• Meitoku Yagi Hanshi

March 6th 1912 - February 7th 2003

Born March 6, 1912 Meitoku Yagi is the highest ranking and most thoroughly knowledgeable party on Gojuryu. He is a descendant of the original "36 families" who arrived in Okinawa from China in 1392 and establishing a settlements. Dai Sensei Yagi began his training with Miyagi Sensei in1926 at age 14.

For the first year of his training, he was taught only Sanchin Kata. Every student was required to be proficient in Sanchin before they were allowed to begin training other kata. The training sessions were long and brutal in the early 20th Century. When Yagi Sensei visited the local bathhouse, the local men would often comment about the bruises on his body, saying they could tell that he was training with Miyagi Sensei.

In his youth, Meitoku Yagi was known as "the makiwara breaker." He could break a typical punching board at will, and occasionally sought out a particularly tough makiwara to break when others said that it could not be done.

• 1912, March 6th - Meitoku Yagi was born in Kume Village, Naha City, Okinawa Japan.
• 1927, April - Meitoku Yagi begins his study of Gojuryu Karatedo with Chojun Miyagi Sensei.
• 1938, July 16th - Meitoku Yagi becomes a member of the Okinawa Prefecture Police Department.
• 1952 - Opens his dojo the Meibu-Kan
• 1956, October 1st - Meitoku Yagi established the Okinawa Karatedo Gojukai.
• 1967, February 26th - Meitoku Yagi becomes the Vice President of the All Okinawa Karatedo Federation.
• 1969 - Meitoku Yagi creates the "Zen Okinawa Karatedo Renmei".
• 1973, April 1st - Meitoku Yagi becomes asseds to President of the All Okinawa Karatedo Federation.
• 1975 - Meitoku Yagi secedes from President of the All Okinawa Karatedo Federation however remains as a senior advisor.
• 1977, May - Meitoku Yagi is Honoured by the All Okinawa Karatedo Federation and awarded the rank of 10th Dan - Hanshi.
• 1979, April 1st - Meitoku Yagi begins his 2nd term of service as the President of the All Okinawa Karatedo Federation.
• 1981, April 15th - Meitoku Yagi is elected as the President of the All Okinawa Chugoku Shogi Hozon Ikusei Kyogigai.
• 1983, April 1st - Meitoku Yagi again secedes from President of the All Okinawa Karatedo Federation however remains as a senior Counselor.
• 1983, April 17th - Meitoku Yagi is recognized as the Honourary president of the Zen Okinawa Karatedo Gojukai.
• 1984, April 30th - Meitoku Yagi places 2nd in the 10th Zen Nihon Chugoku Shogi Senshuken Taiki [All Japan Chinese Checkers tournament]
• 1986 - Meitoku Yagi receives the Order of the Sacred Treasure Gold Ribbon.
• 1986, April 27th - Meitoku Yagi places 3nd in the 11th Zen Nihon Chugoku Shogi Senshuken Taiki [All Japan Chinese Checkers tournament]
• 1987, February 19th - Meitoku Yagi is honoured with the "Tan Ho Sho, 4th Order of Merit" from Emperor Hirohito.
• 1993, February - Meitoku Yagi places 1st in the 14th Zen Nihon Chugoku Shogi Senshuken Taiki [All Japan Chinese Checkers tournament]. This same year he receives the title of "Intangible Cultural Asset of Okinawa for his lifetime contribution to Okinawan Karatedo.
• 1997, August - Meitoku Yagi receives the 1st Karatedo Distinguished Service Medal.
• 2000, May 20th - Meitoku Yagi is Honoured and recognized as an Intangible Cultural Aset of Okinawa and receives the Service of Merit Award from the City of Naha in Okinawa.
• 2003, February 7th - Meitoku Yagi passes away.

He was given Chojun Miyagi's Belt and Uniform from the Miyagi family - however, this Gi was purchased for Miyagi Sensei by Ei'Ichi Miyazato when Miyazato went to Japan to compete in Judo. Today, it hangs in his Meibu-Kan Dojo. After Master Miyagi passed away his family members had a meeting to decide who should be his successor. They made their decision based on loyalty, character, heritage, knowledge and formally presented the Master's Belt and Uniform. I displayed the Uniform and Belt at the 33rd anniversary Demonstration.

Dai Sensei Yagi remained a faithful student of his master, training and learning from him right to the point of Miyagi Sensei’s passing in 1953. After Miyagi Sensei’s death, Dai Sensei Yagi continued to teach in the Daido district of Naha.

Dai Sensei Yagi formed not only the Meibu-Kan School of Okinawa Gojuryu (his immediate Karatedo family) but also the Okinawa Gojukai (an association that includes and helps propagate all Okinawan Gojuryu schools).

On April 29, 1986, the late Emperor Hirohito awarded Dai Sensei Yagi the 4th Order of Merit with this title, "Living National Treasure" for his outstanding contribution to Karate. (The same Hirohito decorated Yamaguchi earlier in 1968 with the Fifth Order of Merit as well as Ranju-Hosho, the Blue Ribbon Medal). These recognigitions recognize the recipient as a National Living Treasure and are entrusted on to the most distinguished persons for their contributions to Japans Society.

Before the twenty-fifth anniversary of the death of Chojun Miyagi, Gogen Yamaguchi Hanshi and Izumigawa Kanki Sensei went to his Dojo in Okinawa to receive instruction in Kata in March of 1978. Gogen Yamaguchi Hanshi, former head of the All Japan Karatedo Gojuryu Association [JKGA], recognized Yagi Sensei rightful heir to Chojun Miyagi Sensie School. Yamaguchi Hanshi studied with Chojun Miyagi Sensei for a short period of time and represented Gojuryu Karatedo on mainland Japan. Gogen Yamaguchi Hanshi visited Okinawa many times (as well as Yagi visited Tokyo) to compare Kata and receive instruction in the advanced methods of Gojuryu. Yagi Sensei has said “When I used to Go used to Tokyo I would train at Gogen Yamaguchi Dojo and teach Gojuryu to his youngest sons and daughter. I should say that if you study in the modern day IKGA of their Dojo you can have confidence that you are learning the advanced methods of Gojuryu.”

Izumigawa-Sensei was a student of Seiko Higa (An Original student of Chojun Miyagi and classmate of Sensei Yagi) and began studying with Higa after the war. Izumigawa-Sensei taught in Kawasaki City, Japan. Both Gogen Yamaguchi Hanshi and Izumigawa kanki Sensei wanted their Kata to coincide with the Okinawan Kata.

Currently Meitoku Yagi is active, healthy, and sharp after studying Karatedo since age 13 when his grandfather took him to Miyagi's Dojo garden in 1925. After Miyagi's death, Meitoku Yagi founded the Meibu-Kan School of Okinawan Gojuryu, as well as the Okinawan Gojukai, an Association that includes all Okinawan Gojuryu styes.

Meitoku Yagi was known as "the Makiwara breaker" however he now plays the piano and recently learned to play the violin. And most recently in 1988 he was the Japanese National Champion of Chun-ji, the game of Chinese chess. In 1989 the Japanese champion as well as world champion. To this very day each morning health permitting, before the Children pass by his house on their way to school, Meitoku Yagi sweeps away the litter and dirt alongside the street of his home and Dojo.

Through tireless training and studying of kata and technique of Gojuryu as well as other systems, Dai Sensei Yagi has developed kata and training methods, which are now used in the Meibu-Kan. These wonderful insights into the training of Karatedo are one of Dai Sensei’s most precious gifts to those fortunate enough to be in the family of Meibu-Kan Gojuryu. Meibu-Kan is noted by most of its members as an association of the Yagi family.

Omong his most noted students; Yushun Tamaki, Shigetoshi Senaha, Tadanori Ishiki, Meitatsu Yagi, Meitetsu Yagi, and Masaaki Ikemiyagi. Meitatsu Yagi and Meitetsu Yagi, the two sons of Dai Sensei Meitoku Yagi, speak perfect English and are expected to walk in their fathers’ footsteps. Meitatsu Yagi is now Hanshi 10th Dan, and President of the All Okinawa Gojukai Association. His younger brother Meitetsu Yagi is a Kyoshi 9th Dan, and one of the vice-presidents of the association.

Dai Sensei Yagi is now retired from active teaching, but is still very active in the capacity of an advisor for the Zen Okinawa Karatedo Renmei and the Okinawa Gojukai. He resides in Naha-Shi, Okinawa in his home which shares location with the Okinawa Hombu Meibu-Kan Dojo. At least twice every year all of his closest students gather so that Dai Sensei Yagi can instruct and talk with them to continue their knowledge and understanding of his teachings.