“Many Karate teachers teach a watered down style – no hip action and no depth of punching – so it is easy to say that these teachers have no depth to their knowledge. You are what your teacher is, and if he knows a lot, you should be able to demonstrate this knowledge.” ??
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Yuchoku Higa 10th dan Shorin Ryu Kyudokan ~ (1910-1994)
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Higa sensei was the first person to receive a Hanshi 9th Dan promotion from Choshin Chibana in 1965. Higa sensei was still an active instructor at his Shorin-ryu Kyudokan dojo located in Naha City until just a few months prior to his death at the age of 84.
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His encouragement of the upkeep of tradition and the cultural heritage of Okinawa can be synthesized in the following sentence: “I would like the essence of Bujutsu Karate not to be lost; it is our sole inheritance from our native land and one which our forefathers left to the world with such pride”.
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Synthesizing his thoughts about karate-do he stated; “up to a certain time I thought being strong was the most important thing. In time I realized that the most important thing is to be ready to give assistance to others. Moreover it is important not to set oneself limits, therefore I now preach ‘Kyudo Mugen’ (the study-trail is never-ending or the path of study never ends). The karate pathway is as immensely vast, profound and boundless as the heavens that go on for ever beyond all limits.”
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With thanks to International Shinjinbukan