The training was demanding and severe. Higashionna taught only select
students who demonstrated good character. Few of these students were
able to persist in Higashionna’s training. Higashionna taught warm-up ex-
ercises, hojo undô, kakie, yakusoku kumite, and tokuigata(Japanese; an
individual’s best kata). Although he learned weapons forms and herbal
medicine in China, Higashionna did not teach these as a part of the Naha-
di curriculum.
Higashionna influenced many great Karateka, including Miyagi
Chôjun, the founder of Gôjû-ryû; Kyôda Jûhatsu, the founder of Tô On-
ryû; and Mabuni Kenwa, who combined the teachings of Higashionna and
Itosu Yasutsune to form Shitô-ryû. Higashionna passed the nine kata of
Naha-di directly to Miyagi Chôjun.
Miyagi Chôjun (1888–1953) was introduced to Higashionna (Hi-
gaonna) Kanryô by Arakaki Ryûkô, a Tomari-di instructor who had gained
considerable fame for beating the renowned fighter Motobu Chôki. Miyagi
began training with Higashionna in 1902 and continued with Higashionna
until the latter’s death, after which Miyagi was designated as Higashionna’s
successor. Like all of Higashionna Kanryô’s students, Miyagi was first taught
the kata Sanchin. As his tokuigata, Miyagi was then assigned Suparumpei.
Higashionna would eventually teach Miyagi the complete Shôrei system.
Miyagi’s respect and careful attention to Higashionna in his later
years were proverbial in Okinawa. Although Miyagi came from a wealthy
family and Higashionna was very poor, Miyagi would prepare meals for his
master and serve them on a takaujin(Japanese; special tray) in a manner
befitting only the highest social class. These acts of loyalty and devotion be-
came known on Okinawa as Magusuku no takaujin(the Tray of Miyagi).
Miyagi took two trips to China for the purpose of conducting re-
search into the origins of Naha-di. He took his first trip to Fuzhou in 1915
with Nakamoto Eishô and the second sometime between 1920 and 1930
with the Chinese national Wu Xiangui (Gokenki), a White Crane stylist.
Miyagi amassed considerable information during his first visit, and he re-
ported that the art taught by Higashionna was developed in 1828. The re-
mainder of Miyagi’s information and artifacts were lost in the bombing of
Okinawa during World War II. It was also during this visit to China that
Miyagi observed the Chinese kata Rokkishu, which he later developed into
the kata Tenshô. Miyagi also developed the junbi undô (Japanese; warm-
up exercises) at this time.
The All Japan Martial Arts Demonstration was performed in Tokyo on
May 5, 1930, to celebrate Crown Prince Hirohito’s succession to the throne.
Miyagi sent his top student, Shinzato Jinan, to represent him. After perform-
ing Sanchin and Seisan, Shinzato was asked the name of his style. At this
time, the art had no name and was simply referred to as Naha-di. Shinzato
Karate, Okinawan 247