Higa Yuchoku Sensei was born on 8th February 1910. In 1965, he was the first person to receive a Hanshi 9-Dan promotion from Choshin, Chibana.
After the war, Higa became a student of Choshin Chibana who then lived in Chinen Yashiki-mura. Higa was again studying Shuri-te. In October of l948, Higa opened a dojo in Shuri-Gibo machi at Noei Miyagi's home. Higa was also an apprentice teacher under Chibana at the Shuri City Police Station and assisted Chibana in opening ten Shorin-ryu dojo.
When Chibana organized the Okinawa Shorin-ryu Karate-do Association, Higa was his first Vice President. Higa taught karate at the same address since he moved to Naha after the war. He was the president of the Shorin-ryu Kyudokan Association and Chairman of the Board of Shihans for the All Okinawa Karate-do Association. He was also president of the All Okinawa Karate and Kobudo Association. During his life Higa sensei received countless awards, among which there invitation to the Royal Palace in Tokyo, by the Emperor Hirohito.
Higa sensei started to practice Karate under Jiro Shiroma sensei (Shuri-te). One year after the death of Shiroma sensei in 1933, Higa sensei practiced Shinzato Jinnan (Naha-te) sensei and Miyahira Seiei (Shuri-te) sensei. Higa sensei also had the scrutiny of Miyagi Chojun sensei (Naha-te).
In 1943 Higa Yuchoku sensei met Chibana Choshin sensei.
In 1945, with his police-officer qualification, he worked at Yonabaru police headquarters, being transferred 2 years later to the Naha police headquarters.
All in all Higa Yuchoku sensei had practice at different times under: Funakoshi Gichin, Miyagi Chojin, Shiroma Jiro, Akamine, Kokuba, Shinzato Jinen, Miyahira Kaiei (Seiei), Kiyuna Peichin (Kiyuna/Chun no Tanme).
Higa Yuchoku sensei established Kyudokan and devoted his life to perfecting and developing the knowledge he had acquired from his teachers, mainly from Chibana Choshin, with whom he continued to practise. In 1961 the first Shorinryu Karate-do Association of Okinawa was formed, presided over by Master Chibana, Higa Yuchoku was assigned the role as the first vice-president. Higa Yuchoku sensei past away on November 6, 1994, in Naha, at the age of 84.
In early days Higa sensei was famous in Kakidamishi (combat challenges), increasing his physical, mental and spiritual attributes through intensive training sessions. Higa’s punch technique was so famous, where it was known in the local dialect as "Yuchoku no tijikun", i.e. Yuchoku's punch.
Higa Yuchoku sensei was keen to bonsai trees and had special interest in bird-life and he also loved calligraphy.
He encouraged for spirituality and constant research.
One of Higa Yuchoku sensei's famous sayings was: "Up to a certain time I thought being strong was the most important thing. In time I realized that the most important thing is to be ready to give assistance to others. Moreover it is important not to set oneself limits, therefore I now preach Kyudo-Mugen. literary “the never ending study or ” or “The study process in infinite”.
More information about Higa Yuchoku's Linage and Kyudokan 究道館