A Brief History of the IOGKF
The
International Okinawan Goju-Ryu Karate-Do Federation (IOGKF) was established
in July 1979 at a meeting held in Poole, England, at the first ever IOGKF
International Gasshuku (training camp). The IOGKF was established by Sensei
Morio Higaonna with the support and backing of Mr. Ken Miyagi (fourth son
of Grandmaster Chojun Miyagi, founder of Goju-Ryu), senior Senseis in Okinawa
(many of them students of Chojun Miyagi), and senior students of Master Kanryo
Higaonna.
The original purpose of the IOGKF, as set forth then, was to preserve and
protect the true teachings and philosophy of Grandmaster Chojun Miyagi, and
to spread these teachings throughout the world. This purpose still remains
as the primary theme of the IOGKF today. To this end, training seminars and
training camps are conducted around the world by Higaonna Sensei each year,
as well as by many of his senior students. Because of the great dedication
and determination of Higaonna Sensei and other senior members, the IOGKF now
has approximately 50,000 affiliated members in over 45 nations around the
world.
The Administrative Director for the IOGKF is Morio Higaonna's wife, Alanna
Higaonna. In 1987 Higaonna Sensei and his family relocated their primary residence
from Japan to Carlsbad, California in the United States. At that time the
IOGKF Administrative Headquarters (Honbu Office) was relocated to Carlsbad
as well. The Technical Headquarters (Technical Honbu) for the IOGKF, however,
remains in Okinawa, and Higaonna Sensei, when he is not teaching gasshukus
in other countries, now splits his time between the U.S. and Okinawa.
