Miyazato Eiichi 1922 – 1999
Miyazato Eiichi 1922 – 1999
“Grand Patriarch of Okinawan Goju”
Eiichi Miyazato was a leading Okinawan master of Goju-ryukarate.He was a senior post-war student of Chōjun Miyagi, founder of the Goju-ryu style. Miyazato held the rank of 10th dan in karate and 7th dan in judo and on his death, he was honored
with the degree of 8th dan in judo. He
was the president of the Okinawa Judo Federation until his passing.
Miyazato joined the Ryukyu Police Department on Miyagi's recommendation in 1946. He served as physical education instructor at the police academy, and assisted Miyagi (then an instructor at the academy), teaching karate and judo there. Upon Miyagi's death in 1953, Miyazato inherited his teacher's training equipment. Miyazato took up the position of teaching at the 'Garden dojo,' which had been Miyagi's dojo.
After the death of Miyagi, his senior students formed an association known as the All Okinawan Goju-Kai, which was a reorganization of the Goju-Ryu Shinko-Kai, and a promotional ranking system for the art was established. Yagi, Toguchi, and Miyazato assumed the hachi-dan (8th degree) black belt ranking, and various schools of Goju-Ryu were opened, with Yagi teaching at his Meibukan school, Toguchi at Shoreikan, and Miyazato at Jundokan. All three senior students of Miyagi, as heads of their respective Goju-Ryu organizations, were elevated to the rank of tenth degree black belt.
In 1957, Miyazato opened his own dojo, the Jundokan, in Asato, Naha. The building had three levels, with Miyazato's dwelling located on the top level. Jundokan means “Center for the study in the father’s footsteps” and reflects Miyazato Sensei’s devotion for his teacher. The Jundokan has students the world over and is responsible for some of the world’s greatest Goju-Ryu practitioners. Miyazato was the chairman and technical director for the World Jundokan-Do Federation, All Okinawa Karate-Do Federation.
In 1972, Miyazato retired from the police force and devoted the rest of his life to teaching karate. On March 20, 1988, the Okinawa Goju-ryu Karate-do Kyokai awarded him the rank of 10th dan in karate.
In 1984, Miyazato received an
official commendation from the Kodokan.
In 1994 he was awarded a Commendation for Distinguished Service from the
Nihon Budo Kyogikai and received an official commendation from the Okinawa Judo
Federation. In 1998, he received an
official commendation from the Japanese Ministry of Education.
Following a period of poor health, Miyazato died on or about December 11, 1999, in Naha Hospital.
Miyazato's students included Riyosei Arakai, Shinzo Chinen, Teruo Chinen, Yoshio Hichiya, Morio Higaonna, Koshin Iha, Seikichi Kinjo, Tetsu Gima, Tsuneo Kinjo, Richard Barrett,
An’ichi Miyagi, Mike Clarke, Chuck Merriman, Koei Teruya, Jean Frenette, Tony Foster and Tetsunosuke Yasuda.
Miyazato's dojo, the Jundokan, is now run by his son, Yoshihiro Miyazato.
For more information On master Miyazato see these DVD's!
