Yoyogi Dojo in Toyko

The famous Yoyogi Dojo in Tokyo is where Sensei Morio Higaonna taught Traditional Okinawan Goju-Ryu karate to many of the world’s top karate instructors.

Yoyogi Dojo Toyko Morio Higaonna Goju-Ryu Karate Dojo

Sensei Morio Higaonna moved from Okinawa to Tokyo to make himself more accessible to a greater number of students from both Japan and overseas. In Tokyo, Sensei Higaonna founded the soon to be infamous Yoyogi Dojo, which became legendary for its long and hard training sessions that often lasted several hours under the instruction of Sensei Higaonna.

Sensei Graham Ravey in the Yoyogi Dojo in Toyko Ð Higaonna's Goju-Ryu Karate Dojo

Sensei Graham Ravey in the Yoyogi Dojo in Toyko – Higaonna’s Goju-Ryu Karate Dojo

Many of the world\’s top Karate instructors made the pilgrimage to Tokyo to train at the Yoyogi Dojo, including Australian Goju-Ryu Karate Chief Instructor Graham Ravey. Sensei Ravey was fortunate to spend twelve years training there not only with Sensei Higaonna but also many other top karate instructors who came from Japan and other parts of the world to train at the Yogogi Dojo.

The picture shows a young Sensei Ravey practicing Hojo Undo (Supplementary Training) with a barbell in the Yoyogi Dojo. The rough wood floor can be clearly seen. Much blood and sweat covers this floor.

In the 21 years of the Yoyogi Dojo, Sensei Higaonna’s classes became so popular that he was teaching four classes per day with student numbers reaching up to 1,000 students per day.