By Kenji Nakaima
It was in 1945 when I was 12 years old, a pupil of 5th grade of the primary school. My father, Kenko Nakaima was asked by the occupation army to run the orphanage in Haneji-Taira (now Taira, Nago-shi, Okinawa). The house still exists though no orphan lives there. We practiced karate in the garden covered with gravel.
One day a well-built gentleman brought a young man who looks strong to our orphanage. "Here comes Master Chojun Miyagi! Bow and say hello to him politely." said my father to me. The well-built gentleman was Chojun Miyagi, while the man looks strong was Seiko Fukuchi, the most senior disciple of Seiko Higa.
After talked with my father, Chojun Miyagi said to me "Show me Kata." I was so happy but at the same time I was shy with demostrating Kata in front the great karate master. I performed Kata named Seyunchin. "Well, I taught like this at Dai-Ichi High School and Naha Shogyo High School. But your Kata is slightly unique, so do practice as your father teaches you. Now do Sanchin." said Chojun Miyagi. While I was performing Sanchin, he checked my shoulder, back and legs. After checking and correcting my Sanchin, he went home.
From the next day Seiko Fukuchi, mentioned above, started working for the orphanage as a vice-principal. He taught karate to orphans and sometimes enjoyed talking about karate with my father, Kenko Nakaima.
* Chojun Miyagi (the founder of Goju-Ryu)
* Kenko Nakaima (the founder of Ryuei-Ryu)
* Seiko Fukuchi (the most senior disciple of Seiko Higa)
* Kenji Nakaima (the 5th generation of Ryuei-Ryu)
(Page 189, Encyclopedia of Okinawa Karate Kobudo, 2008)
Translated by Sanzinsoo
Kenji Nakaima met again with the ex-orphan at the orphanage in Haneji-Taira, Nago-shi, Okinawa.
