Takeshi Miyagi
Sensei · Hanshi 10th Dan
宮城 驍
Founder, Miyagi Karate Dojo
Biography
Sensei Takeshi Miyagi (宮城 驍) was born on June 8, 1935, in Gusukuma, Urasoe City, Okinawa, where Miyagi Karate Dojo still stands. He balanced a long career as a junior high school English and social studies teacher with a lifetime of traditional karate practice. His formal milestones and leadership roles span decades.
Honors
In March 2004, Katsuya Miyahira awarded him the rank of Hanshi 10th Dan in Shōrin-ryū. He has been recognized extensively for his contributions to Okinawan culture and sports promotion, receiving the Okinawa Prefecture Cultural Merit Award in 2015 and a Prefectural Meritorious Service Award from Governor Denny Tamaki in 2020. He was also selected as one of the ten masters featured on the commemorative stamp sheet for the opening of the Okinawa Karate Kaikan in 2017.
Leadership
He has served as President of the Okinawa Shōrin-ryū Karatedō Association, Vice President of the Okinawa Traditional Karatedō Promotion Association, and President of the Okinawa Prefectural Karate Federation. In 2012 he became the fourth president of the Okinawa Shōrin-ryū Karatedō Kyōkai (沖縄小林流空手道協会), and now serves as an advisor to the current president, Sensei Morinobu Maeshiro (真栄城守信). The timeline below highlights only a few of his notable honors and achievements.
Timeline
1953
April
Began formal training at the Shuri High School karate club. His father practiced karate, and he started in his third year of high school.
1954
April
Began training under Shigeru Takara (高良繁).
1955
April
Trained under Kansei Kinjō (金城兼盛) of Kūshin-ryū (空真流).
1957
July
Began studying Shōrin-ryū under Katsuya Miyahira (宮平勝哉). Visiting Miyahira's dōjō on Himeyuri Street in Naha, he enrolled that same day.
1960
July
Trained under Hohan Soken (祖堅方範).
1964
August
Gave a dedication demonstration at the unveiling of the Itosu Ankō monument (糸洲安恒顕彰碑除幕式).
1983
July
Performed as the Shōrin-ryū representative at the 9th All-Island Athletic Festival.
1995
Co-founded and became the first president of the Urasoe City Karatedō Federation.
2002
April
Appointed vice president of the Okinawa Shōrin-ryū Karatedō Association.
2004
March
Awarded the rank of Hanshi 10th Dan by Katsuya Miyahira.
2010
April
Became president of the Okinawa Prefecture Karatedō Federation and vice president of the Okinawa Traditional Karatedō Promotion Association.
2011
October
Gave a dedication demonstration at Shuri Castle.
2012
December
Became the fourth president of the Okinawa Shōrin-ryū Karatedō Association.
2013
October
Okinawa Karate-dō Kobudō Distinguished Service Award (沖縄空手道古武道功労賞). The fifth ceremony presented the award to seven people who had worked to preserve and develop karate.
2017
Okinawa Karate Kaikan stamp sheet. One of ten karateka pictured on the commemorative stamp sheet issued for the opening of the Okinawa Karate Kaikan.
2020
October
Prefectural Merit Award. Governor Denny Tamaki named him one of ten Prefectural Merit Awardees for contributions to sports promotion.
Okinawa Prefecture Cultural Merit Award
Okinawa Prefecture honored him for karate and kobudō. At the ceremony in the prefectural office on November 26, 2015, he spoke for the recipients.
The prefecture’s list of past recipients records him under Heisei 27 (2015). The same list also records Sensei Kiyoshi Tsuha of Iso Bugeikan, honored in Reiwa 7 (2025).
“In Okinawa, which was reduced to ashes by war, culture became the driving force for reconstruction. We have strived to preserve and develop it in our respective fields. I am genuinely happy to receive this award. I would like to thank everyone involved.”
— Takeshi Miyagi (Ryukyu Shimpo, November 26, 2015)Photos
Miyagi Karate Dojo (宮城空手道場)
Miyagi Karate Dojo (宮城空手道場) is at 3-chōme-7-14 Gusukuma, Urasoe. Its guiding principles are Effort (努力), Patience (忍耐), Continuity (継続), and World Peace (世界平和). Into his nineties he has kept the dōjō open to students from the United States, France, and the Philippines, and he has traveled to Germany and Brazil to teach.
More Information
It is important to us that the information provided here is accurate and honors the contributions and achievements of those mentioned. Please use our contact us page to request any corrections or additions. Be sure to include your name, dojo affiliation, and source of your information.