Ei'ichi Miyazato
Successor to Chojun Miyagi
and Founder of Jundokan
(1922 - 1999)
This
history is provided courtesy of Sensei Meagher
of Northwest Okinawan Goju Ryu Karate
Eiichi
Miyazato (1922-1999) was recognized as the highest authority on Okinawan
Goju-Ryu Karate-Do in the world after the death of of his teacher. He
served as the senior most technical advisor for the Japan Karate Federation
Goju-Kai, the governing body for all Okinawan and Japanese Goju-Ryu Karate.
He was on the technical examination committee. Presently the JKF is amending
the Kata for all Goju-Ryu schools to follow that as taught within the
Jundokan. Additionally, he was the chairman and technical director for
the World Jundokan Association, All Okinawa Karate-Do Federation. Additionally,
he held a 7th Dan in Judo through the Kodokan and was the president of
the Okinawa Judo Federation until his passing.
Miyazato Sensei began
his training with Master Miyagi at the age of 13. Miyazato Senseis
father had himself studied with Kanryo Higaonna and therefore Miyagi accepted
the young Miyazato as a student. Except for a brief time during WWII,
Miyazato Sensei studied continuously with Master Miyagi. He was but only
of a handful of the original students that continued their training with
Master Miyagi after the war.
The same year that
Master Miyagi passed away, a group of Miyagi's senior students that included
Nakaima, Madanbashi, Meitoki Yagi, Iha Koshin and Ei'ichi Miyazato came
together to elect a successor for Goju-Ryu. The consensus of the group
was that Miyazato was the most qualified to succeed Chojun Miyagi due
to his qualifications and because he had spent the most continuous training
time with Miyagi in the dojo and in the police department. Kei Miyagi,
the second oldest son of Master Miyagi was called to testify. He testified
that Master Miyagi always said thst Miyazato was the only one he could
depend on for everything in the dojo. Miyazato accepted the responsibility
and has dedicated his entire life to preserving and spreading Okinawan
Goju-Ryu throughour the world as taught by his teacher.
In 1957, he opened
the Jundokan, the first free standing building exclusively designed to
teach Okinawan Goju-Ryu. Jundokan, which means, "Center for the study
in the fathers footsteps", reflects Miyazato Senseis
devotion for his teacher. The Jundokan has students the world over and
is responsible for training some of the worlds greatest Goju-Ryu
practitioners.
Back
to the History of Gojuryu Karate
Profile
of Kanryo Higaonna
Profile of Chojun Miyagi
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