Meibukan Goju-ryu USA, 617-923-2338: Meitoku Yagi

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History - Tradition - Heritage

Grandmaster Meitoku Yagi
( 1912 - 2003 )

In 1925, when Meitoku Yagi was 13 years old, his paternal grandfather took him to see Grandmaster Miyagi, who was 37 at the time. Yagi had no interest in karate but was there because of the wishes of his grandfather. In his discussion with Miyagi, the grandfather made the following two statements:

"Meitoku Yagi is a descendant of the leading samurai and
First Minister of Okinawa, Jana Oyakata."

and

"Meitoku Yagi has Okinawan samurai blood in him, and I think he will be able to take over your place some day in the future. So, please teach him your karate."

After undergoing an 8 month probationary period during which he had to perform chores around Miyagi's house and yard, Meitoku Yagi was finally accepted as a student and allowed to begin his training in Miyagi's Goju-ryu method.

Yagi studied with with Grandmaster Miyagi from 1925 up until his death in 1953. During this period he trained with great focus, discipline, and dedication. He eventually became Miyagi's top student, mastering the most advanced and sophisticated versions of the techniques and kata that Miyagi taught. Ultimately, Meitoku Yagi was selected as Grandmaster Miyagi's official successor.

Yagi was renowned for his skill and expertise in the various Meibukan Goju-ryu kata. His performances possessed a flair, elegance, and fluidity that were uniquely his own and set him apart from others. Also, Yagi's punches were so powerful that he was given the nickname"makiwara breaker" because of the many makiwara he destroyed in training and demonstration.

In 1963, 10 years after Grandmaster Miyagi's death, Miyagi's widow and family presented his karate uniform and black belt to Meitoku Yagi as a sign of appreciation and recognition for his continued dedication and contribution to the Goju-ryu karate-do tradition established by Chojun Miyagi. In a speech given on October 8, 1978, the 25th Anniversary of Miyagi's death, his daughter Suruki stated that her family had decided to give her father's karate uniform and black belt to Mr. Yagi because he had contributed the most and trained the longest with her father. On that occasion, she said,

"Mr. Meitoku Yagi was with my father for the longest time practicing karate.
I think my father would be glad to see Mr. Yagi getting his uniform."

On February 10, 1985, a special 73rd birthday celebration was held in Okinawa for Meitoku Yagi to commemorate his life. Representatives were in attendance from all around the world - the United States, Japan, Brazil, and India. Many prominent Okinawan masters were present: Grandmaster Kanei Uechi, Grandmaster Shugoro Nakazato, Grandmaster Shoshin Nagamine, and Grandmaster Shinho Matayoshi. Ken Miyagi, the son of Grandmaster Chojun Miyagi, was present, as was Seikichi Higa, the son of the late Grandmaster Seiko Higa. Hundreds of practitioners demonstrated kata and kumite in front of thousands of spectators. Afterwards a gala reception was held for special guests. This celebration was treated as a major cultural event in Okinawa. It was covered by radio, television, and the press, and was indicative of the high level of respect and esteem that Meitoku Yagi is held.

On April 29, 1986 in Tokyo, Meitoku Yagi was presented the Imperial Award, Fourth Class Order, by Hirohito, the late Emperor, in recognition of his great achievements in the field of karate.

On February 07, 2003, Grandmaster Meitoku Yagi passed away. He will be greatly missed but he did produce a number of distinguished and respected masters to carry on the legacy of Meibukan Goju-ryu Karate-do, namely:

Yushun Tamaki (Okinawa - retired from teaching but not from practice)

       Anthony Mirakian (USA, Watertown, MA - first westerner accepted as a
                                              student by Meitoku Yagi and currently the most senior
                                              instructor still active)

Shigetoshi Senaha (Okinawa, Tomigusuku City - founder of Ryusokan)

Meitatsu Yagi (Okinawa, Kume, Naha City - the older son of Meitoku Yagi)

Meitetsu Yagi (Okinawa, Kume, Naha City - the younger son of Meitoku Yagi)

Maasaki Ikemiyagi (Okinawa, Okinawa City)

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