Morio Higaonna

is a world renowned Okinawan karate master who is the founder and Chief Instructor of the Traditional Okinawan Goju-Ryu Karate-do Federation. He also founded the International Okinawan Goju Ryu Karate-do Federation (IOGKF). He is a holder of the highest rank in Goju-Ryu karate, 10th dan. and "The History of Karate: Okinawan Goju Ryu" (1st edition1996). Martial arts scholar Donn Draeger (1922–1982) reportedly once described him as "the most dangerous man in Japan in a real fight."

Early life Higaonna was born on December 25, 1938, in Naha, Okinawa. He began studying Shorin-ryu karate at the age of 14 with his father and then with his friend Tsunetaka Shimabukuro. He was invited to teach at Tokyo's Yoyogi dojo, where he attracted a large following. Higaonna was awarded the rank of 5th Dan in April 1966. In January 1967, he received his Menkyo Kaiden (免許皆伝), the highest level in the Menkyo system of Japan, indicating that a student has mastered all aspects of their training.

Promoting Goju-ryu across the world In April 1967, Morio Higaonna Sensei assumed the position of karate Shihan (Teacher) in the Nihon University College of Humanities and Sciences. Higaonna himself sought out and received permission from the Miyagi (Chojun) family for the use of the Miyagi family crest in the IOGKF logo.

In 1980, Higaonna married Alanna Stevens and their son Seigi Eric was born in November 1981. The family lived in Okinawa from May 1981 to May 1985, then in Tokyo from 1985 to 1987.

In 1980, the Japanese government invited Higaonna to give a special demonstration during the official state reception ceremony held in honor of the president of Mexico's state visit to Japan. The demonstration was held in Akasaka in Tokyo. with Higa acting in his capacity as the president of the Okinawan Karate and Kobudo Association ( 沖縄空手・古武道連盟, this is one of several umbrella organizations in Okinawa under which most Okinawan karate organizations and schools eventually became members of. The four umbrella organizations subsequently merged in 2008 to form the Okinawa Dentou Karate Shinkoukai. The TOGKF is a prominent member of this greater organisation.) he began hosting budo festivals while continuing to research, practice, and travel worldwide to teach, such as in the former Soviet Union.

Break with IOGKF In 2022, Higaonna left the IOGKF, the organization he had founded and announced he would be starting a new organization called the Traditional Okinawan Goju Ryu Karate-do Federation (TOGKF). Senior students including Bakkies Laubscher, Kazuo Terauchi, Juichi Kokubo, Masakazu Kuramoto, Yonekazu Uehara, George Andrews, Yoshinori Yonesato followed Higaonna Sensei to his new Federation. In February 2024 the Nihon Kobudo Kyokai in keeping with its appointment of Higaonna sensei as its representative-master of the Goju-ryu system, switched to Higaonna's newly established TOGKF as its representative organization within their association.

On February 21, 2023, IOGKF International reported in a Facebook message that fake e-mails were circulating with the intent to influence the members of the association on the detail of Higoanna's departure through identity fraud. Attempts by IOGKF Chief Instructors, led by Tetsui Nakamura, to reconnect with Higaonna and repair the rift failed. In the 2023 February issue of IOGKF International Magazine, IOGKF vice chief instructor, sensei Ernie Molyneux, stated that he hoped that the members have not been affected too much by the developments of the previous months.