Roots in Okinawa
The story of Seigokan begins before Seigokan itself, in Okinawa. There Chōjun Miyagi (宮城長順, 1888–1953), building on the Naha-te he learned from Kanryō Higaonna and on his studies in southern China, systematized the style he named Gōjū-ryū (剛柔流), the "hard-soft style".4, 5 The name comes from a line of the Bubishi, an old Chinese martial arts text that links firmness and softness to the rhythm of breathing.5 Learn more about the style on the Goju-ryu page.
Miyagi in Kyoto, Tada at Ritsumeikan
Miyagi also taught on mainland Japan, and one of the places where Goju-ryu took root was Ritsumeikan University in Kyoto. There, in 1939, the young Seigo Tada joined the karate club and began training under Miyagi's direct guidance; he later became head of the club.1 Read the full biography of Seigo Tada.
1945: Seigokan is born
In 1945, with the country devastated by war, Tada opened the Seigokan dojo in Kyoto. The school's headquarters records that his aim was to educate young people and restore their sense of dignity through karate understood as a path of character development.2 From the same root came the organizations Tada founded and led: the Nihon Gōjū-ryū Karate-dō Shikai, the Nihon Seigōkan Karate-dō Shikai (日本正剛館空手道士会), which is still the school's official name, and the Nihon Seigōkai.1, 2
Seigokan and the organization of Japanese karate
In the following decades Seigokan grew alongside Japanese karate itself, and Tada was at the center of that movement. In 1952 he held the first tournament with protective equipment of his own design. In 1964 he took part in the unification of styles that created the Japan Karate Federation and the regional federations. He was involved in refereeing and organizing the first Japanese and world championships in 1969, 1970 (Osaka) and 1972 (Paris).1
Himeji, the headquarters
Over time the school became centered in Himeji, Hyōgo Prefecture, home of the Sōhonbu Dōjō (総本部道場), the central headquarters.2 Around it are organized the dojos and branches (支部) across Japan, the affiliated university karate clubs, the members' association (正剛会), the refereeing (審判部会) and teaching (指導部会) departments, and the overseas headquarters (海外本部).2
Seigokan around the world
International growth began in 1967, when Tada founded the Hong Kong and Macau dojos. From then on he traveled every year to teach and train instructors in other countries, among them the United Kingdom, the United States, Australia, Italy, Portugal and Brazil.1 The result is a school present on several continents that shares the same kata curriculum, including the two foundational kata created by Tada, Kihon Tsuki no Kata and Kihon Uke no Kata.6
After Tada
Seigo Tada died in 1997 in Himeji.1 The school remained in the family: today Seigokan is led by Seigo Tada III (三代目 多田正剛), sōke and president of the organization.3 Its principles are the ones the founder put in writing in the Dojo-kun: 誠実・謙虚・不屈, sincerity, humility and perseverance.2
Seigokan Brasil
In Brazil, Seigokan Brasil brings together the dojos and senseis who teach Seigokan Goju-ryu, under the leadership of Shihan Leonardo Carion (National Director) and Sensei Joetsu Narita (Vice-Director). See the lineage connecting Tada to the Brazilian senseis and find an affiliated dojo.
