08/10/2018
Remembering Chojun Miyagi sensei on the day of his passing. He left behind a vast legacy in the form of Goju-Ryu. What was Miyagi sensei like? All accounts say he was a very strict teacher. Kata would be taught step by step and you would only learn the next step when you could perform the previous one perfectly. According to testimony from both Toguchi sensei and Yagi sensei Miyagi would sometimes say a lioness throws her cubs off a cliff so only the strongest will survive. In this way Miyagi sensei only wanted the strongest to be his students. Training for the first three years was often said to consist of only Junbi Undo, Hojo Undo and Sanchin. This was not only to build up a strong body but also to test the student's resolve and character. Even before the training begins you could spend months simply moving stones around in the garden or other work. There were no dan grades or ranks at all, Miyagi sensei didn't believe in that. After three years maybe, you might learn another kata or two. After his death most of his students got the kata from each other.
Another saying of Miyagi sensei (recalled by Genkai Nakaima):
"Goju is the willow tree blown by the strong wind," said Miyagi Sensei. The strong wind blows the willow. The willow never resists the wind, just remains passive, but will never be broken or destroyed. In this way we take advantage of the opponent's strength flow. It is a secret of the arts that we have to master through the practice"
Today it's important to remember Miyagi sensei and his legacy.
