Our History, Karate Styles, and Self-Defense

What is Karate?

Karate is a martial art of self-protection, utilizing a variety of physical skills such as striking, grappling, throwing, joint-locking, and breath- or blood-restraint techniques. Originating in Okinawa, from there it was transported to mainland Japan by Master Gichin Funakoshi, a schoolteacher and Karate expert. It was here that Karate was popularized and incorporated into the school system. At the end of WWII all forms of militarism in Japan were banned, which at the time included the practice of martial arts. This led to the dissolution of the Dai Nippon Butoku Kai (Greater Japan Martial Virtue Society); in order to continue to be practiced, Karate became a physical discipline of self-perfection known as Karate-Do.

What is Goju-Ryu?

Goju-Ryu is a specific style of Karate developed in Okinawa by Master Chojun Miyagi. This style was developed from his experiences, knowledge, and training in the local fighting traditions of Naha-te, as well as kung fu influences from his expeditions to China. Also included were physical conditioning drills to develop body hardening, which he endured in his first steps on the path of martial arts as a youth. The style was named after the third verse of the poem, the Kempo Hakku. This verse can be interpreted as "The way of inhaling and exhaling is hard and soft."

What is Meibukan?

Meibukan is a branch of Goju-Ryu developed by Dai Sensei Meitoku Yagi, one of the most senior students of Master Chojun Miyagi, and the only student granted permission to open a dojo prior to Master Chojun’s death. The Meibuken kata of the Meibukan system were developed by Dai Sensei Meitoku Yagi, as the essence of Goju-Ryu as he understood it, and incorporating Master Chojun's favourite techniques.

What is our Lineage?

The pathway from Instructor to Student may seem linear, but it in fact forms more of a web, being influenced by who your direct teacher is, who the owner of the dojo is, who the chief instructor of your organization is, where you train, when you train, and how long you train, among other factors.

Our current Chief Instructor is Sensei Hing-Poon Chan (7th Dan), the Head of the All America Meibukan Canadian Headquarters under Hanshi Anthony Mirakian (9th Dan, deceased), who in turn was the Founder of the All America Meibukan, and the first western student of Dai Sensei Meitoku Yagi to receive the coveted black belt.

Sensei Hing-Poon Chan has been studying Goju-Ryu since 1968, as well as various forms of kung fu since 1988. In 1990 he was introduced to Hanshi Anthony Mirakian, and became his representative in Canada.

What is Self-Defense?

Self-defense is a collection of diverse skill sets used to protect an individual from harm, by avoiding the danger entirely if possible, extracting oneself from danger if able, running from danger if practical, and fighting your way out of danger if unavoidable. These skill sets include, but are not limited to:

• Situational Awareness

• Threat Recognition

• Avoidance and De-escalation (no be there, or talking your way out)

• Escape and Evasion (running away)

• Understanding of the Human Stress Response

• First Aid training

• Knowledge of your local and national Self Defense Laws

• Physical Confrontation (fighting)