Morio Higaonna was born in 1938 in Naha, the capital city of Okinawa Prefecture. He began practicing karate when he was 14 years old at his junior high school. At the age of 15, in 1953, he became the student of An'ichi Miyagi, a student of Master Chojun Miyagi, the founder of Goju Ru Karatedo. From this stage on Morio Higaonna dedicated himself to the training and practicing of Goju Ryu Karatedo. Afer having been taught by good instructors, his fascination with karate led him to devote his entire life to the enrichment of the spiritual depth and virtue of karate.

In 1960 Higaonna sensei entered Takushoku University in Tokyo. He began his training at the Yoyogi Dojo, however he was simultaneously engaged as an instructor (sensei) there teaching four classes a day totaling 1,000 students. Higaonna sensei taught at Yoyogi Dojo until May of 1981. During this time he established the International Okinawa Goju Ryu Karatedo Federatn (IOGKF) which has trained over 20,000 students in 21 countries up to the present. Higaonna sensei is respected throughout the world as 'Master of Karate', a master who is born only once every 50 years.

The six thousand photos, taken with a motor drive camera, show you the secret of Higaonna Karate.

Contents

Preface by Miyagi An'ichi
Introduction by Higaonna Morio
Acknowledgements by Higaonna Morio
Terminology
Part One: About kata
Part Two: The characteristics of Okinawa Goju Ryu
1 Kamae (Combative position)
2 Kiai (Yagui)
3 About teh eyes
4 Circular movement and straight movement
5 Special Okinawan termionology for Goju Ryu Karate
a Muchimi
b Chiru no chan chan
c Shimeijurasan
d Chinkuchi kakin
e Nujisashi
Part Three: The Sanchin kata of Miyagi Chujun Sensei
1 Why he changed the kata
2 Posture and foot movement
3 Posture for sanchin kata
4 Basic breathing
5 Points of concentration in Sanchin kata
6 Checking for proper muscle control and concentration in the student
7 Things to be aware of while assisting Sanchin kata training
8 Assisting sanchin training using two or more instructors
9 The importance of sanchin kata and training method
10 The effects of sanchin training
11 The meaning of Heishugata and Kaishugata
12 Performance of the kata
Part Four: Gekisai Dai Ichi Kata
1 Key points
2 Performance of the kata
Part Five: Gekisai Dai Ni Kata
1 Key points
2 Performance of the kata
Part Six: Saifa Kata
1 Key points
2 Performance of the kata
Part Seven: Seiyunchin Kata
1 Key points
2 Performance of the kata
Part Eight: Shisochin Kata
1 Key points
2 Performance of the kata
Part Nine: Sanseru Kata
1 Key points
2 Performance of the kata