Anthony
Mirakian began his karate training in Okinawa during the
1950's when he was stationed there as an airman with the
U.S. Air Force. This was "The Golden Age" of Okinawan
karate. It was "the time" when authentic,
traditional Okinawan karate instruction was
first opened to western participation.
While
there, Mirakian met and began his Okinawan karate training
with Master Seikichi Toguchi, at his Shoreikan dojo in Nakanomachi,
Okinawa. The weather was hot and very humid. The
regimen was strict and the training was intensive - running
4 1/2 hours per day, 6 days per week. 100% effort was expected
from all.
At
Toguchi's dojo, he was introduced to Master Ryuritsu Arakaki.
Arakaki, a man in his mid-40's at the time, was a 7th degree
black belt master who had studied with Goju-ryu Grandmaster
Chojun Miyagi and his assistant, Grandmaster Seiko Hagi.
Mirakian
began training with Arakaki. As their relationship grew,
Arakaki befriended Mirakian and soon began treating him
as a protégé. They had many long discussions
about the old masters, Chojun Miyagi and his training in
China, and Okinawan karate history. Arakaki also took Mirakian
around to various dojo's and introduced him to many great
Okinawan masters of the time.
One day, Arakaki took Mirakian aside and said,
"I can see that you have a great passion and desire
to train in Goju-ryu karate.
"You should train with the foremost authority on Goju-ryu
in Okinawa,
Grandmaster Meitoku Yagi - the top, senior student of Chojun
Miyagi."
Mirakian
was initially reluctant, but Arakaki insisted, "You
must train under him."
Arakaki
spoke with Grandmaster Yagi and recommended that he consider
accepting Mirakian as a student. He took Mirakian to meet
Yagi at his dojo in Kume, Naha City.
Mirakian's
first impression upon meeting Grandmaster Yagi was that
he was in the presence of a great master, and recalls saying
to himself, "Here is a man of great physical, mental,
and spiritual power."
Though
Grandmaster Yagi was very gracious, he asked Mirakian many
questions and had Mirakian perform a kata for him.
When
the kata was finished, Yagi remarked to Arakaki that Mirakian
had a build like a spider - like the great Chinese Kempo
masters. Finally, Grandmaster Yagi simply said, "I
will accept Mr. Mirakian as a student, and I expect nothing
more in return than a few words of gratitude."
With that, Mirakian became the first westerner accepted
as a student by Grandmaster Yagi.
In
keeping with Okinawan karate tradition, training under Yagi
was challenging and arduous. All workout sessions were led
by Yagi personally and ran for 4 hours, 5 nights a week.Testing
occurred periodically and was rigorous.
Mirakian practiced diligently, displayed great determination
and skill, and became the first westerner ever to receive
a black belt from Grandmaster Yagi.
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