Okinawan Karate Pioneers: Meitoku Yagi (1912-2003) learned Goju-ryu from its legendary founder Chojun Miyagi.
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In 1963, Meitoku Yagi (often referred to as Dai Sensei Yagi), most senior student of Miyagi Sensei, was chosen by Miyagi Sensei’s family to receive the Menkyo Kaiden (naming him official successor of the system) along with the masters karate gi and belt. He was chosen by virtue of his extreme loyalty to Miyagi Sensei, his character, and his knowledge and ability in Goju-Ryu.
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Dai Sensei Yagi is a descendant of the original “36 families” who arrived in Okinawa from China in 1392 and established a settlement there. He began his training with Miyagi Sensei in 1926 at age 14. Initially, he had to do chores for his teacher to prove his loyalty and seriousness of desire to train.
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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 but he never gave up. When he 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.
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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.
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Dai Sensei Yagi formed not only the Meibukan (meaning “house of the pure minded warrior”) School of Okinawa Goju-Ryu (his immediate karate family) but also the Okinawa Goju-Kai (an association that includes and helps propagate all Okinawan Goju-Ryu styles).
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He is one of very few karate-ka to ever receive the 4th Order of Merit. Emperor Hirohito presented him with this title, “Living National Treasure” on April 29, 1986, for his outstanding contributions to karate.
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In late 2002, he was 91 and still performing demonstrations of katas. He died February 7, 2003 at 11:40 am. At the time of his death he was considered as the most senior Karate-ka in the world. 
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References: Original material from Wade Chroninger-Chief Instructor, Meibukan Goju-Ryu, Okinawa Dojo
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