MASTER SEIKO HIGA BIOGRAPHY
Although he was student of Chojun Miyagi - and therefore the base of his Karate was Goju Ryu - Seiko Higa didn't feel completely satisfied with the training systems that this Master applied. Because of this reason he took several trips to China, to train and to learn softer - and more technical - methods, specializing in Tai Chi Chuan and Pa Chi Chuan, arts these of which we could say that he fell in love. In China he was known as "Sekon" Higa, and one of his Masters was the famous Ma Fong Tu, creator of the "Pa Chi of Ma".
Seiko Higa was born in the year 1897 in Okinawa - Naha city - and when he was thirteen year-old he began to practice karate. Contrary to most of the Karate Masters of that time, Seiko Higa was a very well educated person, even ending up being Teacher of Primary School, and Professor in the Police Prefecture of Okinawa.
Seiko Higa liked to analyze deeply all his projects, and in little time it became notorious that his destination was to create new methods to teach karate.
In the year 1931, he leaves the Police Prefecture and - after a new trip to China - he decides to open his first Dojo in Okinawa - Naha city - where begins to apply a new ttraining system of the style Goju Ryu. Nevertheless, Chojun Miyagi followed considering Seiko Higa as his student, and permanently he invited him to his dojo to share trainings - and points of views - about the style Goju. Seiko Higa was the only student authorized by Miyagi to add new katas.
Between 1937 and the end of the Second World War, it is a hole very difficult of filling in this Master's life. It is possible that he resided in some island of the Pacific ocean, to continue teaching and developing his ideas about karate.
Master Akamine said that it was in these years when Seiko Higa - based on several Chinese forms - he gathered and structured the katas "KENSHIN RYU" and "KEN WASHI IN RYU".
After the Second World War, Seiko Higa returns to Okinawa where he opens a new dojo that he called "KENSHIN". The excellence of his method of training, took him to be hired to teach in the University of Ryukyu, and in the prison of Naha city.
In his particular dojo, Seiko Higa didn't accept many students. Two of the most outstanding students they were Master Seiichi Yoshitaka Akamine and Master Kanki Isumikawa. It was with these two students, that Seiko Higa consolidated his system of training. He added the katas - of Chinese origin - "Naihuanchi"; "Ju Kanshu"; "Ryuha"; "Ken Shao Lu" (today known as Kenshin Ryu) and "Ken Washi In Ryu". It was also in this time when arise the exercises and basic displacements of kihon, that would be the base of the forms that today are known as "Uke"; "Enpi" and "Tsuki" Godan, katas these that - already in West (San Pablo, Brazil) - were structured by Master Seiichi Yoshitaka Akamine.
Other differences between Seiko Higa's method and the classic system of Goju Ryu training, are the following ones:
| = | The kata "Sesan" of Goju Ryu, was substituted by another form of origin Chinese call "Pangainoon Seisan" whose version figures in the "Bubishi". |
| = | The embusen of the two katas "Gei Ki Sai" that Seiko Higa taught, is different of the embusen of the classic Goju Ryu's "Gei Ki Sai". |
| = | In Seiko Higa's method, the kata "Gei Ki Sai Sho Dan" (Gei Ki Sai Ichi) it was executed with empty hand, and the kata "Gei Ki Sai Ni Dan" (Gei Ki Sai Ni) was executed with Sai. |
| = | The kata "Seinchin" - called by Seiko Higa as "Seionchi" - it is more similar (almost identical) to Shito Ryu's version, that to Goju Ryu's execution. |
| = | The applications (bunkai) of all the katas of Seiko Higa's system, finish being supplemented with "Nage Waza's" techniques arisen of Aikido. |
In spite of the fact that Seiko Higa's method every time it differed more than Chojun Miyagi system, this Master - before dying - recognizing Higa as one of his best and more advanced students, distinguished him with the 5th. Dan; being this the maximum degree that Miyagi - to very few of his students - it granted.
Seiko Higa was a very important person inside Okinawan Federation of Karate Do, of the one - in 1957 - he ended up being the President.
Years later he was part of the group of Masters that founded the famous Dojo Shodokan, and the Okinawan Federation of Kobudo. Finally, some years before dying, he could fulfill his dream of founding the International Federation of Karate Do and Kobudo.
Seiko Higa died in 1966, being as successor his son Seikichi Higa. His method of teaching Goju Ryu was continued by Master Seiichi Y. Akamine. Already in West (San Pablo; Brazil), and after adding the katas "Te Katana Godan"; "Teisho Godan" and "Keri Kata", Master Akamine - in homage to his Master Seiko Higa - decided that this new system of teaching Goju Ryu become a style in itself, to the one he called "KENSHIN RYU", name this of Seiko Higa's favorite kata.
FERNANDO PRIETO
6th. DAN GOJU RYU = JKF GOJU KAI
6th. DAN KENSHIN RYU = KEN SHIN TETTSU GAKKU