HIGA YUCHOKU: A SHORT HISTORY (1987)

One of the most important shorin-ryu instructors in Okinawa today is Higa Yuchoku. Higa was born in l910 and, in 1965, was the first person to receive a Hanshi 9-Dan promotion from Chibana Choshin Dai Sensei (1885-1969). Higa later left Chibana's Okinawa Shorin-ryu Karate-do Association to form his own organization and also to assume the leadership of the Okinawa Karate-do Association as its third president. He is still an active instructor at his Shorin-ryu Kyudokan dojo located in Naha City and is presently ranked a Hanshi 10-Dan.

Higa Yuchoku began his martial arts training in 1927 under the guidance of Shiroma Jiro of Wakahajima City. Shiroma was then the senior student of Higa's father and taught Shuri-te karate- jutsu. At that time, Higa was then 17 years old and also a college student at a Naha City Business School.

In 1933 Shiroma died and Higa then began receiving formal karate- jutsu instructions from his father. At the same time, Higa was also sent to study Naha-te karate-jutsu (goju-ryu) under Shinzato Jinan. Shinzato was the senior most student of Miyagi Chojun and was known for his great power and his well-rounded, fluid techniques.

In l935 Higa also received instructions from Miyahira Kaiei of Shuri-te karate-jutsu while at the same time studying Naha-te (goju-ryu) from Shinzato. Miyahira was then famous for his BUJIN (the warrior spirit). He was so famous during this period of time that he eventually became known as Teijin Kun Bushi.

Miyahira was also noted for his musical talents which included mastery of the shamisen, shakuhachi, yokobue and koto instruments. He was also highly regarded for his great knowledge of Japanese calligraphy in which he earned numerous honors. Miyahira thoroughly enjoyed everything he did and always showed great spirit in always trying his best in whatever endeavor. Higa credits Miyahira for teaching him the true martial spirit of hard work and hard training.

In 1939, while employed for the Naha City Water Service, the Naha City mayor assigned Higa the task of forming a baseball team, a judo team and a karate team for all City employees.

By January of l940, Higa had formed all three teams and then assumed the responsibility of leadership for the karate-jutsu club where he instructed about twenty students. Initially, the students were very devoted to karate-jutsu training but quickly lost interest after finding out how rigorous the training was.

By June of l940, Higa was down to four students. Not feeling justified in renting a formal dojo because of so few students, Higa began offering instruction in his backyard. This was his beginning as a teacher of karate.

During these teaching years, Higa changed jobs from working for City Hall to working at the Prefecture Hall. He later changed jobs to a Food Service Foundation. In this food service organization, Higa established a formal karate club upon receiving permission from their organization chairman. Higa then quickly asked Shinzato Jinan to become the master teacher of the club while he assumed the apprentice teacher role.

They initially taught about ten students and later asked Shiroma Shinjo, a Shuri-te expert, to help in the instruction of the students. It should be noted that prior to the start of the World War II that all karate styles worked closely together.

After the war, Higa became a student of Chibana Choshin who then lived in Chinen Yashiki-mura. Higa was again studying Shuri-te. In October of l948, Higa opened a dojo in Shuri-Gibo machi at Noei Miyagi's home. Higa was also an apprentice teacher under Chibana at the Shuri City Police Station and assisted Chibana in opening ten Shorin-ryu dojo.

When Chibana organized the Okinawa Shorin-ryu Karate-do Association, Higa was his first Vice President. Higa has been teaching karate at the same address since he moved to Naha after the war. He is presently the president of the Shorin-ryu Kyudokan Association and Chairman of the Board of Shihans for the All Okinawa Karate-do Association. He is also president of the All Okinawa Karate and Kobudo Association with a membership of 34 dojo.


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