Kanbun Uechi
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Kanbun Uechi (上地 完文 Uechi Kanbun, May 5, 1877–November 25, 1948) was the founder of Uechi-ryū, one of the primary karate styles of Okinawa.
Contents |
[edit] Early Life
Kanbun grew up in a mountain farming village on the Motobu peninsula of Okinawa.[1] Uechi's family were farmers of daikon radishes. [2]
In his youth, Uechi studied bōjutsu with Motobu experts. [3]
[edit] Time in China
Japan began a program of universal male conscription in Okinawa in the late 1800s. In 1897 at the age of 20, Kanbun fled to Fuzhou in Fukien Province, China both to escape Japanese military conscription and to fulfil his dreams of studying martial arts with Chinese masters.
Upon arrival in China, Uechi initially took up the study of Kojo Ryū, but dojo management mocked him for a speech impediment and the offended Uechi sought training elsewhere.[4]
Uechi next took up the study of herbalism and a Kung Fu system called "Pangai-noon" (or Pangainun), under a Chinese master named Shushiwa. Uechi received a certificate of mastery in 1904, and he later opened his own dojo in Nansoye, China.
[edit] Return to Okinawa
After returning to Okinawa in February of 1910, Uechi moved to Wakayama City, in the Wakayama Prefecture of mainland Japan, where in 1925 he established the Institute of "Pangainun-ryu (half-hard and soft) Todi-jutsu", and began the process of launching his own dojo. Uechi continued to teach in Wakayama until 1948.[5]
The style he taught was renamed in 1940 to "Uechi Ryū" Karate in his honor, and is one of the four major styles of Okinawan Karate. It was greatly systematized by Uechi's son, Kanei. Uechi Ryū has students and dojos around the world, and it is particularly popular in the Northeastern United States (along with one of its variants, Shohei-ryu).
[edit] References
- ^ Mark Bishop, Okinawan Karate, Tuttle: 1999, p. 38
- ^ Allan Dollar, Secrets of Uechi Ryu and the Mysteries of Okinawa, Cherokee Publishing: 1996, p. 54.
- ^ Allan Dollar, Secrets of Uechi Ryu and the Mysteries of Okinawa, Cherokee Publishing: 1996, p. 55.
- ^ Mark Bishop, Okinawan Karate, Tuttle: 1999, p. 39
- ^ Mattson, George E., Uechiryu Karate Do (Classical Chinese Okinawan Self Defense), Peabody: 1997, pp. 10-12.
