The International Okinawan Goju-Ryu Karate-do Federation (IOGKF) is one of the finest, traditional karate organizations in the world today. Under the leadership of our master, Sensei Morio Higaonna, 10th dan, the IOGKF is committed to preserving the intangible cultural treasure of Okinawan Goju-Ryu Karate-do, which has been passed down to us in its original form from one generation to the next. Since its establishment in 1979, the IOGKF has attracted culturally diverse martial arts practitioners from around the world, who have joined the organization after recognizing the authenticity and excellence of the IOGKF and its direct karate lineage tracing back to Bushi Chojun Miyagi, the founder of Okinawan Goju-Ryu Karate-do. Our members actively support our mission, objectives, and activities. The IOGKF sponsors interactive website forums, weekend seminars, and international martial arts events for its members to stay informed with news updates, improve their ongoing knowledge and skills, and develop life-long friendships. The IOGKF now has members in over 50 affiliated countries worldwide and is the largest Okinawan karate organization in the world.
We believe that Okinawan Goju-Ryu Karate-do training benefits all practitioners, regardless of their nationality, race, age, or gender. We have members as young as three years old up to those over 80 years of age. The IOGKF has a worldwide network of leadership groups and karate schools in different countries with highly-qualified chief instructors and dojo instructors to meet the needs of students and families. Training at their own pace, each IOGKF member will improve their mind (mental health, education, and language); body (self defense skills, physical fitness, flexibility, and endurance); and spirit (character, positive attitude, and contributions to society). It is our goal to improve the “quality of life” for all of our IOGKF members to help make a positive impact on the world. The IOGKF welcomes all potential new members to join our international karate family!
Higaonna Sensei - Okinawa's newest cultural Treasure!
On May 8th, 2013, IOGKF Supreme Master, Sensei Morio Higaonna was honoured in his homeland of Okinawa - the birthplace of traditional Karate. The Okinawan Government presented Higaonna Sensei with an award recognising him as a intangible Cultural treasure for the island for his many years of dedication and preservation to Goju-ryu Karate as an important part of Okinawan culture. This is an honour very rarely bestowed and IOGKF International congratulates Higaonna Sensei on this well deserved milestone.
Send Higaonna Sensei a message of congratulations!
Email: admin@iogkf.com
Click here to see messages for Higaonna Sensei from across the globe!
IOGKF 2013 European Gasshuku
July 22 - 26, 2013 Catania, Italy
Click on the poster below to go the event website
IOGKF WORLD CHIEF INSTRUCTOR GASSHUKU
October 16 - 19, 2013 Naha, Okinawa
MIYAGI CHOJUN FESTIVAL 2013 A GREAT SUCCESS
Click on the poster below to see event participant feedback
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IOGKF INTERNATIONAL MAGAZINE & ONLINE NEWSLETTER
CLICK HERE FOR APRIL 2013 MAGAZINE FREE DOWNLOAD
CLICK HERE FOR THE ONLINE NEWSLETTER |
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IOGKF
New Generation
At the
Chief Instructors meeting during the 6th
World Budosai in Okinawa, Morio Higaonna Sensei
announced his retirement from the position of IOGKF
World Chief Instructor, and appointed Tetsuji Nakamura
Sensei as the new IOGKF World Chief Instructor, and
Sensei Ernie Molyneux and Sensei Henrik Larsen as new
Vice Chief Instructors.
Although
Higaonna Sensei will no longer be a part of the
organizational matters, he will be overlooking the IOGKF
as the supreme master (Saiko Shihan).He will still
travel and teach at international gasshuku such as the
Chief Instructor Gasshuku, the European Gasshuku, the
North American Gasshuku (MCF), the Euro-Asian Gasshuku,
etc.
- Messages from the World IOGKF members -
- Please see following
link for the detail list of New IOGKF Structure.
New IOGKF Structure
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Please send your message to both Higaonna Sensei and
Nakamura Sensei to
admin@iogkf.com
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Message from the new
IOGKF Chief Instructor
It is a great honour that I was appointed
as the Chief Instructor of IOGKF. At the same time, I
feel the great responsibility that comes with being
chosen as a leader for my generation.
The IOGKF was established in 1979 by
Morio Higaonna Sensei to preserve traditional Goju-Ryu
which was handed down from the founder, Chojun Miyagi
Sensei. Higaonna Sensei and many senior IOGKF
instructors such as Sensei Bakkies Laubscher, Kazuo
Terauchi Sensei, the late Sensei Leon Pantanowitz and
more, have worked hard to build the IOGKF we have now.
I believe that the IOGKF is the best
karate organization in the world. We are not the
biggest, but we have a very high quality of karate as
our main focus is the quality, not quantity. Also, we
have a great relationship among our members. It is
Higaonna Sensei’s humanity that created such a wonderful
relationship and atmosphere among our members, a fine
balance and mixture of family atmosphere and respect.
Higaonna Sensei commented in his greeting
at the World Budosai, “It is important for the
development of Okinawa Goju-ryu to trust in the next
generation and pass the responsibility on to them. I
believe this is the time”.
I am still young and still have a lot to
learn as a karate-ka as well as a person. However, I am
not alone. Sensei Ernie Molyneux and Sensei Henrik
Larsen are with me as Vice Chief Instructors. I have
Sensei Bakkies Laubscher and Kazuo Terauchi Sensei as
technical advisors. I have many fine instructors in my
generation that I can call as friends, brothers and
sisters. Together, I believe that we can carry on the
legacy to the next generation.
I commit myself to spend my whole life to
preserve traditional Goju-ryu and to do my best to
further develop the IOGKF. I would humbly like to ask
for your support.
July 2012
Tetsuji Nakamura
IOGKF Chief Instructor
- Messages from the World IOGKF members -
- Please send your message
to both Higaonna Sensei and Nakamura Sensei to
admin@iogkf.com
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