International Okinawan Gōjū-ryū Karate-dō Federation

International Okinawan Gōjū-ryū Karate-dō Federation

Abbreviation	IOGKF
Formation	1979
Type	NGO
Purpose	Traditional Martial Art
Headquarters	IOGKF International Administrative Office
Location	Burlington, Ontario, Canada
Chairman	Morio Higaonna
Website	International Okinawan Goju-ryu Karate-do Federation

International Okinawan Gōjū-ryū Karate-dō Federation (IOGKF), also known as the International Federation of Karate-do Goju-ryu Okinawa, is an international martial art organization covering Gōjū-ryū karate.^[1] It was founded by Morio Higaonna (b. 1938) in July 1979.^[2][3] Higaonna is the founder and Chairman of the IOGKF International. The IOGKF is responsible for spreading the original Gōjū-ryū karate style of Okinawa throughout the world, following the teachings of Chojun Miyagi. In 2003, the IOGKF was estimated to have around 50,000 members in 45 countries.^[4]

IOGKF Structure:^[5]

• Honorary Chairman: Anichi Miyagi
• President of the IOGKF: Morio Higaonna
• IOGKF World Chief Instructor: Tetsuji Nakamura
• Technical Advisor and Headquarters Grading Panel: Bakkies Laubscher and Kazuo Terauchi
• IOGKF Chairman: Katsuya Yamashiro
• IOGKF Vice Chief Instructor: Ernie Molyneux and Henrik Larsen
• IOGKF Executive Committee and Headquarters Grading Panel: Ernie Molyneux, Henrik Larsen and Tetsuji Nakamura

References

1. International Goju Ryu Karate Federation Retrieved on 16 February 2010.
2. International Goju Ryu Karate Federation: History Retrieved on 16 February 2010.
3. Sajnog, C. L. (2004): Fundamentals of freestyle Goju-Ryu. College Station, TX: VBW Publishing. (ISBN 1-58939-600-6)
4. Sidney, J. (Ed.) (2003): The Warrior's Path: Wisdom from contemporary martial arts masters. Boston, MA: Shambhala Publications. (ISBN 978-1-590-30074-9)
5. International Goju Ryu Karate Federation: IOGKF structure Retrieved on 16 February 2010.