Meibukan
Encyclopedia
Meibukan is a branch of the Goju-ryu style of karate-do. It was created by Dai Sensei
Meitoku Yagi
, a student of Goju-ryu's founder, Master Chojun Miyagi
. Meibukan means "House of the pure-minded warrior."
Yagi Sensei opened the first Meibukan dojo
in 1952. He was the first student of MIYAGI Sensei recorded to be given permission. At this time, he was given the Calligraphy (Oku myo zai ren shin) from Miyagi Sensei's friend (who was a Shodo Master).... it hangs in the Hombu Dojo to this very day. YAGI Sensei is the recognised Menkyo Kaden of the Goju-ryu style as he was the recipient Miyagi Sensei's gi (uniform) and obi (belt) in 1963, ten years after his death.
Meibukai practice Goju-ryu kata, as well as its own set of kata developed by Dai Sensei, known as the Meibuken kata
. History indicates that it was a young YAGI, Meitoku (in his late teens) who would first learn the complete early set of Goju-ryu Kaishu Kata.
Tenchi’s name is taken from the first line in a poem in the Bubishi
, "Jin shin wa Tenchi ni Onaji." This means "the mind is one with heaven and earth." While Tenchi is most often translated as "heaven and earth" its literal meaning is "heaven and hell." Originally, Tenchi was composed of two kata, Fukyu kata ichi and Fukyu kata ni. They were eventually combined, and now Ten no kata represents the first half, while Chi no kata is the second half.
The other four Meibuken kata are named after the four gods of the cardinal directions in Japan
ese and Chinese
mythology
. YAGI Meitoku Sensei got the idea after seeing these names bannered on war flags during the Tsuna-Hiki (Tug of War Festival held each year in Naha)See the page on Meitoku Yagi
for more on the Meibukan kata.
Seiryu means azure (blue) dragon, Byakko means white tiger, Shujakku means vermillion (Red) bird and Genbu black (mysterious) turtle.
There are no traditional Meibukan weapons forms; however, YAGI Dai Sensei did adapt some Meibuken Kaishu kata to bō
and sai
, and are commonly referred to as Meibuken Kobudo
. They are as follows.
In Jiyu Kumite, Karate becomes a sport, and classical Karate is not a sport. Okinawans practice Karate-Do, meaning the way of the empty hand. Also Jiyu Kumite can hinder the development of good Karate techniques, especially in Okinawan Goju-Ryu, where the emphasis is ending the fight with one devastating technique (Hito Tsuki).
, USA, England
, India
, Iran
, Philippines
, Russia
, Georgia
, Brazil, Hong Kong, and Czech Republic
. YAGI Meitatsu Sensei universally conveys the philosophical message that some teachers of budo in the world teach how to fight, we of Meibukai rather teach how not to fight.... in other words Meibukai does not practice the emphasis of how to win but rather how not to lose.
The Meibukan Hombu Dojo was founded by Yagi Meitoku, Dai Sensei in 1952 prior to passing of Goju-Ryu founder, Miyagi Chojun. Since then, the Meibukan Hombu Dojo has been an integral part of Okinawa Karate. Yagi Dai Sensei was a founding father of the Okinawa Goju-Kai and All Okinawa Karate-Do Association both of which the Meibukan Hombu Dojo has been actively a part of since their formation. While Dai Sensei was alive, he appointed international representatives that are still practicing Meibukan today and are still recognized by the Meibukan Hombu Dojo. These representatives are Shiki Tadanori of Ibaraki, Japan, Anthony Mirakian of USA, Yonamine Yasunori of South America, Rajesh Thakkar of India, and Cristofi Clemente of Australia. Note however, that Johannes Wong was also a long serving student and instructor of Goju-ryu Meibukan directly under Dai Sensei Yagi Meitoku since the mid-1980s in Australia. The Meibukan Hombu Dojo also recognizes the members of the Canadian Meibukan Goju-Ryu Association as representative of the Hombu. The Meibukan Hombu dojo also has satellite branches in Okinawa, Japan that includes Matsugawa, Tsukayama, Naha, Tsuji, Kume, and Nagata.
Dai Sensei's second son, YAGI Meitetsu Sensei, Hanshi currently is president and head instructor of the Meibukan Hombu Dojo in Naha, Okinawa
and has travelled to world. He has been invited to India, Hawaii, Australia, and USA to share his knowledge of Meibukan. The Meibukan Hombu Dojo maintains an important role in keeping Dai Sensei's legacy alive through the participation and support of the Okinawa Goju-Kai and the all Okinawa Karate-Do Association.
"mei," which is the first kanji in the first names of Dai Sensei and his two sons. Yagi Meitatsu’s two sons, Yagi Akihito and Yagi Akihiro also share the kanji. The following are three interpretations of the crest.
There are several maxims used in Meibukan—some are particular to the style, while others are common to other styles of Goju-ryu and karate. The following are some of the more common sayings.
Sensei
' is a Japanese word that basically means "person born before another." In general usage, it means "master" or "teacher," and the word is used as a title to refer to or address teachers, professors, professionals such as lawyers, CPA and doctors, politicians, clergymen, and other figures of authority...
Meitoku Yagi
Meitoku Yagi
Meitoku Yagi was born in Naha, Okinawa. Yagi learned Goju-ryu from its legendary founder Chojun Miyagi....
, a student of Goju-ryu's founder, Master Chojun Miyagi
Chojun Miyagi
was an Okinawan martial artist who founded the Goju-ryu school of karate.-Early life and training:Miyagi was born in Higashimachi, Naha, Okinawa on April 25, 1888, the adopted son of a wealthy businessman. He began his study in Karate-do at the age of nine . He first learned martial arts from Ryuko...
. Meibukan means "House of the pure-minded warrior."
Yagi Sensei opened the first Meibukan dojo
Dojo
A is a Japanese term which literally means "place of the way". Initially, dōjōs were adjunct to temples. The term can refer to a formal training place for any of the Japanese do arts but typically it is considered the formal gathering place for students of any Japanese martial arts style to...
in 1952. He was the first student of MIYAGI Sensei recorded to be given permission. At this time, he was given the Calligraphy (Oku myo zai ren shin) from Miyagi Sensei's friend (who was a Shodo Master).... it hangs in the Hombu Dojo to this very day. YAGI Sensei is the recognised Menkyo Kaden of the Goju-ryu style as he was the recipient Miyagi Sensei's gi (uniform) and obi (belt) in 1963, ten years after his death.
Meibukai practice Goju-ryu kata, as well as its own set of kata developed by Dai Sensei, known as the Meibuken kata
Kata
is a Japanese word describing detailed choreographed patterns of movements practised either solo or in pairs. The term form is used for the corresponding concept in non-Japanese martial arts in general....
. History indicates that it was a young YAGI, Meitoku (in his late teens) who would first learn the complete early set of Goju-ryu Kaishu Kata.
Kaishu Kata
- Geki Sai Ichi
- Geki Sai Ni
- Saifa
- ShisochinShisochinis a kata of naha-te karate style, whose authorship has been mentioned as a Kanryo Higaonna.There are two theories that explain the origins of kata shisochin: the first suggests that the shape or style comes from white heron or the Tiger, Shaolin kung fu, the other it is from mantis style.It is...
- Sanseryu
- SeisanSeisanThe karate kata Seisan literally means '13', however some people refer to the kata as '13 Hands', '13 Fists', '13 Techniques', '13 Steps' or even '13 killing positions'. However, all these names are made up and have no historical basis.Seisan is thought to be one of the oldest kata quite spread...
- Seienchin
- Sepai
- Kururunfa
- Suparinpe
Meibukan Kata
- Tenchi
- SeiryuSeiryuSeiryu, Seiryū, or Seiryuu can refer to:* Azure Dragon, a Chinese constellation symbol* Seiryu , a fictional character in the series YuYu Hakusho...
- ByakkoByakkoByakko may refer to:* White Tiger , one of the divisions in the sky in traditional Chinese astronomy* Byakko , an anthropomorphic white tiger demon character in YuYu Hakusho...
- ShujakuFenghuangFenghuang are mythological birds of East Asia that reign over all other birds. The males are called Feng and the females Huang. In modern times, however, such a distinction of gender is often no longer made and the Feng and Huang are blurred into a single feminine entity so that the bird can be...
- GenbuGenbuGenbu can refer to:* Black Tortoise, a Chinese constellation symbol* Genbu , a fictional character in the series YuYu Hakusho* Genbu , a fictional character in the series Fushigi Yūgi...
Tenchi’s name is taken from the first line in a poem in the Bubishi
Bubishi
Bubishi is the Japanese pronunciation of the Chinese Wubei Zhi, "Account of Military Arts and Science". This is the title of two different Chinese documents....
, "Jin shin wa Tenchi ni Onaji." This means "the mind is one with heaven and earth." While Tenchi is most often translated as "heaven and earth" its literal meaning is "heaven and hell." Originally, Tenchi was composed of two kata, Fukyu kata ichi and Fukyu kata ni. They were eventually combined, and now Ten no kata represents the first half, while Chi no kata is the second half.
The other four Meibuken kata are named after the four gods of the cardinal directions in Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
ese and Chinese
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
mythology
Mythology
The term mythology can refer either to the study of myths, or to a body or collection of myths. As examples, comparative mythology is the study of connections between myths from different cultures, whereas Greek mythology is the body of myths from ancient Greece...
. YAGI Meitoku Sensei got the idea after seeing these names bannered on war flags during the Tsuna-Hiki (Tug of War Festival held each year in Naha)See the page on Meitoku Yagi
Meitoku Yagi
Meitoku Yagi was born in Naha, Okinawa. Yagi learned Goju-ryu from its legendary founder Chojun Miyagi....
for more on the Meibukan kata.
Seiryu means azure (blue) dragon, Byakko means white tiger, Shujakku means vermillion (Red) bird and Genbu black (mysterious) turtle.
Other Kata
As well, Taikyoku patterns are practiced. They can be done alone; as well as with a partner (Renzoku kumite), which is done in a straight-line pattern; or with three or five people altogether (Yakusoku or Kakomi kumite), in which one karateka is surrounded by the others.There are no traditional Meibukan weapons forms; however, YAGI Dai Sensei did adapt some Meibuken Kaishu kata to bō
Bo
-People:*Bo , name origin, plus people with the name*Bo , name origin, plus people with the surname**Bo , Chinese family names*Bo people , extinct minority population in Southern China famous for hanging coffins...
and sai
Sai
-Education:*self-accrediting institution, a three-letter acronym in use in higher education in Australia to describe universities and other SAIs-Fiction:*Fujiwara no Sai, a character in Hikaru no Go media*Sai , a character in Naruto media...
, and are commonly referred to as Meibuken Kobudo
Okinawan kobudo
Okinawan kobudō is a Japanese term that can be translated as "old martial way of Okinawa"...
. They are as follows.
- Geki Sai Ichi Bo
- Geki Sai Ni Bo
- Saifa Bo
- Geki Sai Ichi Sai
- Geki Sai Ni Sai
- Saifa Sai
- Shisochin Sai
Kumite
In Goju-Ryu Meibu-kan, Dojos practice forms of Yakusoku Kumite only. Yakusoku Kumite means pre-arranged sparring. There is no practice of Jiyu Kumite or free sparring. There has never been free fighting in classical Okinawan Goju-Ryu.In Jiyu Kumite, Karate becomes a sport, and classical Karate is not a sport. Okinawans practice Karate-Do, meaning the way of the empty hand. Also Jiyu Kumite can hinder the development of good Karate techniques, especially in Okinawan Goju-Ryu, where the emphasis is ending the fight with one devastating technique (Hito Tsuki).
IMGKA and the Hombu Dojo
Currently, Dai Sensei's eldest son, YAGI Meitatsu Sensei, Hanshi is Chairman of the IMGKA (International Meibukan Goju-ryu Karate Association) and travels the world frequently. Presently he is the most senior active Meibukai student of the late Grand Master YAGI, Meitoku. There are branches in CanadaCanada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
, USA, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
, India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
, Iran
Iran
Iran , officially the Islamic Republic of Iran , is a country in Southern and Western Asia. The name "Iran" has been in use natively since the Sassanian era and came into use internationally in 1935, before which the country was known to the Western world as Persia...
, Philippines
Philippines
The Philippines , officially known as the Republic of the Philippines , is a country in Southeast Asia in the western Pacific Ocean. To its north across the Luzon Strait lies Taiwan. West across the South China Sea sits Vietnam...
, Russia
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
, Georgia
Georgia (country)
Georgia is a sovereign state in the Caucasus region of Eurasia. Located at the crossroads of Western Asia and Eastern Europe, it is bounded to the west by the Black Sea, to the north by Russia, to the southwest by Turkey, to the south by Armenia, and to the southeast by Azerbaijan. The capital of...
, Brazil, Hong Kong, and Czech Republic
Czech Republic
The Czech Republic is a landlocked country in Central Europe. The country is bordered by Poland to the northeast, Slovakia to the east, Austria to the south, and Germany to the west and northwest....
. YAGI Meitatsu Sensei universally conveys the philosophical message that some teachers of budo in the world teach how to fight, we of Meibukai rather teach how not to fight.... in other words Meibukai does not practice the emphasis of how to win but rather how not to lose.
The Meibukan Hombu Dojo was founded by Yagi Meitoku, Dai Sensei in 1952 prior to passing of Goju-Ryu founder, Miyagi Chojun. Since then, the Meibukan Hombu Dojo has been an integral part of Okinawa Karate. Yagi Dai Sensei was a founding father of the Okinawa Goju-Kai and All Okinawa Karate-Do Association both of which the Meibukan Hombu Dojo has been actively a part of since their formation. While Dai Sensei was alive, he appointed international representatives that are still practicing Meibukan today and are still recognized by the Meibukan Hombu Dojo. These representatives are Shiki Tadanori of Ibaraki, Japan, Anthony Mirakian of USA, Yonamine Yasunori of South America, Rajesh Thakkar of India, and Cristofi Clemente of Australia. Note however, that Johannes Wong was also a long serving student and instructor of Goju-ryu Meibukan directly under Dai Sensei Yagi Meitoku since the mid-1980s in Australia. The Meibukan Hombu Dojo also recognizes the members of the Canadian Meibukan Goju-Ryu Association as representative of the Hombu. The Meibukan Hombu dojo also has satellite branches in Okinawa, Japan that includes Matsugawa, Tsukayama, Naha, Tsuji, Kume, and Nagata.
Dai Sensei's second son, YAGI Meitetsu Sensei, Hanshi currently is president and head instructor of the Meibukan Hombu Dojo in Naha, Okinawa
Naha, Okinawa
is the capital city of the Japanese prefecture of Okinawa.Naha is a coastal city located on the East China Sea coast of the southern part of Okinawa Island, the largest of the Ryukyu Islands...
and has travelled to world. He has been invited to India, Hawaii, Australia, and USA to share his knowledge of Meibukan. The Meibukan Hombu Dojo maintains an important role in keeping Dai Sensei's legacy alive through the participation and support of the Okinawa Goju-Kai and the all Okinawa Karate-Do Association.
Different endings
There are three suffixes to "Meibu" used: kan, kai and ken. Meibukan is the "house of the pure-minded warrior." This refers the style of karate practiced. Meibukai is the association—it can also be used singularly to describe a karateka practicing Meibukan. Meibuken is, roughly translated, the "law (or fist) of the pure-minded warrior." The last one is used in association with the kata.Meanings of Meibukan
The Meibukan crest is the kanjiKanji
Kanji are the adopted logographic Chinese characters hanzi that are used in the modern Japanese writing system along with hiragana , katakana , Indo Arabic numerals, and the occasional use of the Latin alphabet...
"mei," which is the first kanji in the first names of Dai Sensei and his two sons. Yagi Meitatsu’s two sons, Yagi Akihito and Yagi Akihiro also share the kanji. The following are three interpretations of the crest.
- The kanji mei is a combination of the kanji for sun and the kanji for moon. Using them as separate kanji, you can say "hi to tsuki," which literally means "sun and moon." However, by this pronunciation, it can be interpreted as an expression meaning "one punch." The idea is that a karateka must train with the mindset that he or she may only have one opportunity to end a conflict—the karateka must train seriously and with a sharp mind.
- The kanji represent the dualities of nature. The moon is slender, flexible and always changing in the sky. The sun is thick and constant. These ideas are physically represented in the crest—the sun half of the kanji is much thicker than the moon. A karateka must be both like the sun—able to stand ground and be strong—and the moon—be adaptable and soft.
- "Ah" and "Um." Again, two dualities. Ah represents defensive nature. When one inhales one must relax and be prepared. Inhaling is for conserving energy and being ready to receive an attack. Um is the other side of the coin. Exhaling represents attacking, tension and release of breath.
There are several maxims used in Meibukan—some are particular to the style, while others are common to other styles of Goju-ryu and karate. The following are some of the more common sayings.
- Oku myo zai ren shin. "Practice with a good heart."
- Oku myo zai hyaku ren sen tan. "Train a hundred times, train a thousand times."
- Nangi go gokui. "The secrets of training are revealed through hard work."
- Ryu su fu sen kyo. "Running water in a stream faces no barriers."
- Kan chiku fu sho. "The pine tree bends in the wind. The bamboo is hard in the cold."
See also
- http://www.imgka.com
- http://www.meibukankaratedojo.com
- http://www.meibukanhombu.com