Grandmaster Kanryo Higashionna Founder of Naha-te Karate-jutsu (1853 - 1915)

The art of Naha-te, founded by Kanryo Higaonna Sensei, forms the basis of Goju Ryu Karate.

Grand master Kanryo Higaonna (Higashionna was the original Okinawan pronounciation) was born on March 10, 1853, in Naha, the capital city of Okinawa. Kanryo Higaonna Sensei was especially known for his incredible speed, strength and power. Higaonna began his martial arts training in 1867 in Monk Fist Boxing (Lohan Quan) from Aragaki Seisho. In 1870, at the age of 16, he traveled with his instructor to Fuzhou, China. Once in Fuzhou he studied the Chinese martial arts under the great Master RuRuKo (Xie Zhonh Xiang in Chinese). In the year 1881, he returned to Okinawa where his martial arts would become known as Naha-te Kanryo Higaonna is now bestowed with the title "Kensei (sacred fists) Kanryo Higaonna" a title which is eminently fitting. His name is synonymous with Okinawan martial arts and Naha-te, and his spirit is destined to live on forever as a great and valued treasure within Okinawan culture.Kanryo Higaonna's whole life was devoted to karate. He passed away in December 1915 at the age of 63.

Chojun Miyagi (1888 - 1953)

Chojun Miyagi was born on April 25,1888. He began his Karate training in Shuri-te and at the age of 14 was introduced to Kanryo Higaonna with whom he began his study of Naha-te. Like his teacher before him, because of his great natural talent and fierce determination, he progressed very rapidly. The training was severe beyond belief at times but he practiced ever harder with an enthusiasm unmatched by any of the other students. Chojun Miyagi became "uchi deshi" (private discipline) of Kanryo Higaonna. He studied with his teacher for 14 years before his teacher's death in 1915.

Chojun Miyagi worked hard to spread Karate throughout Okinawa and mainland Japan, and to earn his toudi a status equal to that of the highly respected Japanese martial arts of Judo and Kendo.

Chojun Miyagi dedicated his whole life to Karate. He was responsible for structuring his toudi (which he later named Goju-Ryu) into a systemized discipline which could be taught to society in general. This teaching system that he formulated enabled Karate to be taught in schools for the benefit of the young, and to reach vast numbers of people throughout the world. However, his private teaching at his home remained strictly in adherence to the principles and traditions of his teacher, Kanryo Higaonna, and his teacher before him, RuRuKo.

In 1930, Chojun Miyagi chose the name Goju-Ryu (hard and soft school) as a name for his style.

Grand Master Kiichi Nakamoto (1931)

Kiichi Nakamoto started his Goju Ryu karate training with  Chojun Miyagi at the Garden Dojo in 1939, some 80 years ago and is believed to be the only remaining direct student of Chojun Miyagi still actively training and teaching today.

During World War II his family took refuge in Hong Kong thus missing the devastation of Okinawa.  On his return to Okinawa like many they were primarily focused on trying to survive, but he soon found his way back into karate training with Chojun Miyagi at the Garden Dojo.  He continued to train with Miyagi Sensei until his passing in 1953, at which time he continued to follow Eiichi Miyazato Sensei first at the Garden Dojo and then following him to the Jundokan Dojo. Eiichi Miyazato entrusted Kiichi Nakamoto with the responsibility for taking the monthly Masters Class, which produced many notable modern day Goju Ryu Masters such Morio Higoanna, Teruo Chinen, Masaji Taira, Shinzo Chinen, Masanari Kikugawa. He was one of the few Jundokan students promoted to 10th Dan directly by Miyazato Sensei.

Nakamoto Hanshi is a direct blood line descendant of the Ugushuku Samurai Family.  He started his Kobudo training with Shosei Kina Soke in 1958.   Shosei Kina Sensei was the 2nd head master of Ufuchiku Kobujutsu. He continued his training with Kina Sensei until his passing in 1980, at which time he continued to train with Kina Sensei’s senior most student Shinyei Kyan until his passing in 1997. On 25 October 1995 he was granted 10th Dan in Kobudo by Shinyei Kyan.

Nakamoto Hanshi is the 4th Soke, or head master of the Ufuchiku Kobujutsu. His achievements in the field of Traditional Martial Arts is as mentioned below.

• A lifetime of devoted service in the Martial Arts, since at age 6 
• He is revered as one of the finest weapons and karate Grand Masters in Okinawa
• He is a direct descendant of the great Uhugusuku Samurai Family, the personal bodyguards of the Okinawa Kings and in charge of security for the Shuri Castle 
• Personal student of the great Kina, Shosei Weapons Grand Master, the successor to the Uhugusuku Samurai Family Weaponry System
• Personal student of Chojun Miyagi, founder of Goju ryu Karate 
• 10th Degree Grand Master of Weaponry
• 10th Degree Grand Master, Goju ryu Karate
• 10th Degree Karate-Do, All Japan Dojo Federation
• Iaido Grand Master (Samurai sword) 
• President of the "Ryukyu Dento Kobujutsu Hozon Budo Kyokai", Ryukyu Weapons Society
• President of the Goju Ryu Okinawa-Kan Karate-do Kyokai

Sensei Rakessh Kumar Runwal (1981)

Sensei Rakesh Kumar Runwal began his martial arts journey at the age of 13 in Pune, India, training in various karate styles. His passion for Goju Ryu Karate led him to follow and teach this traditional art form. Driven by his dedication to karate, he left his corporate job as a Software Engineer at Infosys to pursue his passion

In 2019, Sensei Rakessh fulfilled his dream of training in Okinawa, Japan, the birthplace of Goju Ryu Karate. He received IVth DAN (YONDAN) from Grandmaster Kiichi Nakamoto, a 10th Degree Hanshi of Goju Ryu Karate, and learned from the world's best and most senior masters in Goju Ryu style.

He is one of the very few direct students of Grandmaster Kiichi Nakamoto in India.

Join ZENDANKAI Martial Art Academy to embark on a journey of self-discovery, physical fitness, and martial arts excellence under the guidance of Sensei Rakessh Kumar Runwal.