What’s up everybody?
I’m the Goju-Ryu Philosopher, and today
we’re going to take a look at the spectacular
martial artist who was selected by Miyagi
Chojun Sensei’s students to take over instruction
at his garden dojo in 1953, after he passed
away.
Miyazato Ei’ichi was one of the most acclaimed
successors of Miyagi, and helped to perpetuate
the often-ignored tradition of grappling in
karate.
Let’s get into it.
Miyazato Sensei was born in 1922 and, like
so many karateka, got his first introduction
into martial arts through his father, who
trained him on the makiwara and chi-ishi to
develop his strength starting at age 13.
In 1938, Miyazato was introduced to Miyagi
Chojun Sensei, and began his Goju-Ryu education.
At the same time, he began to study and practice
Judo under Itokazu Shoto Sensei.
Both of these martial arts would become vital
for him as he continued to study and train
throughout the rest of his life.
Miyazato Sensei studied continuously with
Miyagi Sensei, with the exception of the period
during the second World War when Miyagi halted
his teaching.
In 1946, on Miyagi’s recommendation, he
joined the local police department where he
served as the physical education instructor.
At the time, Miyagi Sensei was teaching karate
at the police academy, and Miyazato assisted
with his sensei’s karate instruction while
also teaching his judo.
He also took on additional roles helping to
teach at Miyagi’s Garden Dojo.
Miyazato Sensei also competed in judo, winning
the All Okinawa Judo Championship at least
once in the early 1950s.
Miyazato Sensei would later reflect on the
post-war period as being a somber and stressful
time for karateka around the island.
He describes Miyagi’s training sessions
as being 2-4 hours long, with students free
to come and go as need be, with a maximum
of 10 students present at any time.
Miyagi Sensei’s house was in poor condition
due to damage sustained by the war, and he
was not making a profit from teaching, so
Miyazato had the goal of raising donations
to improve the quality of the training space.
However, in 1953, Miyagi Chojun Sensei passed
away, leading to a different question: one
of successorship.
Though not the official successor, Miyazato
Ei’ichi Sensei was selected by Miyagi’s
family to serve as the instructor at the Garden
Dojo.
He also inherited Miyagi’s gi, obi, and
hojo undo equipment.
In 1957, he built the Jundokan, a structure
that comprised both his dojo and his house,
and moved his teaching to that location.
Miyazato Sensei continued to teach many karateka
who had either begun training under Miyagi
Sensei or started training shortly after the
Goju-Ryu founder’s death, and remained in
close contact with other students of Miyagi
such as Higa Seko and Yagi Meitoku.
Miyazato Sensei retired from the police force
in 1972, but was continuously active in the
Goju-Ryu and judo communities of Okinawa.
He helped to establish the Okinawa Goju-Ryu
Karate-Do Kyokai, and served as the organization’s
president for several years.
He also served as president of the Okinawa
Judo Federation, and was ranked at 7th dan
by the Judo Kodokan during his lifetime.
He also received the rank of 10th dan in Goju-Ryu
in 1988, and was commended by the Japanese
Ministry of Education.
Miyazato Sensei incorporated his judo into
the training program at the Jundokan, stating
his belief that cross-training with other
martial arts was of benefit to one’s karate.
Shortly before his passing in December of
1999, Miyazato conducted an interview where
he discussed the future of Goju-Ryu, as well
as controversies surrounding the lineage of
succession.
This interview is an amazing source of information
on the way that Goju-Ryu had been taught by
Miyagi Sensei, and about the ethos that he
brought to his training in the Jundokan.
He also spoke positively about sparring matches,
mentioning that protective gear will help
students further their technique.
When Miyazato Ei’ichi Sensei passed away,
he was posthumously promoted to 8th dan in
judo by the Kodokan, and mourned by the international
Goju-Ryu community that he helped to build.
Thanks for watching this episode of History
of Goju-Ryu.
If you haven’t seen the other videos in
this series, I recommend giving them a watch.
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a comment telling my who you’d like to see
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I’ve been the Goju-Ryu Philosopher, and
go out and cross-train.
