KANRYO HIGAONNA
Kanryo Higaonna, born on March 10, 1853, in Nishi-shin-machi, Naha, Okinawa, hailed from a merchant family that traded firewood, a valuable commodity in the Ryukyu Islands. His family name, pronounced “Higaonna” in Okinawan, is sometimes written as “Higashionna” in Japanese, with both spellings appearing interchangeably in Western sources, though “Higaonna” is preferred in Goju-Ryu circles to honor its Okinawan roots. References to an older relative named Higaonna Kanryu surface in some oral traditions, but this connection lacks widespread historical documentation and remains speculative.
In the early 1860s, Higaonna began studying Okinawan martial arts under Arakaki Seisho, a respected teacher. At that time, the term “karate” was not yet common, and martial arts were referred to as “Te” (hand), often distinguished by their regional origins, such as Naha-te, Shuri-te, or Okinawa-te. Around 1868–1870, Higaonna traveled to Fuzhou in Fujian Province, China, where he immersed himself in Chinese martial arts for approximately 5 to 15 years, returning to Okinawa by the early 1880s. Accounts of a 20-year stay are less plausible given the timeline. He likely studied under teachers like Wai Xinxian, Kojo Tatai, or Iwah at the Kojo Dojo initially, but his primary instructor was Ru Ru Ko (also known as Ryu Ryu Ko, To Ru Ko, or Lu Lu Ko, possibly Xie Zhongxiang, linked to Whooping Crane or White Crane Kung Fu). A popular anecdote claims Higaonna, being illiterate, performed household chores for Ru Ru Ko and earned training by saving the master’s daughter from drowning during a flood. This story, while compelling, is considered apocryphal due to insufficient primary evidence. Although Higaonna may have had limited formal education, his management of a merchant business suggests at least basic literacy.
Upon returning to Okinawa around 1881–1883, Higaonna resumed the family firewood trade and began teaching martial arts in Naha. His system, later formalized as Goju-Ryu by his student Chojun Miyagi, blended go-no (hard) and ju-no (soft) techniques, earning the name “Naha-te” to distinguish it from other Okinawan styles like Shuri-te. Higaonna gained renown for his mastery of Sanchin kata, a foundational Goju-Ryu form emphasizing breathing, strength, and rooted stances. Students reportedly described the wooden floor becoming “hot” from the intensity of his foot gripping, a vivid anecdote that likely exaggerates his powerful practice for effect.
Higaonna’s teachings profoundly influenced karate’s development, with several students becoming prominent masters. Chojun Miyagi, who founded Goju-Ryu, and Juhatsu Kyoda, who established To’on-Ryu, were among his most notable disciples. Other students, such as Higa Seiko and Shiroma Shinpan (also known as Gusukuma), carried forward his legacy. Kenwa Mabuni, the founder of Shito-Ryu, may have briefly trained with Higaonna but primarily studied under Anko Itosu. References to Koki Shiroma as a student are less common and may be specific to certain dojo lineages.