MORE ABOUT SEIKO HIGA
Born in November 8 of 1897, the honorable Sensei Seiko Higa was one of the biggest and learned Masters of Karate Do and Kobu Do.
Although he attended classes of Sensei Kanryo Higashionna, he never participated as student, but rather as observer.
When was thirteen years old, he began to train with some Chinese Masters linked to Sensei Higashiona, that were resided in Okinawa, and that they taught the Boxing of the White Crane. Being informed that the Sensei Higashiona's Naha te were also based on Chinese martial arts, he decided to do several trips to this nation, where, after training with several experts in Pa Kuan Chuan, he knew Master Ma Fong Tu with who learned Tai Chi Chuan and Pa Chi Chuan.
Master Ma Fong Tu was the creator of the Pa Chi Chuan's method of teaching, known as Pa Chi of Ma, whose philosophy it is based on a deep study of simbology and numerology. This philosophy, sustains that the health is not only absence of illnesses, but the achievement of a good corporal and mental balance, in harmony with the nature.
In Chinese characters, Master Ma Fong Tu wrote his name as Sekon Higa.
Parallelly with his trips to China, he began to train Karate Goju Ryu with Sensei Chojun Miyagi, and because of his general culture he was hired as Primary School's Teacher.
Being for seventeen years student of Sensei Chojun Miyagi, and after a new and long demurrage in China, in the year 1931 he opened his first dojo in Kumoji; Okinawa, to the one he denominated Shikan.
Although he continued linked Sensei Miyagi, his dojo and students were completely independent.
To be devoted totally to Karate Do teaching, he left aside his activities as teacher of primary school and passed to act as Professor of Karate Do in the Police Prefecture of Okinawa.
With Sensei Miyagi's authorization, Master Seiko Higa's method was characterized to achieve a better balance between the Go and the Ju, and it incorporated new procedures that looking for that people of smaller physical constitution could equal the effectiveness of those who were stronger.
This system incorporated new katas and a bigger variety of exercises and leg's techniques, that those that until the moment Sensei Miyagi's Goju Ryu, and most of his students, used.
The new - and previous - katas, put bigger emphasis in certain technical details that spread to achieve a bigger effectiveness with smaller physical effort. This was seen sharply in the practical application of the same ones.
Master Seiko Higa insisted in the concept that the best defense was not to be in the direction of the blow, and that the best answer was to unbalance - and to drive - the opponent until diminishing him to its most minimum expression, then he incorporated several techniques of Aiki Do.
With his new philosophy of teaching Karate Do, Master Seiko Higa achieved that the kata Tensho acquired bigger importance, since was not very well seen because of its excessive softness.
It is in this period when incorporates the katas Kan Yu Tai and Ryu Fa, also substituting the Kururunfa version of Goju Ryu by Kuru Ton Fa of Kobudo.
In 1935, after having also given up the Police Prefecture of Okinawa, because of important differences with the emperor, he decides to abandon his country. It is not known with certainty where he was resided, since never was very talkative in this respect, but it is thought that he was several years in Indonesia, and in some other island of the South Pacific. It is possible also that he has been resided in China, since it was in this period when developed the katas Kenshin Ryu and Ken Washi In Ryu.
Although sporadically he returned to Okinawa, his definitive return was after his wife's death, being resided in his great friend's home, Sensei Seikichi Toguchi.
It was such the respect that immediately he was won, that was hired to teach Karate Do in very important Institutions, as the University of the islands Ryukyu; the Schools of higher education of Itoman, and the jail of Naha City.
In 1947, concluded the Second World War, he opens a new dojo - to the one called KENSHIN, where began to teach a philosophy that he denominated as PHILOSOPHY KENSHIN OF GOJU RYU KARATE DO.
Some years later it was hired as Martial Arts General Director of all the Okinawa's jails.
Assiduously he shared visits - and points of view - with Sensei Miyagi, who had a great respect by Seiko HIga, to the one he consider as his more learned; intelligent and of more personality student. Because of this reason, Seiko Higa was the only one students whowas allowed him to apply his own approaches and procedures. Seiko Higa was also, one of the few students to the one Chojun Miyagi - before dying - granted the 5th. Dan.
Master Seiko Higa was very demanding with his students, and in his particular dojo he only accepted those that quickly adapted to his teaching method. One of hisr best students was Sensei Kanki Isumikawa, who stood out because of his excellent execution of the katas.
It is in this time when he incorporates the kata Naifanchi, and his favorite ones Ken Shao Lu and Ken Washi In Ryu. It is also in this period when he substitutes the versions of the katas Geiki Sai Ni; Seinchin and Seisan of Goju Ryu, by the katas Geiki Sai Ni Dan of Kobu Do; Seionchin of Anko Itosu and Pangainoon Seisan of Uechi Ryu.
In 1957 he was President of the Okinawan Karate Do Federación, and some time later participated in the creation of the dojo Shudokan. He partipated also in the creation of the Okinawan Federación of Kobu Do, and the International Federation of Karate Do and Kobu Do.
The honorable Master Seiko Higa - because of a serious lung infection - died in April 16 of 1966, showing the Budo Kan and Butoku Kai 8th Dan degree. His philosophy and system of teaching Goju Ryu were continued by his son Seikichi Higa as Professor of the dojo Shudokan.
FERNANDO PRIETO
6th. DAN KENSHIN RYU
= TOKU IN KAN
6th. DAN GOJU RYU = JKF GOJU KAI