Kanryo Higaonna (1853-1915)

Trained in Okinawa-te (the name given to Okinawan martial arts at the time) and then venturing to China where he trained for 13 years. Kanryo returned to Okinawa and developed a style ‘Naha-te’. The kata he taught were a combination of Okinawa-te principles and Chinese Kung fu. One of the many kata he developed and taught was Sanseryu.

Chogun Miyagi (1888-1953)

One of the two key students of Kanryo Higaonna. After Higaonna’s death he also journeyed to China to train and later developed his style combining both what Higaonna had taught him and the Chinese. This style was called Goju. He kept Sanseryu in his curriculum.

Gogen Yamaguchi (1909-1989)

Gogen Yamaguchi was already a reputable karate-ka of Goju before he met its founder (Chogun Miyagi) around 1930. Miyagi became so impressed with Yamaguchi that he made him his successor for Goju in Japan.

GKR Karate

While many karate styles incorporate Sanseru, GKR derives its version from Japanese Goju (not the more kung-fu appearing Okinawan Goju Sanseryu).