Morio Higaonna
Founder of the IOGKF and TOGKF, 10th dan Goju-Ryu master.
via Wikipedia: Morio Higaonna · see source
Morio Higaonna, an Okinawan karate master, founded and leads the Traditional Okinawan Goju-Ryu Karate-do Federation and the International Okinawan Goju Ryu Karate-do Federation. He holds the highest Goju-Ryu rank, 10th dan. Scholar Donn Draeger reportedly called him "the most dangerous man in Japan in a real fight."
Quick Facts
- Born
- 25 December 1938
- Birthplace
- Naha, Okinawa, Japan
- Martial art
- Okinawan Goju-ryu karate
- Teacher
- Eiichi Miyazato, Anichi Miyagi
- Rank
- 10th dan Goju-ryu karate
- Spouse
- Alanna Higaonna
- Children
- Seigi Eric Higaonna
Facts from the source article.
Early life
Morio Higaonna, born December 25, 1938, in Naha, Okinawa, is a renowned Goju-Ryu karate master. He founded the Traditional Okinawan Goju-Ryu Karate-do Federation and the International Okinawan Goju Ryu Karate-do Federation (IOGKF), and holds the system’s highest rank, 10th dan. He began training at age 14 in Shorin-ryu with his father and friend Tsunetaka Shimabukuro, who later directed him to Goju-Ryu. In 1954, Shimabukuro introduced him to Chojun Miyagi’s garden dojo, a year after Miyagi’s death. There, Eiichi Miyazato was head, but Higaonna’s primary instructor was An’ichi Miyagi. He followed An’ichi to the new Jundokan dojo in 1957, earning his black belt that same year. In 1960, he moved to Tokyo for university, and on December 30, he was promoted to 3rd dan at the first all-style grading of the Okinawa Karate-do Renmei. He taught at Tokyo’s Yoyogi dojo, building a large following. He received 5th dan in April 1966 and Menkyo Kaiden in January 1967, the highest level in Japan’s Menkyo system. Martial arts scholar Donn Draeger reportedly called him “the most dangerous man in Japan in a real fight.”
Promoting Goju-ryu across the world
In April 1967, Morio Higaonna assumed the position of karate Shihan in the Nihon University College of Humanities and Sciences. In May 1968, he accepted an invitation by the YMCA and traveled to Spokane in the US to conduct demonstrations and lectures, receiving an award from the Mayor of Spokane. On 10 October 1970, he represented Okinawan Goju-Ryu at a special demonstration during the first World Karate Tournament organized by WUKO at the Tokyo Budokan, receiving a letter of appreciation. He demonstrated again at the Third World Karate Tournament in 1972, also receiving a letter of appreciation. In May 1975, he accepted an invitation by the French Karate Association to teach in France, and again in 1977. In July 1979, he founded the IOGKF in Poole, England, at 7th dan through Eiichi Miyazato. He obtained permission from the Miyagi family for the use of the Miyagi family crest in the IOGKF logo. In 1980, the Japanese government invited him to give a special demonstration during the official state reception for the president of Mexico in Akasaka, Tokyo. In July 1981, the IOGKF held its first World Budosai and Tournament at the Budokan in Naha-city, in conjunction with the 60th Anniversary of Naha-City's founding. In 1982, Higaonna founded his own dojo in his home in Naha, known as 'Higaonna Dojo.' In 1983, the BBC aired the documentary 'Way of the Warrior,' featuring Higaonna and his training methods. In 1983, he began liaising with martial-arts practitioners in Fujian Province, China, to research the origins of Naha-te and Goju-ryu, leading to the first Okinawan karate seminar in Fuzhou in 1988. On 29 May 1984, he received his 8th dan and 9th dan promotions from Yuchoku Higa. In September 1987, he established the IOGKF Honbu Dojo in San Marcos, California, and moved with his family to Southern California. In October 1989, the IOGKF held an International Karate-do Tournament in San Diego, with An'ichi Miyagi as guest of honour. On 8 June 1990, he conducted a Budo Demonstration at the UN headquarters in New York. On 24 August 1990, he conducted a master's-level demonstration during the First World Okinawan Karate and Kobudo Festival. On 18 October 1991, the IOGKF held a seminar in Arkansas, and Higaonna received a commendation from Governor Bill Clinton; the Mayor of Fort Smith designated 18 October as 'Morio Higaonna Day.' In February 1992, the governor of Texas awarded him the honorary title of Admiral of the Texas Navy. In 1995, he became the karate and unarmed combat instructor of the Kremlin Guard, the Police Forces and the Secret Police Forces of the Russian Federation. In 1998, the Nihon Kobudo Kyokai recognized Okinawan Goju-ryu as a form of Japanese Kobudo and appointed Higaonna as the representative-master of the Goju-ryu system. In July 1999, the Mayor of Hamburg presented him with a letter of appreciation after a European Gassuku. In February 2000, former Minister for Education Masajuro Shiokawa awarded him a commendation for preserving and promoting Okinawan Goju-Ryu Karatedo.
Break with IOGKF
In 2022, Higaonna left the IOGKF and announced a new organization, the Traditional Okinawan Goju Ryu Karate-do Federation (TOGKF). Senior students including Bakkies Laubscher, Kazuo Terauchi, Juichi Kokubo, Masakazu Kuramoto, Yonekazu Uehara, George Andrews, and Yoshinori Yonesato followed him. In February 2024, the Nihon Kobudo Kyokai switched to Higaonna's TOGKF as its representative organization for Goju-ryu. In February 2023, IOGKF International reported fake e-mails circulating about Higaonna's departure. Attempts by IOGKF Chief Instructors led by Tetsui Nakamura to reconnect with Higaonna failed. In the February 2023 IOGKF International Magazine, vice chief instructor Ernie Molyneux expressed hope that members were not overly affected by the developments.
More in Karate Coaches
Spotted an error? Know more?
Reader corrections go straight into our review queue. Suggest an edit · How this site is sourced