A Brief History
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Kanryo Higaonna Chojun Miyagi Sensei Kanryo Higaonna (1853-1915), born in the city of Naha, Okinawa. Studied Okinawan kempo ("fist-method" or "way of the fist") and in 1867 traveled to Foochow, Fukien Province, China to study Chinese martial arts. He spent twenty years under the Chinese master Ryu Ryuko, who was believed to have studied at the southern Shaolin Temple and may have also taught in the White Crane tradition. Higaonna became Ryuko's personal disciple or uchi-deshi. It is believed that Higaonna returned to Okinawa in 1881 (Meiji Era) and later began a new Naha-Te school in his home of Nishishin-machi. He later taught at the Naha Commercial High School. Chojun Miyagi (1888-1953), born on Okinawa and at age of 11 or 12 began study with Sensei Ryuko Aragaki. At the age 14 he was introduced to Sensei Higaonna and later accepted as Higaonna's disciple studying Naha-te until Higaonna's death in 1915. From 1915 to 1917, Miyagi also studied in Foochow, Fukien province of China. After returning to Okinawa he taught at his home. From his study in China and his acquaintance with Chinese masters visiting Okinawa, Miyagi became well versed in and influenced by other Chinese martial arts, including White Crane boxing, Tiger Boxing, and Monk Fist. According to an account written by Master Morio Higaonna, in 1926, Miyagi founded the Okinawa Karate Kenkyu-Kai (Research Club) with Chomo Hanashiro of Shuri-Te, Choyu Motobu of Tomari-Te and Kenwa Mabuni. Soon after, he traveled to Japan to demonstrate what he called "toudijutsu" (China Hand Art) or what was simply known as Te (hand) on Okinawa. In 1933, "Goju-Ryu" was officially accepted by the Dai Nippon Butokokai (All Japan Martial Arts Association). This was the first "karate" so recognized. After World War II, Miyagi taught at the Police Academy of Okinawa and also accepted new students at his home. Miyagi was known as one of the first masters to systematize Karate as a self-defense method and as a spiritual endeavor that could be taught in a modern setting.
From his official biography: Seigo Tada (1922-1997), born in Kyoto, Japan. As early as 1937, he learned Chinese martial arts (Chinese Kenpo) from Sensei Ching Lou in Shanghai. He entered Ritsumeikan University in Kyoto and its Karate club. Then and after graduation, he studied the essence of Goju-Ryu Karate-do from Sensei Chojun Miyagi. In 1943 he was nominated as a coach of the Ritsumeikan University Karate Club. After graduation, he established the Nihon Seigokan Karate-doshikai (SAJKA), Nihon Goju-Ryu Karate-doshikai and Nihon Seigokai in Kyoto. He had been leading 120 Seigokan domestic dojos and branches, as well as University clubs and overseas dojos, as president and chief instructor.
In 1964, Master Seigo Tada joined as one of the promoters and executives in establishing and organizing the All Japan Karate-Do Federation, Kansai District Karate-do Federation, Kinki District Karate-do Federation and each prefectural karate-do federation, and pursued the union of each federation. He established competition rules and developed the original protector in 1952 for the purpose of modernizing Karate-do as a sport. In 1981, he won the Hyogo Prefecture Athletic Award of Merit.
Upon his death in 1997, Master Seigo Tada was succeeded by his wife, Mrs. Michiko Okamoto (Seigo Tada II), and subsequently by their son (Seigo Tada III) as president of the Seigokan organization. The contact information for the Seigokan headquarters is as follows: Kancho Seigo Tada III, The President
Sensei Marcos Collaco has taught Seigokan Goju-Ryu at his home and at the Peninsula Family YMCA (San Mateo, Calif.) in the San Francisco Bay Area for more than 25 years. Most recently, he teaches at the Foster City Athletic Club in Foster City, California USA. Here is an abbreviated lineage chart focusing on Mr. Collaco and the SF Bay Area group. A more detailed lineage chart appears here on the " Unofficial Brazilian Goju-Ryu" Web site. Master Seigo Tada (1922-1997) |
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Naming convention: Japanese names written below in English appear first with honorific title (e.g., "Sensei"), then given name followed by family name. (The Japanese language typically reverses this order, but I don't see any need to mimic this when speaking English).
