Nihon Ko Budo Kyokai
Dateline Tokyo, May 1997
The Japan Ko Budo Kyokai (ancient martial
art department),
a department of Japan's official governing body for the martial arts, will soon announce the acceptance to its prestigious ranks
of Okinawan Goju-Ryu Karate represented by te IOGKF under the leadership of Morio
Higaonna.
The designation of karate as an ancient martial
art by such an important body is almost unprecedented.
Previously, karate had been classified as a recent budo due in
part to the lack of evidence showing a clear, substantiated, and
unbroken lineage in many styles. This obstacle appears to have
been overcome in the case of Okinawan Goju Ryu by the publication
of Higaonna Sensei's well researched and authoritative book, The
History of Karate, Goju-Ryu.
The function of the Nihon Ko Budo Kyokai is to
authenticate, preserve and promote the unique fighting arts of
the Japanese nation. Recognition for any school comes only after
rigourous examination by expert invesigators has proved the
legitimacy of an art.
While this is undoubtedly a great honor for
Okinawan Goju Ryu and for the man who is now accepted by the
authorities in Japan as its leader, the true significance of the
announcement has yet to be appreciated. By allowing it to take
its place alongside Aikijujutsu, Kenjutsu, Kyujustsu, etc. its
designation as a true martial arts is
confirmed, and its cultural value officially recognized by
Japan's highest authority. This places the creation of Kanryo
Higaonna and Chojun Miyagi on a much higher strata than sport
based karate styles that are generally represented by the Japan
Karate Federation.
Morio Higaonna will demonstrate Okinawan Goju
Ryu karate for the first time ever within the confines of the
Budokan for the 1998 New Year celebration, an event that is
broadcast nationwide in Japan.