When you look back at 1938 it seems so distant to the younger generation. It was
a year that saw much history created in all four corners of the world; in Europe a
man by the name of Hitler was beginning to gather a following in Germany, while
in Australia the first telephone link to the white house was established. And
across the Pacific ocean in America young children got their first at the man of
steel when Superman made his first ever comic book appearance.
At the same time in Okinawa, a small island 300 miles off the south coast of
mainland Japan, a boy was born on Christmas day whose destiny would see him
become a Super man in his own right.
Morio Higaonna, the legendary 10th
Dan Master of the Okinawan Goju-ryu
Karate style who is renowned across
the world as the foremost authority of
the art, has travelled from one side of
the globe to the other on his quest to
become what many have said to be
the Master or Masters. By pushing
himself to his physical limits by training
his mind and body every day, he was
transformed from a young man into the
highest level Karate-ka of our age. The
man know across the world by hundreds of thousands as ‘Sensei’, has a
story like no other and as a tribute to
his 75th Birthday IOGKF International
shares it with it’s members.
Okinawa is a land of good people,
beautiful culture and stunning nature. A
and that time forgot about, it’s rich heritage with both Japanese and Chinese influences saw the creation of a unique culture to above all preached peace. It was
shortly after the birth of Morio Higaonna that Okinawa would face its darkest
days, whn World War II brought itself to the island. American Soldiers did battle
with the Emperors forces, while U.S. war ships faced imperial Kamikaze aerial attacks. It was a desperate time and realising the danger presented, Master
Higaonna’s father, a local policeman, secured passage for he and his family to
mainland Japan. Three boats departed Okinawa for the mainland under heavy
fire and only the boat to finish its journey was that housing the Higaonna family.
When Japan declared defeat and the Higaonna family returned to Okinawa, they
were met with devastation and the fact that they were going to have to rebuild
their lives from scratch. It was a tough time not only for the Higaonna family, but