Okinawa

Surrounded by coral, 'Okinawa' is a largest Island of the Ryukyu archipelago group, which stretches from the tip of Southern Japan down to Taiwan. Okinawa itself is a mere 110 km long by only 10km kilometres wide. The terrain of the northern two-thirds of the island is mountainous and forested. The southern third is hilly, rolling country and contains most of the population. The island's climate is hot and humid and typhoons frequently strike in summer. Today, the principal economic activities are agriculture, fishing, lumbering, food processing, and the manufacture of textiles and pottery.

While it's uncertain how population developed in the Ryukyu Islands, they are abundant with many cultural influences from all major countries surrounding them, including: Japan, China, and the Malay-Polynesian Centres. As an interesting matter of point, archaeological evidence suggests that people first reached the Ryukyu Islands as early as 30,000 years ago-via crossing a land bridge that existed during these prehistoric times.

The spread of Martial Arts from China to Japan made its way into the Ryukyu islands by way of trade and traffic between the two countries. Being at the crossroads of major trading routes, Okinawa's significance became known as a "resting spot" for trade merchants commuting between Southeast Asia, Japan, China, Indo China, Thailand, Malaysia, Borneo and the Philippines.

Through a constant influence of Chinese sailors and merchants, the indigenous Okinawan fighting forms were heavily influenced by 'Chuan-Fa'. Because of its strategic location, Okinawa was invaded several times by both China and Japan. Each country sought to use Okinawa as a military and diplomatic base. With these two powerful countries vying for control, it is not surprising that the Okinawan people developed high levels of proficiency in self-defense.

Okinawans have long been known as fierce fighters, and the tragic battles of World War II proved to the world that the Okinawans would rather die than live in disgrace. The spirit of the samurai was well developed in the hearts of these people. The early history of Okinawa includes dances, which contain positions and moves that strongly resemble modern-day Karate Kata.

In its earliest stages, the indigenous Martial Art form of closed fist fighting developed in Okinawa was called Te, or 'hand'.
During the 14th century Kempo (Chuan-Fa) is introduced into Okinawa. It wins popularity and is trained as an art of self-defense, under the name of 'te', which means hand). At Okinawa the native fighting art 'te' was practiced long before the introduction of Kempo. It is believed that 'te' was combined with 'Chinese Kempo' (Chuan-Fa) by the Okinawans and developed into the Martial Art of Karate. A major body of the Karate system was imported from Fukien Province, China by Kanyro Higaonna. Known as 'Naha-te or Hanko-Ryu', the system called itself one half-hard and one-soft style in Chinese. The system also called Fukien Crain Chuan, which was branched school from Five Ancestor Chuan.

During the 15th and 16th centuries, known as the golden trading era in the Ryukyu, Martial Arts develops into its own character on the Island of Okinawa, and is called 'te'. It is split into three main styles:

Shuri-ti is influence by sharp, agile and extremely quick techniques.
Naha-te influenced by the softer techniques of Kempo including breathing control and 'Ki'. It was characterized by a more defensive attitude with grappling, throws and locking techniques.
Tomari-te influenced by both the hard and soft techniques of Kempo.

Varied distinct styles emerged during the Ryukyu Kingdom: Shuri-ti forms were centered in the Ryukuan capital of Shuri, Naha-te in the commercial center of Naha, and Tomari-ti in the Tomari district located between the first two. Each style had its distinguished masters who established the traditions preserved to our present day. The techniques of Karate and Kobudo were, by their nature, to be kept in secret.

Come the end of the 19th Century, Tomari-te were subsumed under the name Shorin ryu, which during the years has developed into several slightly different styles. Naha-te evolved to Goju-Ryu, the style of 'hard' and 'soft'.

There were three epochs mentioned with three masters respectively in their evolution in the history of Goju-Ryu school. First was the time when the school was known only as Naha Te of Kanryo Higaonna during 1870s of which time the islanders were forced to surrender their nationality as Japanese. Second was when the school was named Goju-Ryu by the group headed by Chojun Miyagi during 1930s of which time Japan engaged in the World War II. The third and final time period was when the national structure of Goju-Ryu organization was established in mainland Japan by Yamaguchi Gogen Hanshi during the post war period. His organization has been called All Japan Karate-Do Goju-Kai (Zen Nihon Karate Do Goju Kai) since that time.

Until the 14th century Okinawa was an independent Kingdom. Between the 14th and 19th, Okinawa was divided into two political factions: one was pro-Japan and the other was pro-China. In 1868, Japan experienced a major reformation in its history when the Shogun, Tokugawa was over turned by the liberal clans of Emperor Meiji. During the Tokugawa Shogunate era, Okinawa was part of the Satsuma Clan, the south end clan of Japan while the island also maintained their administrative connection with the Chinese government. In 1879, Okinawa was annexed by Japan.

The Meiji Reformation brought nationalism to Japan. The Meiji government wanted Okinawa as its sole affiliation and marshalled the island to close all trade with China.

On April 1, 1945, during World War II, U.S. forces landed on the western coast of Okinawa, thus beginning the last great amphibious operation of the war, and one of the most bitter of the Pacific campaigns. After 82 days of fighting, organized Japanese resistance ceased, and Okinawa airfields were quickly reconstructed and used by the U.S. Air Force. Okinawa remained under U.S. control from 1945 to 1972, when it was returned to Japan.