Miyagi An'ichi hypothesis:
- Given the fact that Miyagi An'ichi lived very near the house of Chojun Miyagi and also used to do on a regular basis gardening, cleaning and housekeeping of Miyagi sensei's house and dojo, An’Ichi was in close contact with him and how he really thinks, speaks and provides the teaching of karate techniques (either regular schedules dojo).
- Miyagi Sensei died on Thursday morning, (usually the day of rest and / or less active in his school was on Sunday). Because of this and as stated in the previous paragraph is quite likely that An'ichi was beside Miyagi sensei late in the night before his death. This opens a tiny gap where slips the possibility that Miyagi Sensei had transmitted some peculiar teaching, special requests about how to perpetuate their method of karate in a certain direction and / or under his leadership.
- The fact that a person had been next to a teacher only for five or six years, does not rule out the possibility that he will become an acknowledged master.6 Just as an example to note that most university courses only last 5 years or less.
- The fact that Miyagi An'ichi ''only''7 having attained Rokudan diploma is not proof that he had no advanced technical knowledge. Just notice the fact that at the death of Chojun Miyagi Sensei none of his students had title, license or rank diploma from him, although there were some with decades
under his tutelage. In fact only Miyagi Chojun sensei and Ji'an Shinzato sensei had been recognized while alive with ranks and tittles by the directive of the Dai Nippon Butokukai.8
6 As a modern example we can cite Tamotsu Isamu sensei, from Kagoshima, Japan, who only studied in Okinawa, under the tutelage of Nakazato Joen sensei, from 1958 to 1961 and was responsible for the development of Shorinji ryu karate in mainland Japan, part of the United States, Latin America and the Caribbean. Another example is Yamaguchi Gogen sensei, which only trained directly with Chojun Miyagi Snsei sporadically and still founded Japanese Goju ryu. He was also a spark of inspiration for the development of Goju Ryu in Japan and America, and remains as immortal figure for karate-do.
7 It place the word "only" in quotes to emphasize the exact word which was used by Miyazato Ei'ichi sensei referring to Miyagi An'Ichi sensei in the course of an interview with Ken Moyer in Okinawa and as was published by Mr. Moyer in several international journals and magazines.
8 The colors in the "Kyu” and “Dan” belts is a habit put into use to popularize budo in general. The more attached way to the martial tradition is that the advanced degrees or special qualifications are recognized by
- The fact that a person had been next to a teacher only for five or six years, does not rule out the possibility that he will become an acknowledged master.6 Just as an example to note that most university courses only last 5 years or less.
- The fact that Miyagi An'ichi ''only''7 having attained Rokudan diploma is not proof that he had no advanced technical knowledge. Just notice the fact that at the death of Chojun Miyagi Sensei none of his students had title, license or rank diploma from him, although there were some with decades
under his tutelage. In fact only Miyagi Chojun sensei and Ji'an Shinzato sensei had been recognized while alive with ranks and tittles by the directive of the Dai Nippon Butokukai.8
6 As a modern example we can cite Tamotsu Isamu sensei, from Kagoshima, Japan, who only studied in Okinawa, under the tutelage of Nakazato Joen sensei, from 1958 to 1961 and was responsible for the development of Shorinji ryu karate in mainland Japan, part of the United States, Latin America and the Caribbean. Another example is Yamaguchi Gogen sensei, which only trained directly with Chojun Miyagi Snsei sporadically and still founded Japanese Goju ryu. He was also a spark of inspiration for the development of Goju Ryu in Japan and America, and remains as immortal figure for karate-do.
7 It place the word "only" in quotes to emphasize the exact word which was used by Miyazato Ei'ichi sensei referring to Miyagi An'Ichi sensei in the course of an interview with Ken Moyer in Okinawa and as was published by Mr. Moyer in several international journals and magazines.
8 The colors in the "Kyu” and “Dan” belts is a habit put into use to popularize budo in general. The more attached way to the martial tradition is that the advanced degrees or special qualifications are recognized by
- The fact that Miyagi was sick since the end of the WWII and he only gave advise instead direct physical teaching (interacting hand to hand) with the students increased the possibility that he rely on Miyagi An’Ichi, as his closest student, to transmit the way he would want to lead a training session with the novices.
2) Few aspects that could weaken this hypothesis:
- According to our research, no member of the family or senior students of Miyagi sensei openly accepted that they were aware of the special lessons that Miyagi An'ichi was getting since he was a teenager.
- What is normal in any craft or art, so that a person could be considered a true master, he/she must teach others publicly; and Miyagi An'ichi sensei is not known, to date, as the founder or director of any dojo in Okinawa or any other place.
- Consistent with Miyazato Ei'ichi sensei, Miyagi An'ichi studied publicly and inconsistently at the Jundokan dojo under his wing, for about six years. He said inconsistently since An'Ichi traveled on boat a lot (as sailor), and when he last left the Jundokan dojo, was recongized as a Rokudan.9
- Due to an ancient tradition of the Eastern countries, those older pupils and those with longer practice time, are called to receive the right to inherit the rights of the teacher, especially in cases such as Miyagi sensei's who died suddenly and without leaving anything in writing about this matter.
E) If we start from the data and opinions provided by some other Okinawan styles' masters who are old enough to have been eyewitnesses (and perhaps impartial) of events subsequent to 1953, then we have to choose the successor to Chojun Miyagi sensei between Yagi Meitoku and Miyazato Ei'Ichi.
other teachers or martial arts experts. Currently, to obtain degrees, many organizations have become fashionable to take priority into account the number of schools run a particular person, how many students have each, currency circulating in the countries where these schools are located, the influence and social policy of a particular group, etc. The author of this work denies putting on a background of years of practice of any individual, social behavior, its culture and its real development as a coach and guide. To obtain martial arts degrees, what is right and attached to the tradition of Budo is to take into account what the student show in the dojo, in shiai and generally in everyday life, for the benefit of others; not who is signing the diploma that could have the master of those. The author think that:many pseudo budokas forget the deep meaning of the words: pragmatism, positivism, justice, discipline, respect, wisdom, filial love, scientific training, etc., To synthesize, in whole, under the concept and application of three modern social trends or poisons: materialism, bureaucracy, and prestigious non-existent, but created by advertising.
9 The author does not agree with this statement as a Rokudan is a very advanced degree in any style.
other teachers or martial arts experts. Currently, to obtain degrees, many organizations have become fashionable to take priority into account the number of schools run a particular person, how many students have each, currency circulating in the countries where these schools are located, the influence and social policy of a particular group, etc. The author of this work denies putting on a background of years of practice of any individual, social behavior, its culture and its real development as a coach and guide. To obtain martial arts degrees, what is right and attached to the tradition of Budo is to take into account what the student show in the dojo, in shiai and generally in everyday life, for the benefit of others; not who is signing the diploma that could have the master of those. The author think that:many pseudo budokas forget the deep meaning of the words: pragmatism, positivism, justice, discipline, respect, wisdom, filial love, scientific training, etc., To synthesize, in whole, under the concept and application of three modern social trends or poisons: materialism, bureaucracy, and prestigious non-existent, but created by advertising.
9 The author does not agree with this statement as a Rokudan is a very advanced degree in any style.
F) If we start from the fact that it is accepted that after the Second World War, Miyagi Chojun sensei changed the form of the preparation position to start the execution of kata and that from those schools of his direct students, only Jundokan continues performing in line with these changes, then we would have to declare by Miyazato Ei'ichi sensei as the sole successor of Chojun Miyagi and heir to the throne of Goju ryu.
G) Based on the premise that Miyagi Sensei's successor should be the one who possessed the most extensive knowledge of judo, karate, kendo and other martial arts, and a similar instructional method to him (having been his assistant at the Police Department Academy), then such successor would be Miyazato Ei'Ichi sensei.
H) Based on the fact that after the end of World War II, the home of Miyagi Chojun sensei was destroyed and several students decided to remedy this situation by collecting the necessary funds to rebuild it for their teacher so he could continue to provide instruction; and at the same time, Miyagi decided to built a dojo adjacent to the house; and that among these students, the most advanced were: Higa Seko, Nakaima Genkai, Kamiya Jinsei, Toguchi Seikichi, Yagi Meitoku and Miyazato Ei'Ichi. Necessarily we would have to bow in front all of them to choose the successor of the Miyagi sensei.
I) Consistent with other research, it was established that in March or May of 1952 there was a party at sensei Miyagi's home, to celebrate the reconstruction of that house and construction of the dojo. In this celebration was
proposed the idea of grouping all Miyagi's karate students.
After a quick exchange of ideas, all those present decided to form an organization (legally official) for the spread of Goju ryu karate-do (actually the idea had already been leaked to the present by Higa Seko and his students, several days in advance) . This organism was made official on Sunday June 1, 1952, under the name Goju ryu
Shinkyokai, with Miyagi Chojun as president and Hiha Seko as vice president.
Among the students that were present we can mention: Genkai Nakaima, Jinsei Kamiya, Madanbayashi Keiyo, Toguchi Seikichi, Yagi Meitoku, Miyazato Ei'Ichi, Eiko Miyazato, Iha Koshin, Kina Seiko, Tomoyose Kiei, Yagi Kamaree, and Ken Miyagi (one of sensei Miyagi's sons). Organizationally speaking, in our view, each of them is a share of the inheritance of what is now the Okinawan Goju Ryu Karatedo.
J) Considering that Miyagi sensei did not grant “DAN" degrees to anyone (he always thought that only the imperial family had the authority to sign and issue diplomas) and Miyagi sensei himself held the title of Kyoshi, from 1937 through to Dai Nippon Butokukai, one would think that those old students according to their seniority should be the beneficiaries of the highest recognition from the imperial court and / or the Dai Nippon Butokukai. By the way, to hold one of these awards, this would mean to hold a high position within the tree of Okinawa Goju ryu. To clarify this we must know which people practiced at least ten years, consistently, not necessarily continuous, under the tutelage of Miyagi Chojun sensei.
- A first ascertainable generation, we could only mention: Kiyoda Juhatsu,10 Madanbayashi Keiyo, Higa Seko, Jin'an Shinzato, Gusukuma Koki and Kamizaki Shigehatsu.
- In a second generation teachers we have: Nakaima Genkai, Sakiyama Tatsunori, Najo Kiju and Tamaki Jusei.
- The third generation may be mentioned: Yagi Meitoku, Miyazato Ei'ichi, Iha Koshin, Kina Seiko, Toguchi Seikichi, Miyazato Eiko, Aragaki Shuichi, Uehara Yukinori and Miyagi Takeshi
K) If we assume as a fact that in 1963, in Tokyo, Miyagi ChojunAll those above have died and now their students have kept alive in one form or another, the intangible heritage of Miyagi Chojun for it to evolve into what is today called Okinawa Goju Ryu. This could make them become Chojun Miyagi's spiritual heirs, but it does not determine who should really hold the legal right and the legal status of Okinawan Goju ryu.
10 As it was explained to the author in the city of Kurashiki, Okayama, Japan, 2001, in some documents it mentioned a Kiyoda Shigemitsu, but this apparently other person actually is the same Kiyoda Juhatsu but is mentioned with different writing for his name or it is a wrong translation.
11 This uniform (gi) and belt was a gift from Miyazato Ei’Ichi, and Miyagi never wore it.
Meibukan would be legitimate successors of the Goju ryu system founded by Miyagi sensei.
It should be emphasized that this decision was made ten years after the death of Miyagi, more than enough time for all senior alumni to accumulated enough technical and moral merit to be worthy of the recognition of the Miyagi family, but Miyagi's family made the choice favoring of Yagi Meitoku sensei.
L) If we assume that, with Miyagi Chojun sensei alive, only Higa Seko, Yagi Meitoku (both in Okinawa) and Yamaguchi Gogen (mainland Japan) received approval to open Okinawa Goju Ryu Karate-do dojos, we must bow to
these three as the legitimate12 heirs of Miyagi sensei.
M) If we analyze the fact that Japanese society, Shinto is the official religion (ancestor worship), we could propose that Chojun Miyagi's successor should be the older student that was training or teaching Goju ryu at the moment he died. If we accept that the Miyagi family agreed with that, then Yagi Meitoku sensei as outlined in our analysis should be the successor to Miyagi sensei.
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