The Evolution of Goju-Ryu Kata: Beyond the Twelve

Thursday, January 23, 2014 by C. Michial Jones

It is a well-known historical fact that Chojun Miyagi Sensei himself did not officially designate a single successor. Since his passing in 1953, the “Hard-Soft” style has branched into several major associations, each led by senior students who sought to preserve Miyagi’s vision. While the core “12 Kata Syllabus” remains the gold standard, many masters formulated new kata to serve as bridges, foundational tools, or expressions of their own research.

The Traditionalists (The 12 Kata Syllabus)

Some lineages chose to focus exclusively on the curriculum as Miyagi Sensei left it:

• Seiko Higa (Shodokan): Taught only the 12 core kata.
• Miyagi Kei (Komeikan): Miyagi’s oldest son maintained the 12-kata standard.
• Eiichi Miyazato (Jundokan): While the Jundokan briefly utilized Fukyu kata in its early years, for the majority of its history, Miyazato Sensei focused strictly on the 12 kata of the founder.

The Innovators and Their Bridges

Other senior students saw a need for additional training forms to help students grasp complex concepts or to expand the system’s reach:

• Meitoku Yagi (Meibukan): Formulated the “Five Elements” kata: Tenshi, Seiryu, Byakko, Shujaku, and Genbu.
• Seikichi Toguchi (Shoreikan): Created an extensive preparatory system, including the Hookiyu series, Gekisai Dai San, and the Gekiha/Kakuha kata.
• Gogen Yamaguchi (Japanese Goju-Kai): Added the ten Taikyoku kata, Genkaku, Chikaku, and the unique Sanchin-Tensho form.

The Global Branches

As Karate spread to the West, further developments occurred within specific organizations:

• Teruo Chinen (Jundokan International): Developed Formation 11 and 12 and Fukyu 3.
• Sosui Ichikawa (Sosuikan): Formulated Gekisai Ha and Sosuiken. His student, Choji Taiani, later added Sanchin Koho and new versions of Gekisai.
• Peter Urban (USA Goju): A student of Yamaguchi, he developed a unique American syllabus including Unfa and Urban Kururunfan.

Closing the Gap: A Personal Reflection

As a practitioner of the Miyazato lineage, my training is rooted in the 12 core kata. However, having trained with instructors from the Higa, Yagi, and Toguchi lineages, I can see the merit in these later additions—especially for beginners.

I have always felt there is a significant technical gap between the “basic” Gekisai Dai Ni and the first “open-hand” kata, Saifa. The transition in body mechanics, shifting, and intent is a steep climb for many students.

While I do not advocate for a “buffet style” approach to Karate where one simply collects kata from every school, I do wonder if utilizing a “bridge” kata—one or two carefully selected forms from these later developments—might help a beginner cross that gap more effectively. Of course, the advanced student must always return to the Kaishu (classical) kata as the ultimate source of truth. The question remains: how do we honor the founder’s 12-kata legacy while acknowledging the pedagogical genius of the masters who followed him?