I'll probably post this several times so forgive my redundancy. My sensei "Lou Angel" recently passed away. He has considerable notoriety in bring Japanese GoJu Ryu to the Middle US. Starting primarily in Oklahoma, Missouri & Arkansas and branching out from there. I studied under him in the mid 1970's to early 1980's. He study under Peter Urban who also got him an introduction to Gogan Yamaguchi where Sensei Angel travel, trained & promoted to 3rd Dan in the very late 50's or very early 60's. Its pretty easy to find basic info on him but nothing beyond whats been published on the net over the past 15 years or so. It would be an honor if you could look into his tremendous influence in promoting the art over his life time & perhaps mention your findings. His reputation is of great significance in Middle America in how far he advance not just GoJu Ryu but the martial arts in general. He truly was a great man. Peace.
An experienced martial artist has the eyes to see what he or she needs even if the time available is short. So I am sure despite the lack of time in China, he learned enough to help mold his approach and the katas he developed.
I think one of the distinct differences that may have been lost to all but a few Martial Artists are the Bridge hand techniques which are studied to a lesser or greater degree in different Ryukyu Arts. I think that in Miyagi's travels instead of learning Kata, I think he may have discussed and researched principles of the related Hakka arts that influenced the Okinawan Te Styles as well as looking into the Udundi or go-ten-te systems that were practiced at the time. I know my Systems Chief Instructor (Seiyu Oyata) had this opportunity because his family came from Okinawan nobility and he applied the Udundi Principles and methodologies to the Ryukyu Kempo Katas he learned under Shigeru Nakamura and one of his practice partners was Uehara Sensei.
Glad I found you! Always wanted to learn the history of these great arts! Amazing that this all happened just a 100 to 150 years ago. I would have expected these sorts of Martial Arts to have been developed and studied as far back as the 1400 to 1600's but not so recent. So sad that probably the American Bombing in WW2 caused so much to be burned and destroyed. A recommended reading list would be appreciated!
Thanks so much for sharing your reflections on the history of Goju-ryu and the origins of its kata. I think your hypothesis that Miyagi added a number of Kaishugata to the syllabus he learned from Higaonna is intriguing, and of course provocative since it runs counter to traditional Goju history. At one point in the video you call this a fact, however, which seems to beg the question. It seems to me that the evidence in support of your hypothesis is (1) that Juhatsu Kyoda, another senior student of Higaonna, only taught four of the kata commonly attributed to Higaonna (sanchin, seisan, sanseiru, and suparimpei), and (2) that saifa, seiunchin, shisochin, seipai, and kururunfa likely came from a different lineage (or lineages) than sanchin, seisan, sanseiru, and suparimpei. But both of these lines of evidence can be explained by the traditional history, which says that Higaonna taught all of the above-mentioned kata, with Miyagi adding tensho and the two gekisai kata when he created Goju-ryu.If we look at the original syllabus of another major student of Higaonna, Mabuni Kenwa, we see that he not only taught all of the traditional kaishugata attributed to Higaonna, but also named these kata the “Higaonna lineage” of his Shito-ryu. If we also accept that Miyagi taught differently before WWII, and that he probably taught like his teacher Higaonna, teaching sanchin and one other kata to most students according to an individualized model, isn’t it possible that Higaonna taught Kyoda, Miyagi, and Mabuni differently, and that he only taught Kyoda four kata? As for the differences between the kata conventionally attributed to Higaonna, these can be explained by Patrick McCarthy’s hypothesis that Higaonna had more than one teacher, which doesn’t strictly contradict the conventional history as Higaonna never claimed that Ryu Ryu Ko was his only teacher, or that he was an inheritor of his style of quanfa. This is a more “conservative” explanation, I think, as it doesn’t require us to completely rewrite the history of Goju-ryu, or of other Higaonna-lineage styles like Shito-ryu.
Hello Goju phillosopher; My instructor is a 10th degree Hanshi his name is Rick Moore,inWhitehall Ohio,a suburb of Columbus Ohio. His Dojo is Ric Moore Academy. That's where I train, when I'm physically up to it. I'm retired. I'm 69 years old, with a bad heart and a two time Cancer Survivor. I a Bachloriate in B.A.I apologize for giving you my life story this time. I was was wondering if there was a Goju School in or around Columbus. Thanks
Taking a good look at Tensho, you will see that the first open hand sequences are the same movements of Mawashi Uke, with both parts of it being done with one side at a time. So either Goju Ryu's mawashi uke is taken from Tensho, or Miyagi Sensei broke down mawashi uke, to create Tensho. I tend towards the latter. And as far as Crane Boxing is concerned, the footwork involves the lifting of the foot for stepping, whereas in Goju Ryu footwork, the feet rarely separate from the ground. For me, it is closer related to Hakka footwork, - Southern Praying Mantis.
What are the chances of being able to interview you for my podcast “the invisible Sensei” on spotify, i think your content is excellent and it would be awesome to hear your story
Very interesting quote from Miyazato! I know that Gogen said the same thing (gojukan.org/05ikga/d08_profiles_jgy.htm). Some within Goju kai says that this was the reason Gogen took Goshi to Meitoku Yagi so he could learn the real/old Goju Ryu. Goshi has released 2 very interesting DVD's where he (and and his son, among others) shows the "old" Goju Ryu (It really is a mixture in those DVDs between "old" and "new", but it shows a lot of the pre-war practice techniques). See you in Hawaii! :-D
Youngster, you are so appreciated
Great job Thank you from a former student of Go Ju...
I'll probably post this several times so forgive my redundancy. My sensei "Lou Angel" recently passed away. He has considerable notoriety in bring Japanese GoJu Ryu to the Middle US. Starting primarily in Oklahoma, Missouri & Arkansas and branching out from there.
I studied under him in the mid 1970's to early 1980's.
He study under Peter Urban who also got him an introduction to Gogan Yamaguchi where Sensei Angel travel, trained & promoted to 3rd Dan in the very late 50's or very early 60's. Its pretty easy to find basic info on him but nothing beyond whats been published on the net over the past 15 years or so. It would be an honor if you could look into his tremendous influence in promoting the art over his life time & perhaps mention your findings. His reputation is of great significance in Middle America in how far he advance not just GoJu Ryu but the martial arts in general. He truly was a great man.
Peace.
I’m a shotokan practitioner but am thoroughly enjoying your content. This history is fantastic!
An experienced martial artist has the eyes to see what he or she needs even if the time available is short. So I am sure despite the lack of time in China, he learned enough to help mold his approach and the katas he developed.
I think one of the distinct differences that may have been lost to all but a few Martial Artists are the Bridge hand techniques which are studied to a lesser or greater degree in different Ryukyu Arts. I think that in Miyagi's travels instead of learning Kata, I think he may have discussed and researched principles of the related Hakka arts that influenced the Okinawan Te Styles as well as looking into the Udundi or go-ten-te systems that were practiced at the time. I know my Systems Chief Instructor (Seiyu Oyata) had this opportunity because his family came from Okinawan nobility and he applied the Udundi Principles and methodologies to the Ryukyu Kempo Katas he learned under Shigeru Nakamura and one of his practice partners was Uehara Sensei.
Very interesting indeed! I've watched quite a few of your videos and found them to be very informative. I have therefore subscribed :)
You asked where I would like to travel to learn more martial arts.
The Past.
Glad I found you! Always wanted to learn the history of these great arts! Amazing that this all happened just a 100 to 150 years ago. I would have expected these sorts of Martial Arts to have been developed and studied as far back as the 1400 to 1600's but not so recent. So sad that probably the American Bombing in WW2 caused so much to be burned and destroyed. A recommended reading list would be appreciated!
Thanks so much for sharing your reflections on the history of Goju-ryu and the origins of its kata. I think your hypothesis that Miyagi added a number of Kaishugata to the syllabus he learned from Higaonna is intriguing, and of course provocative since it runs counter to traditional Goju history. At one point in the video you call this a fact, however, which seems to beg the question. It seems to me that the evidence in support of your hypothesis is (1) that Juhatsu Kyoda, another senior student of Higaonna, only taught four of the kata commonly attributed to Higaonna (sanchin, seisan, sanseiru, and suparimpei), and (2) that saifa, seiunchin, shisochin, seipai, and kururunfa likely came from a different lineage (or lineages) than sanchin, seisan, sanseiru, and suparimpei. But both of these lines of evidence can be explained by the traditional history, which says that Higaonna taught all of the above-mentioned kata, with Miyagi adding tensho and the two gekisai kata when he created Goju-ryu.If we look at the original syllabus of another major student of Higaonna, Mabuni Kenwa, we see that he not only taught all of the traditional kaishugata attributed to Higaonna, but also named these kata the “Higaonna lineage” of his Shito-ryu. If we also accept that Miyagi taught differently before WWII, and that he probably taught like his teacher Higaonna, teaching sanchin and one other kata to most students according to an individualized model, isn’t it possible that Higaonna taught Kyoda, Miyagi, and Mabuni differently, and that he only taught Kyoda four kata? As for the differences between the kata conventionally attributed to Higaonna, these can be explained by Patrick McCarthy’s hypothesis that Higaonna had more than one teacher, which doesn’t strictly contradict the conventional history as Higaonna never claimed that Ryu Ryu Ko was his only teacher, or that he was an inheritor of his style of quanfa. This is a more “conservative” explanation, I think, as it doesn’t require us to completely rewrite the history of Goju-ryu, or of other Higaonna-lineage styles like Shito-ryu.
Again a greatly informative video nice Shisochin! Are you on instagram?
Hello Goju phillosopher; My instructor is a 10th degree Hanshi his name is Rick Moore,inWhitehall Ohio,a suburb of Columbus Ohio. His Dojo is Ric Moore Academy. That's where I train, when I'm physically up to it. I'm retired. I'm 69 years old, with a bad heart and a two time Cancer Survivor. I a Bachloriate in B.A.I apologize for giving you my life story this time. I was was wondering if there was a Goju School in or around Columbus. Thanks
Taking a good look at Tensho, you will see that the first open hand sequences are the same movements of Mawashi Uke, with both parts of it being done with one side at a time. So either Goju Ryu's mawashi uke is taken from Tensho, or Miyagi Sensei broke down mawashi uke, to create Tensho. I tend towards the latter. And as far as Crane Boxing is concerned, the footwork involves the lifting of the foot for stepping, whereas in Goju Ryu footwork, the feet rarely separate from the ground. For me, it is closer related to Hakka footwork, - Southern Praying Mantis.
ABout Tensho, it's interesting to look at Yip Man 2: In one scene they are clearly performing a Chinese version of Tensho.
What are the chances of being able to interview you for my podcast “the invisible Sensei” on spotify, i think your content is excellent and it would be awesome to hear your story
Would love to see this happen!
Absolutely
Very interesting quote from Miyazato! I know that Gogen said the same thing (gojukan.org/05ikga/d08_profiles_jgy.htm). Some within Goju kai says that this was the reason Gogen took Goshi to Meitoku Yagi so he could learn the real/old Goju Ryu.
Goshi has released 2 very interesting DVD's where he (and and his son, among others) shows the "old" Goju Ryu (It really is a mixture in those DVDs between "old" and "new", but it shows a lot of the pre-war practice techniques).
See you in Hawaii! :-D
I would like to see the answers to some of these questions please. Thanks.
I practice two katas in goju ryu karate that I think we only have...one is a kata named 24...the other being unshu...
Those are not Goju Ryu kata. They are Shuri/Tomari based kata.
@@areitomusic thank you for the information.
I would love to go to the mother land of Goju-Ryu Okinawa, Japan and learn the traditional Goju-Ryu katas
You don't really have to go there, as there are a few teachers in the US that have learned them and teach them the correct way.
But I could be wrong