England. The town is east of Dorchester, and Bournemouth adjoins Poole to the east. The Borough of Poole was made a unitary authority in 1997, gaining administrative independence from Dorset County Council...
, England. He was ranked 7th dan at the time. In 1980, Higaonna married a US student, Alanna Stevens, and their son Eric was born in November that year. The family lived in Okinawa from May 1981 to May 1985, then in Tokyo from 1985 to 1987.
In September 1987, Higaonna moved with his family to Southern California to establish a new dojo. With San Marcos
San Marcos, California
San Marcos is a suburb of San Diego in the North County section of San Diego County, California. As of the 2010 census, the city had a total population of 83,781. Outside the San Diego region, it is best known as the home of California State University, San Marcos...
as a base, he began hosting budo
Budo
is a Japanese term describing martial arts. In English, it is used almost exclusively in reference to Japanese martial arts.-Etymology:Budō is a compound of the root bu , meaning war or martial; and dō , meaning path or way. Specifically, dō is derived from the Buddhist Sanskrit mārga...
festivals while continuing to research, practice, and travel worldwide to teach, such as in the former Soviet Union. Higaonna received his 8th dan and 9th dan promotions from Yuchoku Higa
Higa Yuchoku
Higa Yuchoku was a prominent karate practitioner. He started training Shorin-ryu under his father's senior student. He continued the training until 1935, when he began training Ti and Goju-ryu under Jinan Shinzato, Chōjun Miyagi Sensei's senior student. From 1945 he studied Shorin-ryu under...
. In 2004, Higaonna was a member of the Okinawan Karatedo and Kobudo Encyclopedia Committee.
Higaonna later returned to live in Japan, and attained the rank of 10th dan in September 2007. His wife, Alanna Higaonna, is Administrative Director and an Advisor for the IOGKF, and his son, Eric Higaonna, is also a karateka. Higaonna remains active in karate, teaching in his home city, in Tsuboya, Naha, Okinawa.