Grandmaster Higaonna Kanryo was born on March 10, 1853, in Naha, the capital of Okinawa. His father, Kanyo, worked as a merchant sailing between the small islands of Okinawa and trading everyday goods. From a young age Higaonna Kanryo helped his father in this work and through hard physical labor developed a strong body. Higaonna Kanryo was still in his teens when his father died suddenly.

Kanryo was introduced to Karate by Aragaki Seisho, one of the great Okinawan “Te” masters of that era. Kanryo decided he wanted to study the Martial Arts further and set his heart on traveling to Fuzhou, China for this purpose. He arrived in Fuzhou in 1869 at the age of 16.

Once in Fuzhou he studied the Chinese martial arts in the Kojo Dojo founded by Wai Xian Xian, who had been Aragaki Seisho’s teacher. Kanryo is believed to have trained primarily under the tutelage of Wai’s senior student, Master RyuRyuKo. He remained in China under the severe instruction of his teacher for approximately three years. In addition to studying empty handed arts, he also became accomplished in weapons and Chinese medicines. Master RyuRyuKo esteemed his student highly and sanctioned Higaonna's mastery of these arts; an honor that was extremely rare.

Such was Higaonna's skill in the arts that his fame became widespread. Miyagi Chojun (founder of Goju-Ryu and successor to Higaonna) said of him: "My sensei possessed incredible strength; the severity of the training he underwent in China is beyond comprehension.... Kanryo Sensei's speed and power were truly superhuman; his hands and feet moved faster than lightning." Words cannot express his real ability. We can only say that his skill was incredible, but even this fails to do him justice.

In the year 1881, he return to Okinawa where his martial arts became known as Naha-te. Higaonna Kanryo taught these martial arts to the people of Okinawa and at the same time continued his own research and practice. In order to teach the youth of Okinawa he developed a teaching method that was specifically designed to develop the mind and body; to improve physical, mental and spiritual well-being. The foundation of Goju-Ryu was set down by Grandmaster Higaonna Kanryo.