To investigate the history of the Goju school one has to establish that its origin derives from Chinese Kempo, and from the ancient style developed in Okinawa, denominated “Tode,” which was systematically developed by the arrival of Chinese immigrants to the island. An example of this, is the massive migration that took place in the XIV century, with 36 Chinese families migrating to the island, and the monks who continuously arrived on the island for a variety of reasons. Typical of the Okinawan idiosyncrasy the Okinawan “Tode” had gone through considerable changes. It is Master Kanryo Higaona whom is attributed with the merits of such an initiative, creating a new style, the “Okinawa-te”.

KANRYO HIGAONNA
(1853-1915)

        Kanryo Higaonna was born on the 10 March 1853 in the city of Naha, Okinawa. He belonged to a family with an honourable lineage that at the time had become impoverished. They would make their living transporting firewood from the Kerama Island. Due to the precarious condition in which the family lived, the young Kanryo commenced helping his father in the family business at the age of ten.