Meibukan (明武舘) is a branch of Goju-ryu karate. It was created by Meitoku Yagi, a student of Goju-ryu's founder, Chojun Miyagi. Meibukan means "House of the pure-minded warrior."
Yagi opened the first Meibukan dojo in 1952. He was the first student of Miyagi recorded to be given permission. He was given the calligraphy (Oku myo zai ren shin). Yagi is the recognised Menkyo Kaiden of the Goju-ryu style as he was the recipient of Miyagi's gi and obi in 1963.
Meibu-kai karateka practice Goju-ryu kata as well as a set of kata known as the Meibu-ken kata.
Tenchi’s name is taken from the first line in a poem in the Bubishi, "Jin shin wa Tenchi ni Onaji." This means "the mind is one with heaven and earth." Originally, Tenchi was composed of two kata, Fukyu kata ichi and Fukyu kata ni. They were eventually combined, and now Ten no kata represents the first half, while Chi no kata is the second half.
The kata are named after Chinese constellations: Seiryu means azure dragon, Byakko means white tiger, Shujaku means vermillion bird and Genbu means black turtle. Meitoku Yagi got the idea after seeing these names bannered on war flags during the Tsuna-Hiki (Tug of War Festival) held each year in Naha.
As well, Taikyoku patterns are practiced. They can be done alone; as well as with a partner (Renzoku kumite), which is done in a straight-line pattern; or with three or five people altogether (Kakomi kumite), in which one karateka is surrounded by the others. There are no traditional Meibukan weapons forms; however, Yagi did adapt some Meibuken Kaishu kata to bō and sai, and are commonly referred to as Meibuken Kobudo. They are as follows.