Meibukan

Meibukan (明武舘) is a branch of Goju-ryu karate. It was created by Meitoku Yagi, a student of Goju-ryu's founder, Chojun Miyagi. Meibukan means "House of the pure-minded warrior."

Yagi opened the first Meibukan dojo in 1952. He was the first student of Miyagi recorded to be given permission. He was given the calligraphy (Oku myo zai ren shin). Yagi is the recognised Menkyo Kaden of the Goju-ryu style as he was the recipient of Miyagi's gi and obi in 1963.

Meibukai karateka practice Goju-ryu kata as well as a set of kata known as the Meibuken kata.

Meibukan Goju-ryu Syllabus

Kihon Kata

Kaishu Kata

Heishu Kata

Meibukan 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." 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 kata are named after Chinese constellations: Seiryu means azure dragon, Byakko means white tiger, Shujaku means vermillion bird and Genbu means black turtle. Meitoku Yagi got the idea after seeing these names bannered on war flags during the Tsuna-Hiki (Tug of War Festival) held each year in Naha.

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 (Kakomi kumite), in which one karateka is surrounded by the others. There are no traditional Meibukan weapons forms; however, Yagi did adapt some Meibuken Kaishu kata to bō and sai, and are commonly referred to as Meibuken Kobudo. They are as follows.

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, Yagi's eldest son, Meitatsu, 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 Meitoku Yagi. There are branches in Australia, Canada, USA, England, India, Iran, Philippines, Russia, Georgia, Brazil, Israel and Hong Kong. Meitatsu 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 Meitoku Yagi in 1952 prior to the death of Goju-Ryu founder, Miyagi Chojun. Since then, the Meibukan Hombu Dojo has been an integral part of Okinawa Karate. Yagi 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 Yagi 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 Yagi 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.

Yagi's second son, Meitetsu, currently is president and head instructor of the Meibukan Hombu Dojo in Naha, Okinawa and has travelled the 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 Yagi's legacy alive through the participation and support of the Okinawa Goju-Kai and the all Okinawa Karate-Do Association.

Different endings

There are four suffixes to "Meibu" used: kan, kai, ka, and ken. Meibukan is the "house of the pure-minded warrior." This refers the style of karate practiced. Meibukai is the association. Meibuka describes 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 kanji "mei," which is the first kanji in the first names of Yagi and his two sons. Meitatsu’s two sons, Akihito and 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.

See also