History of the dojo
Fifty years of the path.
From a single dojo in Sashiki-Tsuhako out to Okinawa, Japan and the world — the path Minei Karate Dojo has walked.
Nanko Minei Sensei was born in 1936 (Shōwa 11) in Tsuhako, Sashiki Village (now Sashiki, Nanjo City).
In his late teens he trained in several styles of karate, and finally chose Goju-Ryu as the one that suited him, studying under Eiichi Miyazato, then head of the Jundokan.
In 1968 (Shōwa 43) he began teaching karate to local young people and children at the Tsuhako Community Center. In December 1973 (Shōwa 48), with the help of his students, he built a dojo on the grounds of his own home, and for many years devoted himself to raising the next generation.
After he passed away in October 2021 (Reiwa 3) at the age of 85, his second son, Yasuyuki Minei, carried on his legacy and took over the dojo.
Timeline
The dojo's main milestones
The main events since the founding: demonstrations, commemorations, and teaching and exchange in Japan and abroad.
Shōwa
1973 — 1988- 1973Shōwa 48Dec.Founding of the Goju-Ryu Minei Karate Dojo
- 1976Shōwa 51Feb.Master Nanko Minei taught for one month in the Republic of South Africa
- 1976Shōwa 51Dec.3rd Anniversary Demonstration — Sashiki Junior High School Gymnasium
- 1980Shōwa 55Nov.7th Anniversary Demonstration — Tsuhako Community Center
- 1983Shōwa 58Dec.10th Anniversary Demonstration — Baten Elementary School Gymnasium
- 1987Shōwa 62Oct.Karate demonstration at the opening ceremony of the 42nd National Sports Festival — Okinawa Prefectural Athletic Field
- 1988Shōwa 63Jun.Students competed in the Okinawa–China Friendship Martial Arts Tournament — Fuzhou, Fujian, China
Heisei
1990 — 2017- 1990Heisei 2Aug.Worldwide Uchinanchu Festival — Karate & Kobudo Festival
- 1990Heisei 2Sep.Invited to the festival marking 90 years of Okinawan immigration to Hawaii — Honolulu
- 1991Heisei 3Jan.Invited to the 1st International Friendship Tournament of Chinese Martial Arts — Taipei, Taiwan
- 1992Heisei 4Apr.Invited to the Japan–China Friendship Mt. Fuji Martial Arts Tournament — Fujinomiya, Shizuoka
- 1993Heisei 5Nov.20th Anniversary Demonstration — Baten Elementary School Gymnasium
- 2003Heisei 15Apr.Taught a seminar at the 30th anniversary of the Spain branch
- 2003Heisei 15Nov.30th Anniversary Demonstration — Tsuhako Community Center
- 2007Heisei 19Apr.Invited to the European Tournament — Moscow
- 2007Heisei 19Sep.Celebration of Nanko Minei's promotion to 10th Dan, Hanshi — Tsuhako Community Center
- 2007Heisei 19Nov.Taught visiting students from Canada in Okinawa
- 2008Heisei 20May35th Anniversary Seminar at the Onaga Dojo, Spain
- 2009Heisei 21Training camp in Belgium, Europe
- 2010Heisei 22Nov.Taught visiting students from Canada in Okinawa
- 2012Heisei 24Sep.40th Anniversary Demonstration — Tsuhako Community Center
- 2013Heisei 25May40th Anniversary Seminar at the Onaga Dojo, Spain
- 2014Heisei 26Okinawa Goju-Ryu Karate-Do Kyokai seminar in India
- 2015Heisei 27MayTaught visiting students from Canada in Okinawa
- 2017Heisei 29Sep.Taught visiting students from Canada in Okinawa
Reiwa
2020 — 2023- 2020Reiwa 2Feb.Taught visiting students from Australia in Okinawa
- 2021Reiwa 3Oct.Passing of Sensei Nanko Minei
- 2023Reiwa 5Jul.Demonstration at the Okinawa Fair, AEON Malaysia
- 2023Reiwa 5Dec.50th Anniversary Demonstration — Tsuhako Community Center
And the path continues.
Carrying the Goju-Ryu we inherited on to the next generation. Watching or joining a practice is welcome on any practice day.
Access & visits