The International Okinawan Goju-Ryu Karate-do Federation (IOGKF) is one of the finest, traditional karate organizations in the world today. Under the leadership of our master, Sensei Morio Higaonna, 10th dan, the IOGKF is committed to preserving the intangible cultural treasure of Okinawan Goju-Ryu Karate-do, which has been passed down to us in its original form from one generation to the next. Since its establishment in 1979, the IOGKF has attracted culturally diverse martial arts practitioners from around the world, who have joined the organization after recognizing the authenticity and excellence of the IOGKF and its direct karate lineage tracing back to Bushi Chojun Miyagi, the founder of Okinawan Goju-Ryu Karate-do. Our members actively support our mission, objectives, and activities. The IOGKF sponsors interactive website forums, weekend seminars, and international martial arts events for its members to stay informed with news updates, improve their ongoing knowledge and skills, and develop life-long friendships. The IOGKF now has members in over 50 affiliated countries worldwide and is the largest Okinawan karate organization in the world.
We believe that Okinawan Goju-Ryu Karate-do training benefits all practitioners, regardless of their nationality, race, age, or gender. We have members as young as three years old up to those over 80 years of age. The IOGKF has a worldwide network of leadership groups and karate schools in different countries with highly-qualified chief instructors and dojo instructors to meet the needs of students and families. Training at their own pace, each IOGKF member will improve their mind (mental health, education, and language); body (self defense skills, physical fitness, flexibility, and endurance); and spirit (character, positive attitude, and contributions to society). It is our goal to improve the “quality of life” for all of our IOGKF members to help make a positive impact on the world. The IOGKF welcomes all potential new members to join our international karate family!
An'ichi Miyagi
Sensei passed away
An'ichi
Miyagi Sensei (The successor of Chojun Miyagi Sensei,
Supreme Master of IOGKF) passed away April 28th,
2009. Please send your condolence message to
admin@iogkf.com.
Condolence
Messages
An'ichi Miyagi
Sensei Biography
Fuzhou China
Goju-Ryu History Research Report
The Goju-Ryu history research trip inFuzhou was a great success.
This was the sixth visit for Higaonna Sensei. Our whole
group received a warm welcome from the Fuzhou Wushu
Association, as well as from Fuzhou city, and its
citizens. They organized a Wushu/Karate friendship kata
competition. Many different styles of Chinese martial
artists of all ages participated and showed us their
forms. During our stay, there were news broadcasts on
TV and articles in the newspapers about this event every
day. We also had private exchange demonstrations of "Sanchin
kata" from various different Fuzhou Wushu masters and
discussions about the roots of our style.
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The Fuzhou city officials invited us for dinner one night, and at
the dinner Higaonna Sensei presented friendship letters
from Naha City and the Okinawa prefectural government to
the Vice-Mayor of Fuzhou. Now, there is a possibility
of getting Okinawan Goju-Ryu into their school system in
Fuzhou. We also had a meeting with a Fuzhou University
history professor, and inquired about Ryu Ryu Ko and the
history of the city in the era when Kanryo Higaonna
Sensei went to Fuzhou. We also visited a South Shaolin
Temple as well as the potential place/temple where Ryu
Ryu Ko trained in Shaolin-style martial arts (it has
been said that he trained at the temple on the top of
the mountain in the Fuzhou area). The temple was in the
Chinese military area and regular people are not allowed
to visit. We received special permission from the city
to see it.
The more details of the trip will be reported in the
future IOGKF international newsletter.
The following is the list of the members who were
on the trip.
Sensei Morio Higaonna (IOGKF Chief Instructor)
Sensei Katsuya Yamashiro (IOGKF Chairman)
Sensei Ernie Molyneux (IOGKF Executive Committee, EGKA
Chief Instructor)
Sensei Henrik Larsen (IOGKF Executive Committee, IOGKF
Denmark Chief Instructor)
Sensei Tetsuji Nakamura (IOGKF Vice-Chief Instructor,
IOGKF Administrative Director)
Sensei Lam King Fung (IOGKF China Chief Instructor)
Mr. Ricky Tusi (IOGKF China)
Mr. Jacob Kold (IOGKF Denmark)
Mr. Eric Higaonna (IOGKF Canada)
Sifu Hung Ting Seng (Former treasurer of Fuzhou Wushu
Association, Canada)
We also had about 10 members who participated in the
friendship kata competition from IOGKF China.
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South Shaolin Temple
MCF
2009 Feedback
MCF 2009 You Tube video
Please
e-mal the feedback of your experience of MCF 2009 to
admin@iogkf.com
MCF
2009 Event Report
MCF 2009
was a tremendous success. There were over 200 participants
from Canada, USA, Mexico, Venezuela, England, Sweden,
Israel, Japan, Germany and Saudi Arabia.
A few
days before the event, we received very sad news from Higaonna Sensei that An'ichi Miyagi Sensei had passed
away. It was a great loss for all Goju-Ryu
practitioners. All participants
really appreciated that Higaonna Sensei came to Canada
for MCF at such a difficult time. The first class of
the event was dedicated to An'ichi Miyagi Sensei. We
performed 78 Gekisai Dai Ichi kata to show our
appreciation to An'ichi Miyagi Sensei who passed away at
the age of 78. During the first two days of training,
we spread the participants into groups by rank, and
guest instructors taught each class. Participants had
opportunities to learn from some of the finest sensei in
IOGKF.
The
talent contest on Friday night was great fun. Many
members came up on the stage to demonstrate their talent
in singing, dancing and more. It was great to see big
smiles and laughs; a different side of our members
outside of the dojo floor. This event created a closer
feeling between our members. IOGKF is one big family.
Higaonna
Sensei arrived late Friday night as he had to attend
An'ichi Sensei's funeral. Saturday morning, Higaonna
Sensei spent a lot of time with the whole group going
through details of junbi undo (warm up exercises) and
kihon (basic techniques). It was a great session, and
we all appreciated his commitment and spirit to share
his knowledge with all of us at such a difficult time.
On
Saturday night, we had the IOGKF 30th anniversary and
Higaonna Sensei's 70th birthday party. We also
celebrated An'ichi Miyagi Sensei's life and showed our
appreciation for what he did for all of us. We had a
presentation video on the big screen about the life and
history of Higaonna Sensei, An'ichi Miyagi Sensei and
IOGKF. Several senior instructors made speeches for
Higaonna Sensei. It was a wonderful night.
We received
many comments from participants that they feel so lucky
and honoured to be a part of such a great organization.
On
Sunday after intense training with Higaonna Sensei, we
had a masters’ demonstration. It was great to see many
skilful performances of Goju-Ryu sensei, as well as
masters from other styles.
Higaonna
Sensei's 70th Birthday Gift
For
Higaonna Sensei's 70th birthday gift, IOGKF North
American Dojo and participants of MCF 2009 raised funds
and gave him a three-night trip to Lake Louise in the
Canadian Rocky Mountains, one of the most beautiful
places on the planet. Higaonna Sensei really enjoyed
being in such magnificent natural surroundings. He
mentioned many times that it is hard to describe how
beautiful it was. He was very relaxed and refreshed.
Higaonna Sensei want to thank all dojo and individuals
that contributed to this special birthday gift. Please
check photo gallery at
www.iogkf.ca for pictures of the trip.
