master
Master or masters may refer to:
Ranks or titles
* Ascended master, a term used in the Theosophical religious tradition to refer to spiritually enlightened beings who in past incarnations were ordinary humans
*Grandmaster (chess), National Master ...
of Goju-ryukarate.Higaonna, M. (1985): ''Traditional Karate-do: Vol. 1 – Okinawa Goju-ryu, fundamental techniques'' (p. 32). Tokyo: Minato Research. () He was a senior student of
Chōjun Miyagi
was an Okinawan martial artist who founded the Gōjū-ryū school of karate by blending Okinawan and Chinese influences.
Life Early life and training
Sensei Miyagi was born in Higashimachi, Naha, Okinawa on April 25, 1888. One of his paren ...
,Toguchi, S., Tamano, T., & Lenzi, S. (2001): ''Okinawan Goju-ryu II: Advanced techniques of Shorei-kan Karate'' (p. 14). Burbank, CA: Ohara Publications. () founder of the Goju-ryu style. Miyazato held the rank of 10th ''
dan
Dan or DAN may refer to:
People
* Dan (name), including a list of people with the name
** Dan (king), several kings of Denmark
* Dan people, an ethnic group located in West Africa
**Dan language, a Mande language spoken primarily in Côte d'Ivoi ...
'' in karate and 7th ''dan'' in
judo
is an unarmed modern Japanese martial art, Olympic sport (since 1964), and the most prominent form of jacket wrestling competed internationally.『日本大百科全書』電子版【柔道】(CD-ROM version of Encyclopedia Nipponica, "Judo"). ...
; on his death, he was honoured with the degree of 8th ''dan'' in judo.Okinawa Goju Ryu Karate Do Kyokai: Ei'ichi Miyazato Hanshi (''c.'' 2000). Retrieved on February 24, 2010.
Early life
Miyazato was born on July 5, 1922, in I-Chome, 13 Banchi, Higashi-machi, Naha, Okinawa, Okinawa Prefecture, Japan.Jundokan South Africa: Miyazato Ei'ichi Hanshi (''c.'' 2000). Retrieved on February 24, 2010. Some sources indicate that Miyazato began training under Miyagi at the age of 13, (''c.'' 2000). Retrieved on February 24, 2010. while others state that Miyazato first trained under his own father and only began training under Miyagi at the age of 15. Miyazato's father had been a student of Kanryo Higaonna, who had been Miyagi's teacher, so Miyagi accepted the young Miyazato as his student. Except for an interrupted period due to World War II, Miyazato learned from Miyagi continuously until the death of the latter in 1953. Apart from his karate training, he also studied judo under Shoko Itokazu.
Judo career
Miyazato was also a great judoka: he became champion of Okinawa 1950 or 1951. Miyazato also became a skilled judo master in the local police judo club and president of the Okinawa Judo Federation.
Karate career
Miyazato began practicing Karate with his father (student of Kanryo Higaonna) and then became a student of Miyagi around the age of 13. Since that time, Miyazato, except for a short period during the war, trained continuously with Miyagi until his death. He also assisted Miyagi in teaching in the Okinawa Police School and was also the only one to have learned the entire teaching system and all the Kata. Miyazato was also a judo instructor: a discipline that Miyagi himself invited him to cultivate as it was complementary to Goju Ryu Karate.
Myazato joined the Ryukyu Police Department on Miyagi's recommendation in 1946. He served as physical education instructor at the police academy,Hokama, T. (2005): ''100 masters of Okinawan Karate'' (p. 82). Okinawa: Ozata Print. and assisted Miyagi (then an instructor at the academy), teaching karate and judo there. Upon Miyagi's death in 1953, Miyazato inherited his teacher's training equipment; he also took up the position of teaching at the 'Garden ''dojo'',' which had been Miyagi's ''dojo''.
After Miyagi's death (1953), the family communicated that the founder of the style wanted Eiichi Miyazato to succeed him. The Goju Ryu committee (formed by its major students) at a meeting in February 1955 voted almost unanimously Eiichi Myzato as the official successor to Chojun Miyagi. In 1956, Miyazato opened his own ''dojo'', the Jundokan, in Asato,
Naha
is the capital city of Okinawa Prefecture, the southernmost prefecture of Japan. As of 1 June 2019, the city has an estimated population of 317,405 and a population density of 7,939 persons per km2 (20,562 persons per sq. mi.). The total area ...
. The building had three levels, with Miyazato's dwelling located on the top level. In 1972, he retired from the police force and devoted the rest of his life to teaching karate. Through the early 1970s, he served as Vice-President of the Okinawan Judo Federation and President of the Okinawa Prefecture Karate-do Federation.
On March 20, 1988, the Okinawa Goju-ryu Karate-do Kyokai awarded him the rank of 10th ''dan'' in karate. Apart from his karate rank, Miyazato held the rank of 7th ''dan'' in judo from the Kodokan, and was President of the Okinawa Judo Federation.
Later life
Miyazato received several awards for his contribution to the martial arts. In 1984, Miyazato received an official commendation from the Kodokan. In 1994, he was awarded a Commendation for Distinguished Service from the Nihon Budo Kyogikai and received an official commendation from the Okinawa Judo Federation. In 1998, he received an official commendation from the
Japanese Ministry of Education
The , also known as MEXT or Monka-shō, is one of the eleven Ministries of Japan that composes part of the executive branch of the Government of Japan. Its goal is to improve the development of Japan in relation with the international community ...
.
Following a period of poor health, Miyazato died on December 11, 1999, in Naha Hospital. On his death, the Kodokan awarded him the rank of 8th ''dan'' in judo. Miyazato's students included Teruo Chinen,
Morio Higaonna
is a prominent Okinawan karate practitioner who is the founder and former Chief Instructor of the International Okinawan Goju-ryu Karate-do Federation (IOGKF).Masaji Taira, and Mike Clarke. Miyazato's ''dojo'' is now run by his son, Yoshihiro Miyazato.
Notes
a. According to Miyazato Sensei son, Yoshihiro, his father passed away on December 11. Other Sources differ on the precise date of Miyazato's death. Most state that it was December 11,Dwyer, M. (''c.'' 2008) History of Okinawan Goju-Ryu Karate Retrieved on February 25, 2010; link has expired, as at October 31, 2010. (''c.'' 2009). Retrieved on February 25, 2010. (''c.'' 2000). Retrieved on February 25, 2010.East Wind Budo: Founders (''c.'' 2005). Retrieved on February 26, 2010. Retrieved on February 26, 2010. but others state that it was December 10 (''c.'' 2005). Retrieved on February 25, 2010. (''c.'' 2005). Retrieved on February 25, 2010. or December 13.Jundokan New Zealand: Grand Master Miyazato Eiichi 1922–1999 (''c.'' 2009). Retrieved on February 26, 2010. Retrieved on November 30, 2017.Rich Moser Judo training in Okinawa Retrieved on November 30, 2017.