MEMORIES OF MY SENSEI, CHOJUN MIYAGI (Full Version) #1by Genkai NakaimaRemarks:
This is a translation of the original article "Chojun Miyagi the Karate Master.
His kindness is infinite. He preaches morality." written by Mr. Genkai Nakaima
which appeared in the local monthly magazine "Aoi Umi" No.70 February 1978 issue
(pages 99-100) published by Aoi Umi Shuppansha. This special issue featured
Okinawan karate masters. The magazine was already discontinued. The original
Japanese title is "Ontaku Muryo, Ningen No Michi Wo Toku Bujin Miyagi
Chojun".Translated by SanzinsooOne day in the spring when I had just moved up to
the second grade of middle school, my classmate, Bunshun Tamagusuku said to me,
"Why don't we learn karate from Master Chojun Miyagi?" He had been asked by his
uncle, Jin-an Shinzato. Those who were asked to learn karate from Master Chojun
Miyagi by Jin-an Shinzato were Tatsutoku Sakiyama (his name at that time was
Tatsutoku Senaha), Kiju Nanjo (his name at that time was Kiju Azama) and
me.Jin-an Shinzato was my next door neighbor. He had already graduated from Naha
Commercial High School, so he was my senior. He resided in a rented house of Mr.
Yukei Kuniyoshi.In the evening Shinzato wearing white bandage around his neck
appeared in front of the wooden gate of Mr. Kuniyoshi's rented house. Bunshun
Tamagusuku, I, and sometimes Tatsutoku Sakiyama, got together there.Shinzato
hung from the bar of the wooden gate and pulled himself up until his chin was
above the bar. He showed us how high his chin was above the bar. He demonstrated
us many repetitions of chin up. He also taught us one arm chin up.Later we often
got together at the school playground of Naha Jinjo Koto Shogakko (= an
elementary school) in the evening. We enjoyed doing various exercises on chin-up
bars or horizontal bars. Thanks to Shinzato, we could perform Giant Swing,
Backward Giant Swing, Somersault and other advanced techniques.Before long,
Jin-an Shinzato enrolled in the police academy.The four of us, Bunshun
Tamagusuku, Tatsutoku Sakiyama (= Tatsutoku Senaha), Kiju Nanjo (= Kiju Azama)
and I (= Genkai Nakaima), decided to learn karate from Master Chojun Miyagi.I
had to ask for permission of my father first. My father was ten years old when
Shuri Castle was occupied by Japanese troops, Ryukyu Kingdom was abolished and
became a prefecture of Japan in 1879 (Meiji Era 12). He was three years old when
Japanese Government established the Ryukyu Clan as an initial step in their
program to abolish Ryukyu Kingdom and establish Okinawa prefecture in 1872 (Meji
Era 5).Because my father was born in such a time of transition and the ancestors
of our family had come from China, our family did not allow him get an education
of Japanese system called "Yamato Gakumon", so he did not go to school. However,
he built up a powerful and flexible physique because of the hard work. I heard
he was a strong Okinawan style sumo wrestler. He was very delighted when I
received a big prize at athletic meeting.- to be continued ¨C
http://yamada-san.blogspot.com/
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