06/23/2026
Meibukan (House of the Pure-Minded Warrior) was founded in 1952 by Dai Sensei Meitoku Yagi, one of the most senior and dedicated students of Goju-Ryu's founder, Chojun Miyagi.
Yagi Sensei adopted "Oku myo zai ren shin" as his defining philosophy. In traditional Okinawan Karate, there has always been a belief that the ultimate techniques and "secrets" (gokui) of the art cannot be learned just by throwing punches and kicks. Instead, they are only unlocked when a student develops strong moral character, humility, and a pure spirit.
Essentially, the motto serves as a reminder that physical mastery is impossible without spiritual and emotional maturity. You cannot learn the "secrets" of karate without first having a good heart.
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