The International Okinawa Goju-Ryu Karate-Do Federation was established in 1979 by Morio Higaonna to preserve and protect the art of Goju Ryu.
Founded and named by the late Chojun Miyagi, the style is one of the original four to come from Okinawa. Higaonna Sensei, with the support of Ken Miyagi (son of Goju-Ryu founder Chojun Miyagi), An’ichi Miyagi (successor to Chojun Miyagi) and senior students of the late Chojun Miyagi: Seiko Kina, Seijin Nakamoto, Kiei Tomoyose, Shunshin Furugen, Jitsuei Yogi, and Shuichi Aragaki aimed to bring traditional Okinawan karate to the modern world in its true form.
In 2012 Higaonna Sensei, after many years of teaching, stepped back to an advisory roll within the IOGKF and appointed Tetsuiji Nakamura Sensei his successor. As senior student of Higaonna Sensei, Nakamura Sensei took up the reins as Chief Instructor of IOGKF with Sensei Ernie Molyneux and Sensei Henrik Larsen as Vice Chief Instructors. Together, they formed the IOGKF International advisory Committee. In 2022 Higaonna Sensei retired from his advisory role and the IOGKF at the age of 84.
Sensei Nakamura continues to instruct and expand the IOGKF whilst maintaining Bushi (founder) Chojun Miyagi’s passion, purpose and ideals.
Today, the IOGKF is one of the largest international karate federations, with over 55 member countries and over 75,000 members. Gasshukus (training seminars) are held frequently around the world, allowing karateka near and far to not only conserve and strengthen Goju Ryu karate, but to engender an unprecedented sense of family and friends throughout the IOGKF.
