Seikichi Toguchi QUOTES

Seikichi Toguchi was a prominent Okinawan karate master and the founder of the Shorei-kan school of Gōjū-ryū karate. He is renowned for his efforts to modernize and systematize karate instruction, making it more accessible to both Japanese and Western practitioners.​

Born in Naha, Okinawa, Toguchi began his martial arts journey under the guidance of his father, learning the fundamentals of Okinawan Te. In 1930, at the age of 13, he commenced formal training in Gōjū-ryū karate under Sekō Higa and later became a principal student of Chōjun Miyagi, the founder of Gōjū-ryū. Toguchi's dedication led him to study under Higa for over 33 years and Miyagi for more than 25 years, providing him with a profound understanding of the art.

After serving as an electrical engineer in the Japanese Imperial Army during World War II, Toguchi returned to a devastated Okinawa in 1946. Recognizing the need to preserve and adapt karate for a broader audience, he opened the first Shorei-kan dojo in Koza City (now Okinawa City) in 1954. The proximity of the dojo to U.S. military bases attracted many American students, prompting Toguchi to develop progressive teaching methods that included structured kata sequences, bunkai (application), and kiso kumite (basic sparring drills).