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Ei'ichi Miyazato (1922-1999) was recognized as the highest authority on Goju-Ryu Karate-Do in the world today. He served as the senior most technical advisor for the Japan Karate Federation/Goju-Kai, the governing body for all Okinawan and Japanese Goju-Ryu Karate. He was on the technical examination committee. Under his direct administration, the JKF has amended the Kata for all Goju-Ryu schools to follow as taught within the Jundokan. Additionally, he was the chairman and technical director for the World Jundokan Association, All Okinawa Karate-Do Federation, and was the current president of the Okinawa Judo Federation until his passing He also held a 7th Dan in Judo through the Kodokan in Japan and was the president of the Okinawa Judo Federation.
Miyazato Sensei began his training with Master Miyagi at the age of 13. Miyazato Sensei's father had himself studied with Kanryo Higaonna and therefore Miyagi accepted the young Miyazato as a student. Except for a brief time during WWII, Miyazato Sensei studied continuously with Master Miyagi. He was but only one of a handful of the original students that continued their training with Master Miyagi after the war.
In 1954, following the death on Miyagi Sensei the year before, training continued at the "garden dojo" at Miyagi's home under direction of Miyazato. In 1955, a meeting was called by Miyagi's senior students which included Nakaima, Madanbashi, Meitoku Yagi, Iah Koshin, Ei'ichi Miyazato and others to discuss the future of Goju-Ryu and to elect an official successor to Chojun Miyagi. The consensus of the group was that Miyazato was the most qualified to succeed Miyagi due to his qualifications and because he had spent the most continuous training time with Miyagi after the war and teaching with the Police department. Kei Miyagi, the second eldest son of Miyagi was called to testify. He testified that Master Miyagi always said that Miyazato was the only one he (Miyagi) could depend on for everything in the dojo. Miyazato declined but on the urgings of the group, Miyazato accepted the responsibility and until his death, dedicated his life to preserving and spreading the Goju-Ryu throughout the world as taught by his teacher
In 1957, he opened the Jundokan, the first free standing building exclusively designed to teach Goju-Ryu. Jundokan, which means, "Center for the study in the father's footsteps", reflects Miyazato Sensei's devotion for his teacher. The Jundokan has students the world over and is responsible for training some of the world's greatest Goju-Ryu practitioners.
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