Uechi Ryū
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The founder of Uechi-ryu was Kanbun Uechi (1877-1948),who went to Fuzhou in Fujian Province, China when he was 20 years old in 1897 1.
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[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", which translates as "Way of Uechi".
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, 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 Fujian 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. 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
4. Seichin
5. Seisan
6. Seirui
7. Kanchin
8. Sanseirui
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 (Three Modes/Conflicts: Mind, Body and Spirit)
2. Kanshiwa
3. Kanshu
4. Seichin
5. Seisan (Thirteen modes of attack and defense)
6. Seirui
7. Kanchin
8. Sanseirui (Thirty-six modes of attack and defense)
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 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 traditionalists 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)
[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.
The original Futenma dojo is headed by Kanmei Uechi of Okinawa, grandson of the founder.
[edit] References
External Links
- Uechi-ryu.com Uechi-ryu site with much information on the style.
- Uechi-ryu.ca Includes articles and forums.
- University of Virginia Club Site Uechi-ryu information from the University of Virginia.
- Pangainun quanfa European Uechi Karate Federation
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).
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