Higaonna Kanryō

Higaonna Kanryo (Japanese东 恩纳 寛 量; born March 10, 1853 in Naha, Okinawa, † December 1916 in Naha ) was the founder of the Karate style Shorei - Ryu and among other teachers Miyagi and Mabuni Chōjuns Kenwas.

The name comes from the Okinawan dialect Higaonna. The name is also often used in articles Higashioanna however, is the Japanese reading.

Life

Higaonna was born as the fourth child of the merchant Higaonna Kanyó. He began in 1870 with the training of Naha-te under Seisho Arakaki. As this, however, three years later took a job as a translator in Beijing, he left the young Higaonna, but set him above even the two masters Kojo Daitei and Yoshimura Chomei ago. These two masters ensured that Higaonna at the age of 22 years could go to China, or more precisely to Fuzhou in Fujian province. There he found a master of Baihequan, named Ryu Ryu Ko, who finally accepted him after a long time as a student and in the crane style ( Hequan ) taught. The information regarding his retention are different: according to Nagamine, there were 16, according to Miyazato 8 years. Then he returned to Okinawa and worked in the firewood business of his parents before he opened his first dojo after a few years. There Higaonna taught a mixture of Chinese martial arts and Okinawan death. His style he called Shorei - Ryu.