Chojun Miyagi(1888 - 1953) - Founder of Goju ryu karate
Chojun Miyagi was born on april 25, 1883 at naha in okinawa in a wealthy family. He started to learn the art of naha-te at the age of 11 from master Ryuko Aragaki. Then he joined with the master Kanryo Higashionna at the age of 14 and learned the art naha-te with full skill. After the master Kanryo Higashionna past away at 1915, he was gone to fukein province at china. There he learned a branch of chinease boxing the shaolin forms. After few months he returned to his native place started teaching karate to locals from his home. He taught to the police personal the same art naha-te at police acadamy. He sacrifies his own life for this art. In 1929 at okinawa in mainland japan he taight the above art the name Goju ryu. It means "Hard - soft style". For fullfil his dream he travelled so many times to mainland. The imperial Kyoto University, Kansai University and Ritsumei Kan University invited the great master to teach the art. Master Chojun Miyagi worked hard to spread karate in japan. In 1933, Dai nippon Butokukai had recognized the art of karate do. Then the master appointed as a head the branch of okinawa. He invented the form Kata Tensho, Gekisai Dai Ichi and Gekisai Dai Ni in 1940. He died on oct 8, 1953 at okinawa. He was a man of extreamly peace loving and humble.