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World Okinawan Shorin Ryu Kyudokan Karatedo Federation
World Headquarters: 1-17-15 Izumizaki 900,Naha City, Okinawa Phone: 011-81-988-67-4783Master Higa Minoru
World Technical Headquarters: Via Lugia 30-90100, Palermo, Sicily, Italy. Phone: 011-30-338-993-8999 Master Higa Oscar Kyudokan Renshukan Okinawa Kobayashi Ryu Kyudokan Rengokai-Japan Club Atlético River Plate, Buenos Aires, Argentina
Tel/fax: 011-54-11-4747-0351
Master Pedro Fattore
Mass. Headquarters: 14R Worcester St, Ap.#2R , Southbridge , MA 01550 Phone: 1(508) 909-6137 Sensei Daniel Espinillo & Sensei Ivana Meyer Yuchoku Higa practice Karate in the Moonlight
translation by Sanzinsoo
Remarks: Original Japanese title "Kyudo Mugen: Karate No Michi" Written by a reporter of the monthly magazine "Aoi Umi" February 1978 issue (No.70) published by Aoi Umi Shuppansha (pages 96-97).
"Very rhythmical and beautiful movement!" praised a musician from outside Okinawa when he saw a performance of Shorin-ryu karate in Okinawa. It is natural that the musician was impressed, as the characteristic of Kata in Shorin-ryu has not only fighting element but also esthetic element. It has power in the graceful and fluid movement, but we cannot see it by appearances. It is said that Shorin-ryu is rather an aggressive karate, although its movement is soft and gentle. They attack the opponents like dancing. Shorin-ryu has similarity to Okinawan traditional dance in its positioning of waist, movement of hands and footwork. That is why some Okinawan traditional dancers come to the dojo to study karate.
"Yes, like this. You raise your hand. And lower it. You do it fast. You do it slowly." said Mr. Yuchoku Higa. If you add rhythm to Kata of karate, it will become an Okinawan traditional dance.
Master Yuchoku Higa is the chief instructor of "Kyudokan", a karate dojo of Shorin-ryu. He has a strong physique as a warrior because he has been training in karate for a long time. But when he was a boy, he was skinny and had a weak constitution. Higa’s grandfather was worried about his delicate grandson, so he took his grandson to the home of Master Gichin Funakoshi, his cousin, and made Higa stay with Funakoshi’s family. The grandfather hoped that Higa learn karate from Master Funakoshi, and at the same time Master Funakoshi help his grandson with his studies. At that time Master Funakoshi worked as a teacher at school. Four days later, Higa who was in the fourth grade of elementary school, escaped from Master Funakoshi’s home and went back to his home. He was very afraid and felt lonely when he lived apart from his family. However, the grandfather could not give up his idea, so he tried again when Higa was in the sixth grade of elementary school. This time he took his grandson to the home of Master Chojun Miyagi, the founder of Goju-ryu karate. But again Higa escaped from Master Chojun Miyagi’s home. He said to his grandfather, "Please, please do not force me to learn karate!" Eventually the grandfather gave up and never took him to any karate masters.
When Higa was a student of Naha Commercial High School at age 16, he became willing to learn karate. He was physically weak, skinny and pale. He also had a slight stoop. Moreover, he was a bookworm. He liked reading books very much. Higa was an easy target to bully. He was being bullied at school, so he became reluctant to go to school. He felt so depressed that he even thought of trying to kill himself. But he changed his mind. He thought he could die at any time. "I will revenge someday!" said Higa to himself. So he decided and began learning karate.
"The motive for learning karate was not pure at all. I was just thinking I would revenge the bullies someday in the future. Ha ha ha!" said Higa with laughing. He first learned karate from Master Jiro Shiroma of Shuri-te style. And later, he also learned from Master Jin-an Shinzato (Naha-te style), Master Seiei Miyara (Shuri-te style) and Master Choshin Chibana (Shuri-te style). Master Jiro Shiroma always said, "Don’t talk about karate. Don’t demonstrate karate." He warned us that we tended to show off our strength if we learned karate.
Anyway he started practicing karate with "not-pure motive", but his perspective on karate was changing through training in karate. When he was 26 years old, he devoted himself to practicing karate with the policy, "Best defense is offense or attack." But nowadays he runs away in a hurry if a drunken man annoys him. It is a win without fighting. One day Higa’s friend saw Higa annoyed by a drunken man. Higa ran away in a hurry from a drunken man without fighting. Some days later Higa’s friend told Higa, "At that time I thought I could see the real fight by the karate master." Higa said to him, "I know I could defeat him if I fought, so I ran away. I won the fight as I ran away. My opponent must have thought he won the fight as I ran away. Both of us thought we won, so no problem. It’s all right." That is exactly a win without fighting.
The mottos of Kyudokan, Master Yuchoku Higa’s karate dojo, are as follows.
(1) Avoid fighting or quarreling.
(2) Respect your elders and take care of your youngers.
(3) Morality and good manners at karate dojo will have an influence on the community.
The number of students who have practiced at Kyudokan exceeds ten thousand. Currently about 40 students are practicing karate at Kyudokan. Last year (= 1977) Master Yuchoku Higa went to Argentine at the invitation of Argentine branch of Kyudokan. There are 51 dojos affiliated with Kydokan and about 5,800 students in Argentine. In February and April of this year (= 1978), the disciples of Master Higa will go to Peru and Brazil to open karate dojos.
In 1972, a beautiful building of karate dojo was built for Master Higa by his supporters. However, Master Higa himself thinks a dojo is not necessary for practicing karate. He said, "Before the dojo was built, I practiced karate at the yard or garden of my home. There were Gajimaru (= a banyan tree) and Sakura (= cherry blossoms) in my yard or garden. I loved practicing karate there under the moonlight. I think if we practice karate at the place surrounded by the beauties of nature, melted in nature, we can see a wonderful value of karate and understand karate better."
He also criticizes a karate tournament or karate as a sport. Master Higa said, "It is not a karate if you stop your punch before contact. But if you really fight, injury or worse than injury is inevitable. Essentially karate is not fit for a tournament. It is impossible to make karate a tournament sport."
"Kyudo Mugen." (= Studying karate and searching for the Truth is infinite.) It is a word from Master Yuchoku Higa who has been training in karate for more than fifty years. The name of his dojo, "Kyudokan" is derived from this word. There is no end for mastering karate. If we seek the Truth, the path toward the Truth will become distant.
Kyudokan Technique Technically orientated to fighting, unnecessary movements are left out, with high and short positions which allow fast changes in movement by using Tai Sabaki. With special emphasis put on speed, the use of blockades focuses on cutting or avoiding attacks, without strength excesses. With the exception of the high zone defense, the defenses are closed, and elbows practically do not separate from the rest of the body to carry out soto uke, uchi uke, gedan barai, shuto uke, etc. In this way, action speed is gained and the body is more protected. The use of hands techniques accounts for 80% as related to the legs techniques, which are trained by each practitioner according to his/her condition. With the exception of mae geri, nami ashi and mikasuki geri, the circular tendence of most of the techniques based on the versatile rotation of the hips, pretends to give the style a way of fighting which although short and direct, is also involving.
The main difference between Kyudokan technique and the rest of the Shorin systems is based on the hips rotation work, on which the sensei Yuchoku Higa made a deep study to redimension the strength generation, make the best of the power of the technique with the least physical effort and seek the devastating effect coming from hara (tandem).
The kata practice in the Kyudokan style generally targets on each practitioner having his/her own Tokui Kata (chosen kata), which means that, although the school has 22 kata, the idea of master Yuchoku Higa was to become an expert in only one or two. That Tokui Kata will later become his/her element of consultation for the creation of the tactic and strategy of his/her fighting style.
The conception of kumite in the Kyudokan style is faithful to the literal translation of the words " hands interchange ". The grasping in the confrontation is of utmost importance. So much so, that the saying of a Master of the central dojo in Okinawa is: " The left hand grasps, while the right hand hits...". Spirit Used to say Master Higa Yuchoku: Before the war I used to go meditate at a cemetery since 11 pm until 1 am every day. My objective was to be strong in spirit, that is the purpose of martial arts. However, after the war I adopted another objective "Kyudo Mugen", the search of the way has no limits, he emphasizes "Kyudo Mugen" The way which Sensei Higa refers to is called DO. Road, Path, Way is the journey of a man in his world, HIS LIFE, which must be fair, right, educated, focused on virtue and fighting against defects. Being better people to create better worlds, do not come apart from DO, the rightful way. Karate is like boiling water, if the fire is put out, the water gets cold, comments Master Higa. Karate cannot be taught if you do not practice it yourself, he adds. As you know, Im 74 years old. You see, every morning I train alone during one hour, since five to six am. I do it until I feel I have reached my limit. I usually do five goes and five returns. Sometimes my wife is watching me, I achieve...seven! her presence helps me a lot. Nevertheless, beware of this: If you do not do anything apart from practicing Karate, your heart will toughen and you will become a brute, whereas a true karateka must be a bushi, a man of heart and spirit. Sensei Miyahira, one of my masters, was also a poet, el played the sanshin (a small guitar of three chords). I myself take care of the bonsai and the birds. When I was young I used to think Attacking is the best defense, then I understood what having a strong heart meant. Currently, my young friend, at 74, I have realized the following: KYUDO MUGEN, THE SEARCH OF THE WAY, HAS NO LIMITS... As it is claimed in Okinawa, the practitioner must be shown that way, that DO, so that he/she can follow it. According to the Zen principles: Break the attachment to the self, try to live this, here and now. mind and body Have a clean, healthy mind, and even the non-intention, as opposed to the sports success. As a last resort, the goal is the way itself, the continuous transit of the DO, the daily practice with total devotion each moment, the experience and the pure empirism, which is the essence of Karate Do. It is a way to learn to come apart from your ego or detachment of the self. During the first stage, the practice is monotonous and the objective is to achieve a respectful, patient and disciplined mind, without pretending to dominate the combat or breakage techniques in two or three days. Many people take up the discipline out of snobbism or because they want to show how strong they are in the street, without a right mentality, sometimes because they are wrong about the target of the practice. Under no circumstances is the trainee promised to become a champion, the competitiveness will come up naturally. The aim is to achieve an unintentional training without an obsessive mentality. From this first stage, the group opens through natural differences, part of it works on and is ready to assimilate the true essence. Firstly, it is inculcated that rationalism is not the most important part of the technique. For instance, understanding which is the mechanism of the techniques, that is how to flex my fingers when I blow my fists, etc. It is a physical as well as mental learning process. Once the technique is assimilated, the process implies putting rationalism aside, letting it flow naturally. It is in that moment that repetition is essential. Karate is pure repetition. It is not the same for somebody to have given one hundred punches than one million. Working on one technique on a daily basis, constantly, that is the secret. This is how a total abstraction of rationalism is achieved, as well as a total identification between the executor and the technique. That is: I dont blow a punch, I am the punch. Breaking the dual concept, subject-object, by being just one unit, a total identification. Both at the beginning and at the end of each session we make mokuso in za-zen, which is intended to empty our minds from our daily problems. The total abstraction implies eliminating the constant I, we carry as a burden: I work, I study or I practice. In that moment I become the means and the means becomes me. There is a total balance between subject and object, as between executor and technique. It is only then that an art is being elaborated. In order to have an opponent there must be a challenger. If in this duality we eliminate one of the components, we transform martial arts in an art of non-opposition par excellence. The problem in our conflicts is always the I. Movement and self must be one, without room for rational speculations, without asking whats this for? How do I do it? In Okinawa they directly tell you: ...DONT SPEAK, PRACTICE, DONT SAY, DO... It is direct experience, pure empiric, which in the end forms the individual. We must not spoil or distort the tradition developed throughout centuries. It is the constant practice which helps the individual evolve naturally towards the utopist goal of perfection, without the obsessive search of a precise object. Our motto is KYU DO MUGEN (kyu do: practice, mugen: endless), that is, our learning process has no limits, as opposite to the limiting mentality: I have achieved my objective, Im perfect. The pathway is divided into stages: 1) we learn the techniques by using the reason for their understanding, but when being performed, they are awkward and instinctive. 2) the techniques are mastered but with certain degree of rationality. Even so, the movements are more spontaneous. 3) spontaneity is total, the same as in the first stage, but from another point of view. Rationality does not take part and the movements are instinctive, but through evolution. It is like going back to the origin but advancing up to certain degree of mastering. Za-zen realization and achieving total emptiness are of great value, not only as a way to go back to normal physiologically after an athletic demand, but also as a search of a mental and spiritual calmness. Sometimes we do it symbolically, as we do not have a suitable place, the necessary isolation, dim light nor silence, but the essence is to achieve not only the physical calmness, but also the spiritual one. In that emptiness we can eliminate the self and the thoughts that cross our minds naturally and spontaneously. This is the ideal state at the moment of the combat or at the katas, in which one has to move from one place to another almost without thinking. At those moments there is art in movement. This zen principle of unity exists not only in the martial arts, but is also experienced by a painter or a great dancer when performing a play. In kumite there is a paradoxical language because it is an active passivity. When facing an opponent, you should not speculate about what you have done or will do, live this, that and now. It is an expectant time which at the same time has no expectations at all. I expect everything and nothing at the same time. Those who have a high level and much practice, experience this state. This is where the mentality of a novel differs, because he will rationalize the answer thus wasting time in the defense or attack. The mind must be blank, attentive to everything...attentive to nothing History 1429 Three states of Okinawa were unified into the Ryukyu Kingdom by King Sho Hashi of Chuzan. Three styles eventually developed which, much later in the 1900's, became known by the names: "Sui-tee" (also called "Shuri-te" or "Sui-di"-from Shuri, the capitol); "Nafa-tee" (also called "Naha-te" or "Nafa-di" - from Naha City); "Tumaii-tee" (also called "Tomari-te" or "Tumai-di" - from Tomari Village). The 14th to 16th centuries are often referred to as the "Golden Age of Trade" with much commerce between Okinawa and China. Okinawan "te" (also referred to as "ti," "to-di," and "to-ti") practitioners learned and incorporated techniques from Chinese, and other South East Asian fighting arts. 1477
King Sho Shin made the wearing of swords and possession of large quantities of weapons illegal throughout the Ryukyu Kingdom. 1609
Okinawa invaded by the Satsuma Clan of Kyushu, Japan. In years following the invasion, the previous ban on import, possession and use of weapons became reinforced. Karate "kobudo" became a secret taught to members of the ruling class for 250 years. 1809
Sokon Matsumura born in Yamagawa Village (Yamagawa-cho), Shuri. During his lifetime, Matsumura worked as a martial arts instructor for the kingdom and bodyguard to the last three Ryukyuan kings. 1831
Anko Itosu born in Gibo Village, Shuri. Learned Shuri Te from Matsumura while a clerk of the royal family. Studied under two Chinese attachs. 1879
Ryukyu Kingdom was dissolved and Okinawa annexed as a prefecture of Japan. 1885
Choshin Chibana born, June 5, Torihori Village (Tottori-cho), Shuri. 1890
Shinpan Gusukuma (Shiroma) born, Taira Village (Taira-cho), Shuri.
Military draft system imposed on Okinawa. 1896
Beginning of Meiji era. 1899
Sokon Matsumura died. 1900
Choshin Chibana studied under Anko Itosu. 1901
Anko Itosu taught karate at the Shuri Jinjo Elementary School as an extracurricular activity. 1903
Shinpan Gusukuma began study with Anko Itosu in Kubagawa. He studied Sanchin kata at Kanryo Higaonna's dojo and also studied with many other masters under all of the major styles. He selected Shorin-ryu as his main concentration. 1905
Anko Itosu taught karate at the Okinawa Prefecture Middle School (later called the Okinawa Prefecture Dai-ichi Middle School) where Chomo Hanashiro was the chief instructor. Itosu also taught at the Okinawa Prefecture Men's Teacher's Training College where Kentsu Yabu was the chief instructor. Itosu began the development of the five pinan kata for beginning students to learn the fundamentals of technique. The characters translating as "empty hand" were first used for the word "karate." 1908
Anko Itosu petitioned to introduce karate into public school curriculum. The "10 articles" ("Ten lessons of to-te") document was written to report on the results of his teaching in the schools and to petition for its dissemination in more schools. Shinpan Gusukuma was drafted into the Japanese army. After service, he continued training under Anko Itosu. Later, Gusukuma became a school teacher at Dai Ichi Elementary School in Shuri and taught karate. He opened a dojo at Taira Village, Shuri. 1910
Higa Yuchoku born on February 4 in Naha City. 1912
Beginning of the Taisho era. Karate demonstrated in mainland Japan 1915
Anko Itosu died on March 26 in Yamakawa Village. 1918
"Karate Preservation Association" founded in Kaneku Village, Nishihara. . 1920
Choshin Chibana began teaching at Tottori-bori. Later opened 2nd dojo in Kumoji Village, Naha. 1922
Gichin Funakoshi demonstrated in Tokyo at Japanese Sport Show (Taikutenraikai). 1925
Higa Yuchoku training whit Jiro Shiroma 1926
Beginning of Showa era. "Okinawa Karate Club" founded. Karate and kobudo spread overseas. 1930
Choshin Chibana taught at a dojo located in Gibo Village, Shuri, at Nakijin Goten, of Yoshitsuga Teishi, (also called "Nakijin Gima" by local residents at that time); the courtyard of Baron Nakijin and a famous location of past karate practitioners. 1933
Okinawa Athletic Association officially recognized by the Dai Nippon Butoku Kai. Choshin Chibana teaching at Okinawa Prefecture Number 1 School (now Shuri High School). On April 4, Choshin Chibana changed the kanji for "Shorei-ryu" to "Shorin-ryu" to try to avoid confusion with the Chinese shaolin name and to give the style an Okinawan name. Died Shiro Jiroma
Higa Yuchoku began study whit the masters Shinzato and Miyahira 1937
"Okinawa Prefectural Karate-do Promotion Society" founded. Shinpan Gusukuma was instructor at the Shuri City Dai Ichi Elementary School. 1941
Master Higa Yuchoku started teaching karate to the employees to the Town Hall in Naha. 1943
Master Higa met Chosin Chibana and began study whit him. 1945
April 1 - August 15: WW II Battle of Okinawa. Many important members in the karate society lost their lives along with hundreds of thousands of Okinawans. Shuri city destroyed. Choshin Chibana narrowly escaped to Chinen Village. Late 1940's Karate divided into four major ryuhas (Shorin-ryu, Goju-ryu, Uechi-ryu and Matsubayashi-ryu). Choshin Chibana taught karate from 1945 to 1948 on the Chinen Peninsula, later opening several dojos in Naha and Shuri.
Higa Yuchoku served as Karate Instructor for the Yonabaru Police Precinct for two years. 1947
Higa Yuchoku being transferred to Naha Police Headquarters and opened a dojo. He named his dojo Kyudokan Karate Dojo 1948
Katsuya Miyahira opened a dojo in Kanehisa, Nishihara. Miyahira named his dojo "Shido-kan." 1952
Shinpan Gusukuma moved dojo to Naminoue-gu, Naha. 1954
Shinpan Gusukuma died.
Choshin Chibana served as Karate Advisor and Senior Instructor for the Shuri City Police Precinct (until 1958.) 1956
Choshin Chibana was appointed first president of the newly formed Okinawa Karate-do League in May. 1960
Dan/kyu rank system introduced by the Okinawan Karate-do League. Choshin Chibana received 1st Award for Distinguished Public Service in Physical Education by the Okinawa Times newspaper. Choshin Chibana formed the Okinawa Shorin-ryu Karate-do Association on April 15th. Higa Yuchoku was vice-president 1964
On August 30, 1964, Choshin Chibana erected a monument for Anko Itosu beside the master's gravesite in the forest of Furushima in Mawashi to commemorate the 50th anniversary of Itosu's death. A memorial celebration featured 4 students (Iko Oshiro, a student of Yuchoku Higa; Katsuyuki Shimabukuro, a student of Chibana; Takeshi Miyagi, a student of Miyahira; Seikichi Iha, a student of Miyahira) who were selected to perform a kata demonstration in Itosu's memory. Choshin Chibana diagnosed with terminal throat cancer. 1968
Choshin Chibana awarded 4th Degree of Merit Zuiho. Decorated by Emperor of Japan. 1969
Choshin Chibana died on February 26. 1977
Master Yuchoku Higa went to Argentine at the invitation of Argentine branch of Kyudokan. There are 51 dojos affiliated with Kydokan and about 5,800 students in Argentine. In February and April of this year 1994
Master HIga Yuchoku died on November 6, in Naha at the age of 84.
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Master Benito Higa was born in Buenos Aires, Argentina, August 2, 1940, the son of Master Jintatsu Higa, with whom he began practising karate-do. Alongside his university studies at the Faculty of Engineering, he devoted himself to baseball, a passion handed down to him by his father. In this sport, he was an Argentinian national first division champion as a player with the Seibu club. In the seventies he dedicated himself to practice and teaching karate-do, working together with his father and brother Oscar with the aim of promoting the discipline more widely throughout Argentina; he helped actively as an athlete having been Argentinian champion of kata. As an ardent devotee of Kobudo, a complementary activity to karate training, Benito Higa travelled to Okinawa several times, not only to perfect the art of karate in the Naha Hombu Dojo, where he trained with his uncle Master Yuchoku Higa and other eminent masters, but also in order to attend the dojo of the Master of sensei kobudo, Kataro Iha, president of the Ryu Kyu Kobudo Ryu Kon Kai, of whom he was a disciple.. At present Master B.Higa is a Kyoshi 8th Dan; he is vice-president of the World Okinawan Shorinryu Kyudokan karate-do Federation, director and chief instructor of the Argentinian Karate-do Center, responsible, along with his brother Oscar, for the Kyudokan School in Argentina and South America, as well as being a member of the technical committee. He is the president and technical director of the Argentinian Kobudo Association and Ryu Kyu Kobudo Ryu Kon Kai representative for the whole of South America. He is a member of the organizing committee for the diffusion of karate-do, of the Okinawan Center of Argentina, as well as chief referee in national and international competitions.
He has taken part in various national and international events, as both referee and technical adviser; among these there were two world championships in Venice, Italy, 1992 and Buenos Aires, Argentina,1994, organized by the World Karate-do Organization. In November1998 he was present as a guest at the international kyudokan event in Palermo, Italy..
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Master Jintatsu Higa was born in the city of Naha (Okinawa), October 10, 1912. He started doing karate at the age of 12 with an uncle of the second grade, the master Chojun Miyagi, founder of the Goju Ryu school. In 1825 he started practising Shorin ryu, after meeting Master Giho Maeda and being impressed by the speed and dynamism of his style. The latter introduced him to his master, the sensei Shoshin Nagamine, who from that moment on became Jintatsu's master. It was also Master Ankichi Arakaki (S.Nagamine's master), however, who was to influence young Jintatsu's style and help him in his specialisation. According to J.Higa, Master Ankichi Arakaki was one of the best karateki at that time despite his young years; he in fact died at the young age of 28. Master Jintatsu Higa lived and perfected himself in Okinawa, in the golden age of karate, when styles didn't yet exist and Shorin ryu and Shorei ryu were practised with great masters who would personally select their own pupils, and train them physically, mentally and spiritually for real combat (kakidamishi), since sporting competitions and tournaments didn't exist at that time. Jintatsu took part in several kakidamishi over the years, occasionally together with his brother Yuchoku. Apart from his interest in karate J.Higa developed his passion for baseball to such an extent that he became member and captain of the Okinawa team. Whilst at secondary school he obtained his black belt for judo and excelled in track athletics. Jintatsu was also a good swimmer, thanks to his remarkable physique, and also distinguished himself in gymnastics, specializing in the horizontal bar.  | However, his great passion for karate kept him away from these other activities, which were nevertheless a suitable and efficient auxiliary back-up for his physical preparation. Moreover the practising of the traditional dances of Okinawa permitted him to understand more fully the art of karate-do, improving his movement in both exercises and kata. It is widely known that in olden days the experts in Okinawa-te, during the period in which the activity was banned, concealed combat techniques and movements behind the posing and gesturing of traditional dance.. | Dividing his time between between practice and university studies, J.Higa graduated in engineering in 1935. In 1938, on the invitation of his father-in-law, he and his wife moved to Argentina (Buenos Aires) with the idea of staying for a month or two. The onset of the Second World War and the impossibilty of returning to his own country changed the course of his life. In 1940 he performed for the first time in public at a cinema in Burzaco, near Buenos Aires and a little at a time he began to teach karate-do to small groups from the Japanese community in Argentina, and to his two sons Oscar and Benito. He was one of the founders of the Sports Committee of the Okinawa Centre in Argentina, and ran it for ten years. He held the positions of president of the Argentine Federation of Okinawa Shorin ryu Karate-do and president of the technical committee until the day he died.
Jintatsu Higa was also the representative for the whole of South America of the World Federation of Okinawa Kyudokan karate-do, and director and chief instructor of the Argentine centre of karate-do. He also acted as adviser and chief judge in national and international competitions.
During his frequent visits to Okinawa J.Higa kept up a continuous relationship with various well-known masters with whom he had shared both friendship and training-sessions.
On 27 September, 1983, J.Higa passed away in Buenos Aires at the age of 70.
His principal characteristic was a temperamental equilibrium that emanated confidence; he would often say: "over the years you lose physical strength, but you gain in inner strength; you acquire a mentality that prompts you to strike not with the fist but with the inner strength of the self, with that force that is acquired through the experience of one's years. Practice is a constant habit, and consequently one never stops practising, one goes on practising for one's whole life."
When he was asked what karate represented for him, he would reply synthetically: "karate is knowing how to renounce life"; his message was: "karate is a discipline where you learn to stand apart from life, from existence; the separation of the self is, therefore, the acceptance of everything, without dissension, and in a calm and natural way."
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Kyudokan - Argentina
http://www.fedakko.org.ar/
http://www.karatekyudokan.com.ar/
http://www.karatefrank.8m.com/ Kyudokan Renshukan Argentina Kyoshi Pedro Fattore http://www.renshukan.com.ar
Kyudokan - Czech Republic
http://shorinryu.cz/
http://www.shorinryu.cz/kbutanvald/
http://www.shorinryu.cz/ktkjicin/
Kyudokan - Germany
http://www.dojo-mh.de/
http://www.okinawa-zendo.de/
http://www.zendo-hoyel.de/
Kyudokan - Italy
http://www.oikko.org/
http://www.kyudokan.it/
http://www.oikko.org/asrto/index.htm
http://www.oikko.org/ascokinawa.htm
http://www.centrostudimarziali.it/
http://www.oikkocampania.it/
http://www.dynamicopera.com/
http://www.chado.it/ospiti/l_oriente/l_oriente.html
Kyudokan - Panama
http://espanol.geocities.com/fguanti_karatemystic/
Kyudokan - Philippines
http://ca.geocities.com/lore5725@rogers.com/INDEX.html
Kyudokan - Poland
http://www.shorinryu-kyudokan.gsi.pl/
Kyudokan - Spain
http://www.aekko.org/
http://www.kyudokan.com.ar/
Kyudokan - Sri Lanka
http://www.karateindishe.freeservers.com/
http://www.geocities.com/kyudokansrilanka
Kyudokan - Uruguay
http://www.geocities.com/kyudokanuruguay
http://galeon.hispavista.com/karatekyudokan
http://www.kyudokan.net/
Bunbukan - U.K Sensei Patrick Rault http://bunbukan.free.fr/
Chibana Interview compiled by Ernest Estrada During the l950's and l960's the senior most living expert of Okinawan Karatedo was Choshin Chibana. Chibana was born in Shuri City, Okinawa Prefecture, on June 5, 1885. On October 10, 1966 the Okinawa Karatedo Association sent a representative to interview this living legend. This article is now considered a treasure of ancient and modern Okinawan martial arts history. The original article was written in Japanese and was given to me by Shugoro Nakazato in 1975. It should also be noted that Chibana was the first president of the Okinawa Karatedo Association and was ranked a Hanshi 10-Dan in Okinawa Shorin-ryu Karatedo by the Okinawa Karatedo Association. He died on February 26, 1969 at the advanced age of 83 and left behind five Hanshi 9-Dans. His senior students included the following: Yuchoku Higa (the first one to be promoted to Hanshi 9-Dan in 1965); Katsuya Miyahira (who started with Chibana in 1933 and is recognized as his senior, living student); Chozo Nakama (the oldest student who was born in 1899); Kensei Kinjo (who did not teach in Okinawa); and Shugoro Nakazato (the youngest Hanshi 9-Dan at age 46). The following is the translation: An important figure at the turn of the century was Kiyuna. It was said at that time that Kiyuna had the strength and power of Ankoh Itosu plus he was also a true expert in atemi (methods of striking the vital points). In describing Kiyuna, I will quote Yukoku Sanjin, whose real name was Taro Shimabukuro, since he was a direct student of Kiyuna: "I received instruction from Kiyuna, who was at that time the grave keeper of the Sho family (the Okinawan royal family), from the second quarter which began in September of my first year until the mid-first quarter of my second year at the Commerce High School. Kiyuna, as I recall, would train in atemi by using old slippers made of straw and tied to trees call fukuchi-boku with the diameter of these trees ranging from 7 or 8 inches to one foot, which abundantly grew throughout Okinawa. Kiyuna often changed the punching trees since hitting only one tree would cause the tree to lose its leaves and damage the roots and also eventually kill the tree." Kiyuna was a gigantic figure and one could not see a person standing behind him. Kiyuna Tanmei continuously trained in the patsai form and the kusanku form of which he was considered an expert. He was extremely strong in all methods of atemi and fumikomi (stomp kicks with the foot sword). He was also an expert in oi-tsuki (a lunging punch), using his right side forward when the enemy used their left side forward but also changing to his left side forward when the enemy used their right side forward. Such a skill as his was far from being mastered by a small person like myself . Another interesting karate expert was Ryosei Kuwae who was also the last student of Sokon "Bushi" Matsumura. Kuwae was a very tall individual and was noted for being a kicking expert. The modern day Kuwae family, descendants of Ryosei Kuwae, still preserve the original scroll given to Ryosei by Bushi Matsumura in the latter's own script. I also would like to speak of Kentsu Yabu who was the senior most student of my teacher, Ankoh Itosu. Kentsu Yabu was an ex-serviceman who had joined the military and became a sergeant during the Sino-Japanese War of 1905. Another close friend of Yabu was Chomo Hanashiro . It was Hanashiro who was the first one to use the word karate as it is written today. He served as a military man in the Sino-Japanese War and was also a sergeant. After the war, Yabu taught karate at the Okinawa College of Education and Hanashiro taught at the Shuri City Senior High School. Both were at that time assistant instructors under Itosu. Although both Yabu and Hanashiro were recognized as the chief assistants under Itosu, it was both of them who did the actual teaching of karate. Itosu would often attend the classes as the senior teacher but would act more as an advisor and would occasionally correct the students arms and so forth. Both Yabu and Hanashiro were tall and very strong figures. Yabu was about 20 years older than I, and Hanashiro was about 18 years older than I (I was born on June 5, 1885). Another expert was Choto Yamakawa who was 7 years older than I and Ambun Tokuda (1886-1945) who one year junior to me; Shinpan Gusukuma (1890-1954) and Kenwa Mabuni (1889-1952) both were about five years younger than I. These individuals studied under Itosu for about four to five years. Tokuda and Gusukuma were both elementary school teachers in Okinawa. Tokuda died during the Second World War and Gusukuma died about seven or eight years after that war. Mabuni also passed away about fifteen years ago in the mainland (Japan proper). An interesting personality was Chotoku Kiyabu (Kyan) (1870-1945) who was called "Chan Miguwa" (the small-eyed one). Kiyabu was born in Shuri City and moved to Kadena while still very young. He died at the age of 76 after the war. He was 15 years senior to me and was of the same age as Gichin Funakoshi. Kiyabu studied under Shinpaku of Haku. As Kiyabu often trained with us, I came to know him fairly well. At those training meetings (which we called embukai ) he would often perform such kata as chinto, patsai and his method of kusanku. He was a great expert. Kiyabu's chinto kata and patsai kata were considered unique. He developed his interpretation of these forms based on his extensive knowledge of the older methods of Okinawan karate. His kusanku kata originated from the lineage of Chatan Yara. He actually learned this form from Yara of Yomitan who was a direct descendant of Chatan Yara. Kiyabu taught these forms to Taro Shimabukuro who in turn taught them to Seitoku Ishigawa. I was given instruction in both chinto and patsai kata from Ishigawa. Presently, this patsai form is now called the patsai-no-sho . Taro Shimabukuro, who is known in the Japanese as Yukoku Sanjin, was introduced to Kiyabu by Kiyuna and studied under him for some time. Kiyabu's father was a Bushi who served the then King Sho Tai while he stayed in the capital city of Shuri. Kiyabu was 18 years old at that time. Kiyabu was nicknamed Chan Miguwa because he had small beetle-like eyes that were considered too small for his little face. Kiyabu had two students for whom he held great expectations. One was Ankichi Aragaki (1899-1929) who was called Ufuyaaguwaa in the Okinawan dialect, and the other was Taro Shimabukuro (who was known as Yukoku Sanjin by the Japanese). Shimabukuro was also called Yamatoo and sometimes Yaaguwaa in the Okinawan dialect. Kiyabu devoted himself to teaching these two students. He would often tell them that training in the martial arts also included drinking and womanizing and would make them do everything. He would tell them to keep in mind that the ultimate goal was to master the philosophy of the martial arts. Kiyabu was very fond of traveling and used every opportunity when he could afford to do so. His wife was raising pigs and he took charge of selling the baby pigs so he could pocket some money to travel and visit the red-light district which used to exist nearby. Aragaki and Shimabukuro always accompanied their teacher in his travels. He often held training classes in the martial arts (in the Ryukyu martial arts this is called embukai) at different places and even on his way to the northern most island of Japan where he went to introduce karate. On those occasions he did not use the word "embukai" but would put up a sign which read: "Martial arts training! Everyone welcomed to train!" At one time the street fighter, Tokusampoo, unexpectedly came by their training area. Kiyabu advised Aragaki and Shimabukuro, to carefully watch this trouble maker. He told them that if Tokusampoo would challenge them or attack them in any way that it would be necessary for them to strike him to death, otherwise they would lose respect and if they did not cause his death that Tokusampoo would come back and kill them from behind. Tokusampoo did challenge them with his eyes but after he saw the challenge accepted with their eyes he concluded that he might die in an open confrontation and then left. The group was never troubled again by Tokusampoo's presence. Kiyabu also like rooster fighting. He would often visit rooster fights with his own rooster under his arm. One day Aragaki and Shimabukuro decided to test their teacher's strength while they were at a rooster fight. They intentionally started a fight with several young men who were present and then ran away. Kiyabu, without knowing what had happened, ran after them. The young men, thinking he was part of the fight, attacked him. Kiyabu fought with them with one arm and leg. He kept his rooster under his other arm all the while. The young men lost the fight. While Kiyabu fought with the young men, Aragaki and Shimabukuro hid in the bushes. After watching their teacher, both of them renewed their belief that Kiyabu was truly very strong. Kiyabu would often mention that a weapon should be used to fight against a weapon. Aragaki and Shimabukuro thus always wore specially made geta (wooden foot wear) and would train to perfect strong foot striking techniques by jumping up and kicking a beam of a ceiling. This was a very difficult technique to master but Kiyabu was an expert in all kicking and jumping methods as were all of his students. One evening Aragaki and Shimabukuro visited Kiyabu for an evening of training. They walked into Kiyabu's garden with a lighted paper lantern. Kiyabu immediately said that they should not rely on a lantern, but should train their eyes so they could see in the dark. Kiyabu often had them train in the dark and on uneven ground with water sprinkled on it in an effort to make them more aware of their balance. In addition to chinto, patsai and kusanku of Chatan Yara, Kiyabu also specialized in the kata ananku, which he learned and brought back from Taiwan (the present island of Formosa). Kiyabu taught ananku first when he was a teacher of karate at the College of Agriculture and Forestry. Joen Nakazato, who is presently a teacher in a junior high school, is one of the few people who learned the orthodox kata ananku from the originator, Kiyabu. Joen Nakazato is also a graduate of the College of Agriculture and Forestry and is an active teacher and originator of shorinji-ryu karate in Naha City. Another individual that should be remembered is Ihaguwaa of Haku (also known in the Japanese as Kotatsu Iha) who was born in 1873 and died in 1944. He was also a teacher of Taro Shimabukuro. Shimabukuro often said this to me: "Ihaguwaa Sensei was a descendant of a Ryukyu Bushi family. He studied under the great teachers, Hakushoo Mora (Kosaku Matsumora of Tomari-te, 1820-1898) and Shinpaku of Haku (Kokeu Oyadomari). Ihaguwaa was a considered a real fighter and was said to have left a large scar on the shoulder of Choki Motobu who was also known as Motobu Saru (Motobu the monkey)." Taro Shimabukuro was known for his mastery of the kata rohai and wanshu that he learned from Ihaguwaa Sensei. Another important individual that should be remembered is Choki Oshiro. Oshiro was four years younger than I (1889-1929). He once taught karate at the High School of Industries and we were very good friends. He died at about 40 years of age and was known for his powerful practice of bo-jutsu. He studied and mastered the style of Chinen Shichanaka bo-jutsu from Chinen Yamane. Choki Oshiro was a great master. All my seniors and juniors are now gone. I feel very lonely. Choshin Chibana, Hanshi 10-Dan Chief Instructor for theOkinawa Shorin-ryu Karatedo Association October 10, 1966
[1] Choshin Chibana stood 5'1" and weighed approximately 136 pounds. [2] Kentsu Yabu (1863-1937) was the acknowledged senior student of Ankoh Itosu. He was the first one to demonstrate Okinawan karate on American soil. In 1927 he demonstrated Shuri-te karate at the American-Okinawan Club located in Los Angeles, California. [3] Chomo Hanashiro (1869-1945) took over the leadership of the Itosu style upon the death of Kentsu Yabu in 1937. When Hanashiro died in 1945, Choshin Chibana then became the acknowledged successor of Ankoh Itosu. [4] The word karate is made up of two characters. The first character was translated as T'ang referring to the T'ang Dynasty of China and pronounced To . The second character translated as "hand," and was pronounced Te or De . An alternate reading of these two characters is translated as "tode" meaning Chinese Hands. Murakami Katsumi wrote: CHOSHIN CHIBANA, the first president of the Okinawa Karatedo Association and of the Okinawa Shorin-ryu Karatedo Association, said, " Before you begin your karate workout you must first clear your mind of those thoughts not connected with your training. Your mind must work in unison with your eyes, feet and hands. I believe that a person who trains correctly does not physically peak until he reaches 50 years of age. After that your body slowly begins to wear out. Some people, because of continued and correct training, show very little indications of their body wearing out and continue to train until they are 70 or 80 years of age. So, my advice is to continue to train hard but correctly so as to retard the aging process. " 
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