Anichi Miyagi
Anichi Miyagi was a world famous Okinawan Karate master who lived from 1931 - 2009. [1] He was a direct student of Okinawan Goju-ryu style founder, Chojun Miyagi in his teachers later and most important years. Anichi Miyagi continued the legacy of his teacher from 1953 onward following the death of his master. His most notable student is Morio Higaonna who credits him as his one and only teacher in Goju-ryu Karate.[1] Anichi Miyagi was appointed as the Supreme Master of the International Okinawan Goju-ryu Karate-do Federation (IOGKF) and held this position until his passing.[2] He continued to practice Karate until his death in 2009.
| Born: | February 9, 1931 [1] |
| Died: | April 28, 2009[2] |
| Teacher: | Chojun Miyagi[3] |
| Grade: | Judan 10th Degree Black belt |
| Style: | Okinawan Goju-ryu Karate-do |
| Students: | Morio Higaonna [3] Tomoyuki Kato
Alexander Filimonov |
Early Years[edit]
Anichi Miyagi was born on February 9th, 1931[1]. He lost both of his parents during the Battle of Okinawa in World War II [1], when he was only 14 years of age – he was the only person left to provide for his two younger brothers. Anichi Miyagi had heard of the legendary Karate master Chojun Miyagi through a friend[1]. The two decided to go to the home of Chojun Sensei to ask for permission to study karate under him. Chojun Sensei had lost a majority of his students during the World War II. He knew times where changing and that he was growing older. On February 1st, 1948 Chojun Sensei accepted Anichi Miyagi as a student [1] and he and his four of his friends began their first training session inside his house and eventually outside in the now famous Garden Dojo.
The four young men were put through Chojun Sensei's grueling warm up exercises, basic training and supplementary practices. There was no room for error in the movements and Chojun Sensei was strict on all of them. The training was so intense that after one year only Anichi Miyagi remained out of the small group [4]. Chojun Miyagi's health was starting to deteriorate and he began to contemplate how his style of Karate was going to survive. He still instructed in the same manner of his teacher, only teaching Sanchin Kata and one suitable kata to each student. He knew for Goju-ryu Karate to survive, he would need to pass on the entire system to someone. Anichi Miyagi was only 16 years old when he began his karate practice. He dedicated himself to his master's teachings and became like a son to Chojun Miyagi Sensei. He became an Uchi Deshi / everyday student to Chojun Miyagi and was virtually part of the Miyagi family.
Chojun Sensei tested Anichi's character by having him perform chores around the house, such as weeding the garden and moving heavy stones around [5]. His attitude was observed and Chojun Sensei decided that the young Anichi Miyagi was a correct candidate to pass his knowledge on to. During this period of one on one instruction at the Garden Dojo, Ryuko Aragaki (Chojun Miyagi’s first teacher [6]) visited unexpectedly one day. He asked Chojun Sensei to accept his grandson, Shuichi Aragaki, as a student. Even though he was not planning on taking any more students at this crucial point in his life, Chojun Sensei couldn’t turn down his first instructor and accepted Shuichi Aragaki as a student .
Anichi Miyagi and Shuichi Aragaki began training together under Chojun Miyagi Sensei at the Garden Dojo. Later other students began training at the Garden Dojo also, including Tsunetaka Shimabukuro and Anichi Miyagi’s youngest brother. Despite this, Anichi Miyagi learned all the Goju-ryu Kata, applications and the remainder of the system in its final and complete form directly from Chojun Miyagi and he also had much of the early history of Goju-ryu passed onto him orally, by his teacher [7].
By mid 1953 Chojun Sensei’s health was deteriorating rapidly. Life was extremely hard following the war; however Chojun Sensei made a point of still instructing Anichi Miyagi every evening. On October 8th of that year, Chojun Miyagi Sensei passed away. Anichi Miyagi heard this from a friend who had heard the news over the radio and rushed to Chojun Sensei’s Tsuboya home, where a large grieving crowd had gathered [8]. He entered the house to pay his last respects to Chojun Miyagi Sensei, who now also had received the title of ‘Bushi’ from many people. Anichi Miyagi was the last person ever taught by Chojun Miyagi Bushi [7]
Life after the passing of Chojun Miyagi[edit]
Training continued at the garden dojo of Chojun Miyagi for about one year after his passing. Anichi Miyagi was elected as the class instructor [9] When a young Morio Higaonna joined the garden dojo in 1954, the widow of Chojun Miyagi explained to him that he should learn from Anichi Miyagi [10]. After this period Anichi Miyagi was instrumental in the construction and teaching at the Jundokan Dojo, where training moved to after the garden dojo [11] . Throughout this period, Anichi Miyagi continued to instruct Morio Higaonna continuously.
Work was hard to come by in Okinawa at the time and Anichi Miyagi was forced to take a job with the merchant navy to provide for his family. He traveled all across the world, but never returned to the Jundokan after a disagreement. He continued to instruct Morio Higaonna regularly throughout this period[12], even visiting his students famous Yoyogi Dojo throughout the 1970s to instruct. [13]
Later Life[edit]
Anichi Miyagi continued to share a special relationship with Morio Higaonna, teaching him privately out of this Dojo in Okinawa for the next few decades. Anichi Miyagi was extremely humble and lived a quiet and reserved life. He agreed to become the supreme master and honorary chairman of the International Okinawa Goju-ryu Karate-do Federation (IOGKF) and held the position for almost 30 years. In 2007 Anichi Miyagi awarded the grade of 10th Degree Black Belt to Morio Higaonna [2]. To accompany this Anichi Miyagi, along with Shuichi Aragaki, presented a lineage certificate to Morio Higaonna recognising him as a legitimate heir to the Karate of Chojun Miyagi, through Anichi Miyagi [2] Anichi Sensei also personally awarded grades and certificates to Tomoyuki Kato and Alexander Filimonov.
Anichi Miyagi's health deteriorated over a number of years, still 13 months prior to his death he managed to give a short lecture to IOGKF members at the 2008 Gishiki event in Okinawa. He passed away on April 28th, 2009 in Okinawa, Japan [2]
References[edit]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 Higaonna, Morio (1996). History of Karate. California, USA: Dragon Books. p. 101. ISBN 9780946062362. Search this book on
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 Lambert, David (June 2009). "Life and Times of Anichi Miyagi". IOGKF.com. Unknown parameter
|url-status=ignored (help) - ↑ Higaonna, Morio (1985). Traditional Karatedo Volume 1. Japan: Sugawara Martial Arts Institute inc. p. 30. ISBN 0870405950. Search this book on
- ↑ Higaonna, Morio (1996). History of Karate. California, USA: Dragon Books. pp. 104–105. ISBN 9780946062362. Search this book on
- ↑ Higaonna, Morio (1996). History of karate. California, USA: Dragon Books. p. 105. ISBN 9780946062362. Search this book on
- ↑ Higaonna, Morio (1985). Traditional Karatedo Volume 1. Japan: Sugawara Martial Arts Institute inc. p. 25. ISBN 0870405950. Search this book on
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 Higaonna, Morio (1996). History of Karate. California, USA: Dragon Books. pp. 138–140. ISBN 9780946062362. Search this book on
- ↑ Higaonna, Morio (1996). History of Karate. California, USA: Dragon Books. pp. 140–141. ISBN 9780946062362. Search this book on
- ↑ Higaonna, Morio (1996). History of Karate. California, USA: Dragon Books. p. 143. ISBN 9780946062362. Search this book on
- ↑ Higaonna, Morio (1996). History of Karate. California, USA: Dragon Books. p. 146. ISBN 9780946062362. Search this book on
- ↑ Chambers, David (May 21, 2020). "Interview of Morio Higaonna". Dragon Associates. Unknown parameter
|url-status=ignored (help) - ↑ Bishop, Mark (2008). Zen Odyssey an Okinawa Karate and Martial Arts Journey. United Kingdom: Q & I Publications. p. 123. ISBN 9781326905217. Search this book on
- ↑ Ravey, Graham (2007). Yoyogi Dojo '74. Derbyshire, England, UK: Bannister Publications. pp. 36–38. ISBN 9780952567806. Search this book on
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