Miyagi Takashi [宮城敬] (1919-2008): Establishing ‘Komeikan’ and Guiding Principles! (17.10.2022)

Miyagi Takashi's Book Entitled 'Orthodox Karate-Do – An Introduction’ (正統 空手道入門)

‘It was around 1951, when I started teaching Goju Ryu Karate-Do in Tokyo (Mainland Japan). Immediately after WWII, there was a trend throughout Japan for Karate-Do to be firmly separated and divided into distinct ‘Styles’ - each with its own clear ‘lineage’ of teachers traceable all the way back into history - to a definite origination. National organisations were quickly formed, and this led to local branches throughout the entirety of Japan! An important element of this process involved the development and consolidation of Karate-Do training halls established throughout all Universities, Colleges and Schools, etc - forming a firm foundation of Karate-Do throughout Japanese culture. This was the start of modern Karate-Do seen not only throughout Japan – but also throughout the world! During this period, I received many requests to join various Karate-Do organisations, but I did not agree with much of the guiding principles or definitions that I was told. Instead, I independently formed the umbrella organisation of the Japan Goju Ryu Karate-Do Federation. This allowed a broad platform for a wide range of people to join and gather to train within Goju Ryu Karate-Do – but within this I also established the ‘Goju Ryu Family Head Brilliant Transmission Training Hall’ (剛柔流空手道宗家講明館 - Go Ju Ryu Kara Te Do So Ke Ko Mei Kan). The latter sub-group was designed to be very strict, narrow and highly disciplined with an exclusive membership. Together, this foundation served the basis through which I decided to teach Goju Ryu Karate-Do. 

During 1963 (Showa 38), I published two books which expressed this ‘external’ and ‘internal’ approach to my Goju Ryu teaching: 

a) ‘Karate-Do – How to Enjoy Practice’ (空手道の楽しみ方) - External 

b) ‘Orthodox Karate-Do – An Introduction’ (正統 空手道入門) - Internal 

This is how the Miyagi Family lineage of Goju Ryu Karate-Do was able to progress further and beyond its physical training centres! Individuals who lived a long distance from our training halls were able to pick-up these books and learn about our presence! This led to our group being contacted by NHK TV to enquire if I would participate in a filmed documentary entitled ‘Contemporary Record of Spiritual Revival’ (現代の記録・精神復興) - which was eventually broadcast TV on February 1st, 1964! In this documentary I was filmed practicing ‘Sanchin’ and ‘Seipai’ Katas!  Around this time, the Nippon Budokan (日本武道館) was also established, whilst the issue of developing human resources was being addressed throughout a reconstructing Japanese society! The purpose of this programme with regard to Karate-Do was to explore the spiritual aspects of Japanese martial arts. Due to this influence, in 1966 (Showa 41), I set-up a Dojo in Kunitachi City, (Tokyo) and settled-down and started teaching Karate-Do in earnest.  

My teacher was my father – Miyagi Chojun. I was taught the ‘external’, ‘internal’ and ‘integrated’ path of Goju Ryu Karate-Do. This martial path has its roots within Higaonna Naha-Te – which was heavily influenced by Fujian White Crane Fist from China! All this was conveyed to me by my father and this education established the guiding principles through which I teach Goju Ryu Karate-Do. This is the ‘spirit’ of Karate-Do which must be maintained at all times through the replication (from one generation to the next) of the exact and correct physical Karate-Do techniques! Without this sound foundation the mind and body cannot be properly prepared so that effective offensive and defensive techniques can be correctly conveyed, learned and reproduced on the physical plane. The mind must be strengthened, expanded and freed from the dominance of the body – but this can only be achieved by disciplining the body so that the mind can be freed. When the body is properly positioned and perceived – the mind and body enter a new dimension of existence.  

Although Karate-Do has spread all over the world – I do not agree with sport Karate – which is a deviation away from the true ‘spirit’ of Karate-Do. It sets the wrong example and strengthens the very ego proper Karate-Do is designed to overcome! We must preserve the ‘spirit’ which manifests through the correctly performed physical techniques of Karate-Do! There should be NO fabricated ‘competition’ between individuals as this is the cultivation of pointless aggression! The only competition is between our conditioned minds and bodies – with our training colleagues conspiring to help us on our journey (and we on theirs)! The worst example of this development is ‘Kata’ competitions – where all the traditional purpose and value of a Kata is removed and replaced simply to ‘entertain’ an audience to win a pointless medal! To gain these awards – we lose the ‘spirit’ of genuine Karate-Do. The true purpose of Kata is being abandoned as each generation loses vital elements of the Kata passed on from China to Okinawa! Karate-Do begins and end with Kata and I would ask all the modern Karate-Do practitioners, Referees and other professionals to ‘think’ about this situation and perhaps assist one another in preserving the genuine spirit of Karate-Do! Please do not demean your sacred martial art – as untold numbers of people have suffered in the past to learn, preserve and pass on genuine Japanese martial arts!’ 

Japanese Language Source: 

https://goju-karatedo.com/will.html ​

講明館の設立と指導理念 

私が東京で空手道を指導し始めたのは昭和26年ごろである。戦後いち早く、わが国の空手道界では、各流派などによる団体結成の動きが見られ、また大学の空手部を中心とした連盟が結成されるなど、今日見られるように全国的な発展へつながっていったわけである。その間、私のもとに団体設立のために参加を求める声が何度もあった。しかし、私はどうもその在り方に同調できないでいた。私は独自に日本空手道剛柔流連盟を結成、剛柔流空手道宗家講明館を設立し、そこを本拠に指導に当たることにしたのである。 
1963年（昭和38年）に空手道の初心者向けに『空手道の楽しみ方』や『正統 空手道入門』を出版、正しい空手道の学び方を世に問うた。また、NHKから請われ1964年２月１日放映の教育テレビ番組「現代の記録・精神復興」に出演し、サンチンの指導と形セーパイを演武した。このころ日本武道館の建設に着手され、「人づくり」の問題が高まっていた。日本武道の精神的なものを模索しようとしたのがこの番組の目的であった。その後、私は1966年（昭和41年）に東京・国立市に道場を構え空手道の指導に本格的にあたった。 
私の指導理念は、師父宮城長順の指導法と空手道精神を基礎に、空手道本来の伝統性を維持しつつ、同時に教育的・体育的観点から身体のもつ攻防の技を自在に体得できるようにすることである。 
空手道が全国的に普及したとはいえ、昨今、空手道の真の伝統性が失われ、いわゆる「競技空手」に終始した指導が見受けられるのは誠に残念である。最近は「形試合」も行われるようになったが、形の意味がわからずに演じられていたりして、形の乱れが目に付くものもある。したがって試合の審判方法と各流派の形についての研究をもっと真剣に行うべきだと思う。「形に始まり形に終わる」という空手道修行の警句を忘れてはならない。