Masaaki Ikemiyagi had started thorough study of Goju-ryu karate at 15, learning from Meitoku Yagi Sensei. Also he was a member of high school karate club. It was often the case that after a hard training with intense sparrings and exercise at school young Ikemiyagi would rush to the Yagi Sensei’s dojo. «Those days I trained four hours a day, five days a week.» — Ikemiyagi Sensei recalls. The photo shows Ikemiyagi Sensei, 17, together with his karate club teammates in the 3rd year of high school. He is the second on the right in the first row.
Okinawa, 1970.
Meitoku Yagi was the most senior student of Chojun Miyagi, founder of Goju-ryu and direct heir of the tradition. In 1986 the late Emperor Hirohito awarded this man the Fourth Order of Merit in Tokyo and called him «Ningen Kokuhō», a living national treasure. From the very young age Masaaki Ikemiyagi has emerged into this tradition in Yagi Sensei’s dojo. Later Meitoku Yagi became not only his first and the most revered teacher, but also a spiritual guide passing on the secrets of traditional Goju-ryu to Ikemiyagi. The photo shows Ikemiyagi Sensei in Honbu Meibukan Yagi Dojo, on the right in the first row. Yagi Sensei is standing in the second row, on the right.
Okinawa, 1973.
When he was young, Masaaki Ikemiyagi Sensei used to fight in sparrings a lot and would not turn challenges from fighters of other schools and other martial arts down. Thanks to that the Master gained valuable experience, which helped him harden his spirit and his karate and bring it to perfection. Ikemiyagi Sensei does not shun from showing techniques he had invented during the years of fighting practice. Since those lay beyond traditional Goju-ryu, the Master’s style is often called Ikemiyagi-ryu emphasizing its unique nature. The photo shows the fight between Masaaki Ikemiyagi, Okinawan Goju-ryu master, and Shiza Takeshi, Japanese heavyweight Mixed Shootboxing Champion*.
Tokyo, 1987.
* Champion according to JSBA, WSBA and APKF вin two weight classes. Now mister Takeshi is the head of Shootboxing Federation. He played various parts in dozens of movies.
In the days of his youth Masaaki Ikemiyagi often participated in Gashuku, outdoor training camps. Training sessions in such camps are held in very different locations: mountains, forests or sea shore, alternating with training in a dojo. Being outdoors allows students to forget about everyday routine and to emerge into the training process to the full extent. It is a way to embrace the spirit and philosophy of the martial art and to pay extra attention to sharpening one’s karate skills. Gashuku, wet asphalt training. Ikemiyagi Sensei is the last one on the right.
Taiwan, 1973.
On a special occasion Masaaki Ikemiyagi Sensei may write for his friends, students or colleagues a calligraphy speaking of the Master’s philosophy. Such handwriting is a very special gift. Ikemiyagi Sensei took up the art of calligraphy under the influence of his teacher, Yagi. Such practice is a spiritual bond in karate. The photo shows the Master presenting a personal piece of calligraphy to a newlywed couple.
New Mexico, 1988.
Calligraphy is an important part of spiritual growth. The process demands extreme concentration, willpower and a sense of the beautiful. Each slightest change in pressure applied to the brush is immediately reflected in the quality of image. Perfecting the calligraphy is good for concentration, which plays a central part in karate. The photo shows 28-year old Ikemiyagi Sensei working on a piece of calligraphy at home.
Okinawa, 1981.
Almost all sports martial arts have weight classes. Old Okinawan karate taught by Masaaki Ikemiyagi is free from the limits set by the partner’s size. That’s why it offers a wide range of punches directed to groin area, eyes, neck, and other vulnerable areas. Ikemiyagi Sensei isn’t tall even for an Okinawan and he weighs just 75 kg, but he deals punches of devastating force and can easily take on rivals who are much larger. The Master used to travel a lot promoting Goju-ryu all over the world. At the seminars he often had met big men, so the Master perfected his moves in such encounters. The photo shows Ikemiyagi Sensei during one of his seminars abroad. One of his students weighs 130 kg and his height is more than 2 meters.
Australia, 1987.
Historical documents tell about karate masters breaking a makiwara with a single punch. It is an old story, so it’s hard to find any evidence now. Masaaki Ikemiyagi sensei is a living proof that such a thing is possible. The Masters work with a makiwara deserves special attention. Ikemiyagi Sensei quite quickly breaks custom made Shureido makiwaras. It is expensive to change training equipment in dojo so often, so the Master has his ways to strengthen a makiwara. He puts sandbags behind makiwaras, ties chairs with weights, fastens various punch mitts with belts. In this case the makiwaras last for some time. Ikemiyagi Sensei works with a makiwara in his dojo.
Okinawa, 2018.
Kata is an important part of traditional Okinawan karate. The body must repeat all movements, punches, blocks, foot sweeps, hack releases, and throws brought to various schemes. It requires regular practice. Masaaki Ikemiyagi Sensei has always pushed to maximum speed, strength, stealth and timely performance of all moves in kata: «It is possible to learn the technique of all kata in two or three months. But simple ability to repeat them is not the point here. Years of practice and thorough training are necessary for deep understanding and mastery. That is why the same Sanchin will be different when done by a white belt student, by someone who’s been studying for a couple of month, and by those who have been practicing for twenty years.» The photo shows Ikemiyagi Sensei performing Sepai kata. Demonstration.
Okinawa, 1995.
The Sensei’s personal office features a collection of artefacts, scrolls, cups, awards, and photos. All kinds of things can be found here — certificates and medals of various years, old magazines and newspapers, even an autograph by Arnold Schwarzenegger.
Masaaki Ikemiyagi Sensei has never pursued fame. The purpose of the Master’s life is to promote the true karate all over the world. That’s why he has been working hard, training, travelling since the very young age and has never stopped to grow and excel in his mastery. Over the course of time students from all over the world started to come to the Master’s dojo. Branches of his school were opened in many countries. The Sensei’s personality drew attention of mass media. Discovery and National Geographic filmed a documentary about Ikemiyagi Sensei. The Master often gives interviews, he gets invitations to the most high profile events — his fame has found him.
The difference between traditional and sports karate is that a person can take up the traditional karate all life long uncovering the depths of its philosophy. Meitoku Yagi managed to find the balance, which is of crucial importance in Goju-ryu. He continued his training for the whole life passing on the tradition of his school to the students. The Sensei lived to 91 years, and he performed demonstrations till his death. Demonstration by Yagi Sensei in Shuri Castle.
Okinawa, 1992.
Kumite is an essential part of old Okinawan karate. A fight without protective gear according the School rules is a good test of technique efficiency and of state of mind. In the days of youth Masaaki Ikemiyagi Sensei used to participate in sparrings a lot, and thanks to that his strength was growing fast. At some point his teacher Yagi Sensei forbade sparrings for the young Master, because each fight would end in serious injury or knockout for his rivals. The photo shows Ikemiyagi Sensei at 24. His hands show that the Master is very serious about his training.
Brazil, 1977.
Masaaki Ikemiyagi is meticulous about following the traditions in his dojo. No matter how many years a karateka has devoted to training before becoming the Master’s student, he or she cannot get a high dan right from the start. At first it is necessary to prove compliance to the qualification requirements for the Shodan of Ikemiyagi Sensei’s School. Only after a year or two such student will have an opportunity to take the test for the 2nd dan. Three years are necessary to take the test for the 3rd dan, and so on. It is the way established from the moment the dojo had been opened and it is so now.
Hombu Goju-ryu Ikemiyagi Dojo.
Okinawa, 2019.
In the 70ies and even in the later years, not all masters had a chance to teach karate abroad. In April, 1977 Masaaki Ikemiyagi Sensei went to Brazil and spent ten months there teaching traditional Goju-ryu. It was the first foreign trip for the Master. And after that Ikemiyagi Sensei continued to travel and teach seminars spreading traditional Okinawan karate in other countries: China, Taiwan, Indonesia, Brazil, Australia, Russia, India, Georgia, European countries, and USA, including Hawaii.
Brazil; April, 1977 — February, 1978.
