Uechi Ryū

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Uechi Ryu (which translates as "Way of Uechi") is a style of Okinawan karate. The founder of Uechi-ryu was Kanbun Uechi (1877-1948), an Okinawan who went to Fuzhou in Fukien Province, China to study martial arts when he was 20 years old 1.

Contents

[edit] Early history

Kanbun Uechi studied Pangai-noon (half-hard, half-soft) Kung Fu under Shushiwa, the leading figure of Chinese Nanpa Shorin-ken at the time, in the Fukien province of mainland China in the late 1800's and early 1900's. After 10 years of study under Shushiwa, Kanbun Uechi opened his own school in the Nanching province. Two years later, Kanbun Uechi returned to Okinawa, resolved never to teach again because one of his Chinese students had killed a neighbor with an open-hand technique in a dispute over land irrigation. It was while working as a janitor that he was persuaded by a co-worker, Ryuyu Tomoyose, to teach again after Uechi was first convinced to show Tomoyose ways of defending against different attacks. His confidence as a teacher restored, Kanbun Uechi, with the help of Ryuyu Tomoyose, moved to Wakayama City, Wakayama Prefecture, where in 1925 he established the Institute of Pangainun-ryu (half-hard and soft) Todi-jutsu, and opened a dojo to the public. His Okinawan students eventually renamed the system in 1940 to "Uechi Ryu".

Kanbun Uechi's son, Kanei Uechi, taught the style at the Futenma City Dojo, Okinawa, and was considered the first Okinawan to sanction the teaching to foreigners. One of Kanei's senior students, Ryuko Tomoyose, taught a young American serviceman named, George Mattson, formerly of Boston and now residing in Florida, who authored several books on the subject and is largely responsible for popularizing the style in America. Uechi-ryu emphasizes toughness of the body with quick hand and foot strikes. Several of the more unique weapons of Uechi practitioners are the one-knuckle punch (shoken), spearhand (nukite), and the toe kick. Because of this emphasis on simplicity, stability, and a combination of linear and circular motions, proponents claim that the style is practical for self-defense. In contrast to the more linear styles of karate based on Okinawan Shuri-te or Tomari-te, Uechi Ryu's connection to Chinese Nanpa Shorin-ken means it shares a similar foundation to Naha-Te (and thus Goju-ryu) despite their separate development 2. Thus Uechi Ryu is also heavily influenced by the circular movements inherent in kung fu from Fukien Province. Uechi-ryu is principally based on the movements of animals: the Tiger, Dragon, and Crane.

[edit] Kata

There are eight empty-hand katas in Uechi Ryu; the longest has 36 steps. Only Sanchin, Seisan, Sanseirui are from Pangai-noon. The others were added to the style by Kanei Uechi. Kanei Uechi designed all of the non-original katas except for Kanshu (designed by Seiki Itokazu) and Seichin (designed by Saburo Uehara). Many of the names of the newer kata were formed from the names of prominent figures in the art, e.g. Kanshiwa from Kanei and Sushiwa. The current list of empty-hand kata is:

1. Sanchin
2. Kanshiwa
3. Kanshu (also known as Dainiseisan)
4. Seichin
5. Seisan
6. Seirui
7. Kanchin
8. Sanseirui (also known as Sandairui and Sanseiryu)

The Sanchin kata is deceptively simple in appearance. It teaches the foundation of the style, including stances and breathing. Kanbun Uechi is quoted as saying "All is in Sanchin." Though it is not difficult to learn the movements of Sanchin, it is thought to take a lifetime to master the form.

Additionally, some organizations teach that each kata has a 'meaning' or moral; the more accurate meaning however is that each kata teaches a specific concept:

1. Sanchin (三戦 - Literally translated as "3 fights/conflicts". From the kanji for "3" and 戦う - "to fight/to struggle". Usually interpreted as three Modes/Conflicts: Mind, Body and Spirit)
2. Kanshiwa（漢子知 - A combination of the first kanji in Kanbun's name, and the last two kanji (if written in Chinese order) of Shu Shiwa's[Japanese pronunciation] name.)
3. Kanshu (完周 - A combination of the first kanji in Kanbun's name, and the kanji for Shu Shiwa's family name (Shu) [see previous note on pronunciation]. This kata is also known as Daini Seisan (第二十三).)
4. Seichin (十戦 - Literally translated, it means "10 fights/conflicts")
5. Seisan (十三 - Literally translated, it means "13". Usually interpreted as "Thirteen modes of attack and defense" or "13 positions to attack/defend from.")
6. Seirui (十六 - Along the lines of the others, literally translated this means simply "16")
7. Kanchin (完戦 - A combination of Kanbun's first kanji and "fight." No meaningful translation can be made.
8. Sanseirui (三十六 - Literally translated, it means simply "36". Usually interpreted as "thirty-six modes of attack and defense" or "36 positions to attack/defend from.")

After Kanei Uechi, some Uechi Ryu schools have added additional kata, such as Shoshu, which can be included between Konshu and Seichin.

[edit] Ranks

These are the ten black belt or Dan ranks:

1. Shodan
2. Nidan
3. Sandan
4. Yondan
5. Godan
6. Rokudan (Master's title: Renshi)
7. Shichidan or Nanadan (Master's title: Kyoshi)
8. Hachidan (Master's title: Kyoshi)
9. Kyudan (Master's title: Hanshi)
10. Judan (Master's title: Hanshi-sei)

These are the ten beginner or Kyu ranks:

1. Jukyu
2. Kyukyu
3. Hachikyu
4. Shichikyu
5. Rokkyu
6. Gokyu
7. Yonkyu
8. Sankyu
9. Nikkyu
10. Ikkyu

[edit] Weapons

There are no weapons in the Uechi-ryu system, although several masters in Okinawa have cross-trained with Kobudo weapon systems and made them part of their curriculum. Okinawan weapons include in part: bo (6' staff), Nunchaku, Sai, Kama, Oar, Tonfa.

[edit] Additional Training Elements

Kanei Uechi, in addition to adding kata, also introduced a sequence of exercises to the Uechi Ryu training regimen. The "junbi undo" are warm-up and stretching exercises based on Asian school training exercises. The "hojo undo" are standardized exercises that incorporate elements of all of the katas of the system. The junbi undo exercises are:

1. Ashi saki o ageru undo (heel pivot)
2. Kakato o ageru undo (heel lift)
3. Ashikubi o mawasu undo (foot and ankle twist)
4. Hiza o mawasu undo (knee circular bend)
5. Ashi o mae yoko ni nobasu undo (leg lift and turn)
6. Ashi o mae uchi naname no ageru undo (straight left lift)
6. Tai o mae ni taosu undo (waist scoop)
7. Koshi no nenten (trunk stretch)
8. Ude o mae yoko shita nobasu undo (double arm strike)
9. Kubi o mawasu undo (neck exercise)

The hojo undo exercises are:

1. Sokuto geri (knife-edge kick)
2. Shomen geri (front kick)
3. Mawashi tsuki (roundouse four-knuckle-fist punches)
4. Wauke shuto uraken shoken tsuki (circle block, chop, backfist, one-knuckle punch)
5. Hajiki uke hiraken tsuki (four-knuckle-fist blocks and strikes)
6. Hiji tsuki (elbow strikes)
7. Seiken tsuki (full-fist punch)
8. Tenshin zensoku geri (front-leg angle kicks)
9. Tenshin kosuko geri (rear-leg angle kicks)
10. Tenshin shoken tsuki (step around circular block, one-knuckle punch, circular block, one-knuckle punch)
11. Shomen hajiki (fingertip eye strikes - NB: some consider this to be a throat attack)
12. Koino shipo uchi, tate uchi (fish-tail wrist blocks in four directions)
13. Koino shipo uchi, yoko uchi (fish-tail wrist blocks side-to-side)

Special forms of strength training and body conditioning are generally practiced in Uechi Ryu training. A formal Uechi Ryu forearm conditioning exercise, called "kote kotae," involves the ritualized pounding of one's fists and forearms against the forearms of a partner. Kanbun Uechi learned this conditioning excercise in China. A similar Uechi Ryu exercise involves exchanging leg kicks with a partner (this is "ashi kotae").

Working with a makiwara is also a part of Uechi Ryu training.

[edit] Uechi Ryu Today

Like many arts, Uechi-ryu experienced organizational splits after its founder's death.

Some of the senior practioners of the original art split from the main organization and created other organizations or styles, including Shohei-ryu and recreated versions of Pangainoon. The rift came about through some teachers wanting to teach a varied form of Uechi (from slightly different kata to newer conditioning drills), and some wanting to teach the "classical" form as designed by Kanbun. The differences between the three major groups remaining are unnoticeable to the casual observer, and some in Japan believe that a large part of the split was due to a personality conflict.

[edit] Major Styles Originating in Uechi 3

1) Uechi-Ryu Karate-Do Association (Soke Shubukan)- headed by Kanmei UECHI

2) The Okinawa Karate Do Association (Okikukai Shohei-ryu) - headed by Tsutomo NAKAHODO 4

3] International Kenyukai Association (Kenyukai) - headed by Kiyohide SHINJO: Started as a fraternity within the Uechi Ryu Association in 1981. 5

4] International Uechi-Ryu Karate-Do Federation - headed by George Mattson 6:

5] International Uechi-Ryu Karate-Do Association - headed by James Thompson:

[edit] Noted Dojos

The original Futenma dojo is headed by Kanmei Uechi of Okinawa, grandson of the founder.

A prominent dojo in Yomitan, Okinawa (moved from Kadena in 2004) is headed by Kiyohide Shinjo, a.k.a. "Okinawa's Superman".
7, 8

[edit] References

External Links

  • Uechi-ryu.com Uechi-ryu site with much information on the style.
  • Okinawa Karate Okinawa Traditional Karate Kobudo International Studying Center (Goju-ryu, Uechi-ryu, and Shorin-ryu)

Books

  • Allan Dollar, Secrets of Uechi Ryu and the Mysteries of Okinawa, Cherokee Publishing: 1996.
  • George E. Mattson, Uechiryu Karate Do (Classical Chinese Okinawan Self-Defense), Peabody Publishing Company: 1997 (8th printing).

Article Citations

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