Uechi-ryū


Uechi-Ryū is a traditional style of Okinawan karate. Uechi-Ryū means "Style of Uechi" or "School of Uechi". Originally called Pangai-noon, which translates to English as "half-hard, half-soft", the style was renamed Uechi-Ryū after the founder of the style, Kanbun Uechi, an Okinawan who went to Fuzhou in Fujian Province, China to study martial arts and Chinese medicine when he was 19 years old.
After his death, in 1948, the style was refined, expanded, and popularized by Kanbun Uechi's son, Kanei Uechi.

Early history

Kanbun Uechi studied a style of Southern Chinese kung fu Pangai-noon meaning "half-hard, half-soft" in the Fujian province of China, in the late 19th century and early 20th century under a teacher and Chinese medicine hawker known in Japanese as Shū Shiwa. Shū Shiwa/Zhou Zihe's life is not well documented. Some have suspected without conclusive evidence that he had connection with the secret societies which worked for the overthrow of the Qing dynasty and the restoration of Ming dynasty. Research by the Fuzhou Wushu Association reported in 1984 revealed that he was born in the Zhitian Village in 1874 to family wealthy enough to have him educated in letters and fighting arts which included weapons and Tiger Fist Kung Fu.
The exact provenance of the romanization "Pangai-noon" is not clear, and it may be from the lesser-known Min Chinese language. It is not a Japanese, Okinawan nor Mandarin Chinese pronunciation of the original characters. The standard Japanese pronunciation of the three characters is han kō nan, while the standard Mandarin pronunciation is bàn yìng ruǎn. The Cantonese language pronunciation is bun ngaang yun. In modern times, the katakana version of pangainoon has been used in Japanese writing rather than the kanji. While the Fuzhou Wushu Association confirmed the meaning of "half-hard, half-soft" in interviews in 2012, in 1934, Kanbun Uechi explained to Kenwa Mabuni when he asked about the meaning of "Pangai-noon" that it referred to the rapid speed of the kata.
After studying about 10 years under Shū Shiwa/Zhou Zihe, Kanbun Uechi opened his own school in Nanjing in 1906, and he continued periodic training under Zhou Zihe for a total of 13 years. Three years later, Kanbun Uechi returned to Okinawa, determined never to teach again because reportedly one of his Chinese students had killed a neighbor with an open-hand technique in a dispute over land irrigation.
While in Okinawa, Kanbun Uechi did not teach his martial art. In 1912, a tea merchant and White Crane Kung Fu master Go Kenki who knew him settled in Okinawa. As word spread from Go Kenki that Kanbun Uechi was a skilled martial arts teacher, he received requests to teach but refused.
Due to the economic situation in Okinawa, in 1924, at the age of 47, Kanbun Uechi left for Wakayama City, Wakayama Prefecture, Japan to find employment. While he was working as a security guard for a local cotton spinning mill, he was persuaded by a co-worker, Ryuyu Tomoyose, to teach him privately. After two years of private lessons, Ryuyu Tomoyose and about 30 other men interested in learning convinced Kanbun Uechi agreed to resume teaching. He taught in small rooms in the company dormitory before work, during lunchtime, and after work until 1932 when he opened a general store and the "Pangai-noon Karate Academy" to the general public. In 1940, he and his students, including his son Kanei, renamed the system "Uechi-Ryū Karate-Jutsu" in his honor.
Kanbun Uechi's son, Kanei Uechi, taught the style at the Futenma City Dojo, Okinawa, and was considered the first Okinawan to sanction teaching foreigners. One of Kanei's students, Ryuko Tomoyose, son of Ryuyu Tomoyose, taught a young American serviceman named George Mattson who authored several books on the subject and is largely responsible for popularizing the style in America. Uechi-Ryū emphasizes toughness of body with quick blows and kicks. Some of the more distinctive weapons of Uechi practitioners are the one-knuckle punch shōken zuki, spearhand nukite, and the front kick shōmen geri delivered with the first toe. On account of this emphasis on simplicity, stability, and a combination of linear and circular movements, proponents claim the style is more practical for self-defense than most other martial arts.
In contrast to the more linear styles of karate based on Okinawan Shuri te or Tomari-te, Uechi-Ryū's connection with Chinese Nanpa Shorin-ken means the former shares a similar foundation with Naha-te despite their separate development. Thus, Uechi-Ryū is also heavily influenced by the circular motions which belong to the kung fu from Fujian province. Uechi-Ryū is principally based on the movements of three animals: the Tiger, the Dragon, and the Crane.

Kata

There are eight empty-hand katas in Uechi-Ryū. Only Sanchin, Seisan, and Sanseirui come from Pangai-noon; the others were designed and added to the style by Kanei Uechi and other senior students of Kanbun. Many of the names of the newer kata were formed from the names of prominent figures in the art, e.g. Kanshiwa from Kanbun and Zhou Zihe's Japanese pronunciation of his name: Su Shiwa. The kata are:
  1. Sanchin
  2. Kanshiwa
  3. Kanshū
  4. Seichin
  5. Seisan
  6. Seiryū
  7. Kanchin
  8. Sanseiryū
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."
  1. Sanchin: Literally translated as "three fights/conflicts". From the kanji 三 and 戦う. Usually interpreted as three Modes/Conflicts: "Mind, Body and Spirit."
  2. Kanshiwa: A combination of the first kanji in Kanbun's name, and the last two kanji written in Chinese order of Shu Shiwa's name in Japanese pronunciation. Originally known as "Kanshabu" based on earlier mistranslation of Zhou Zihe's name into Japanese as "Shu Shabu."
  3. Kanshū: A combination of the first kanji in Kanbun's name, and the kanji for Shu Shiwa's family name . Originally known as Daini Seisan or "Second Seisan," it was created by Seiki Itokazu in the 1950s.
  4. Seichin: Literally translated: "10 fights/conflicts," or a combination of the names of Seisan and Sanchin. Created by Saburo Uehara in the 1950s.
  5. Seisan: Literally translated: "13." Usually interpreted as "Thirteen modes of attack and defense" or "13 positions to attack/defend from".)
  6. Seiryū : Literally translated: "16." Created by Kanei Uechi in the 1950s.
  7. Kanchin: A combination of Kanbun's first kanji 完 and "fight" 戦. Created by Kanei Uechi in the 1950s.
  8. Sanseiryū : The kanji was originally pronounced "Sandairyū," literally translated: "36." Sometimes interpreted as "thirty-six modes of attack and defense" or "36 positions to attack/defend from." While apocryphal, the 1977 Uechi-Ryū Kihon claims Shu Shiwa was also known as "The 36th Room Priest" to suggest the interpretation of the name as the "36th Room Kata" made from techniques taught individually in the previous 35 rooms.

    Ranks

These are the ten beginner or Kyū ranks, which in traditional practice count down from 10 to 1. The white, green, and brown belts are standard. Different schools in the same organization may have different designations of the intermediate ranks, such as different belt colors and stripes:
  1. 10º Jukyū
  2. 9º Kyukyū
  3. 8º Hachikyū
  4. 7º Shichikyū
  5. 6º Rokkyū
  6. 5º Gokyū
  7. 4º Yonkyū
  8. 3º Sankyū
  9. 2º Nikyū
  10. 1º Ikkyū
These are the ten black belt or Dan grades:
  1. Shodan
  2. Nidan
  3. Sandan
  4. Yondan
  5. Godan
  6. Rokudan
  7. Nanadan
  8. Hachidan
  9. Kyūdan
  10. Jūdan
Originally, Okinawan styles use the gold bars on black belts to denote the various masters titles rather than ranks after fifth dan. Thus one gold stripe designated Renshi, two designated Kyōshi, and three designated Hanshi. In the early 2000s, different Okinawan styles started using the stripes to designate dan grades above godan. Others, including many Uechi organizations, have followed suit, while others have not.

Additional training elements

Kanei Uechi, besides adding kata, also introduced a sequence of exercises to the Uechi-Ryū training regimen. The junbi undō are warm-up and stretching exercises based on Asian school training exercises. The hojo undō are standardized exercises that incorporate elements of all of the katas of the system as well as additional techniques.
The junbi undō exercises are:
  1. Ashisaki o ageru undō
  2. Kakato o ageru undō
  3. Ashikubi o mawasu undō
  4. Hiza o mawasu undō
  5. Ashi o mae yoko shita ni nobasu undō
  6. Ashi o maeue uchi nanameue ni ageru undō
  7. Tai no kusshin undō
  8. Koshi no nenten undō
  9. Ude o nobasu undō
  10. Kubi no nenten undō
The hojo undō exercises are:
  1. Shōmen geri
  2. Sokutō geri
  3. Seiken zuki
  4. Mawashi zuki
  5. Hajiki uke hiraken zuki
  6. Shutō uchi Uraken uchi Shōken zuki
  7. Hiji zuki
  8. Tenshin zensoku geri
  9. Tenshin kōsoku geri
  10. Tenshin shōken zuki
  11. Hajiki
  12. Koi no shippo uchi, tate uchi
  13. Koi no shippo uchi, yoko uchi
  14. Shinkokyu
Kanei Uechi developed a set of pre-arranged sparring exercises for the pre-black colored belt ranks. These exercises are referred to as yakusoku kumite. They involve two partners exchanging a formal sequence of blocks and strikes. There are five to eleven of these exercises, and each one involves three to six exchanges of single blocks and strikes. The kumite exercises involve blocks and strikes that are, for the most part, also found in Uechi-Ryū kata. Thus, like kata no bunkai, these exercises help students become familiar with the application of Uechi-Ryū techniques. Typically, the highest kyu ranks are expected to be able to move through these exercises with great strength and fluidity. Dan level students practice additional pre-arranged sparring exercises.
Applications of kata are also practiced in a pre-arranged format. These patterns are called kata no bunkai. Kanshiwa Bunkai and Seisan Bunkai date to the time of Kanei Uechi. Individual dōjō may create other bunkai for the other katas, such as Kanshu and Seichin, and these will vary in format more from dōjō to dōjō. "Okikukai"—沖空会--"Okinawan Karate-Dō Association"—沖縄空手道協会—from the late 1990s to early 2000s developed a "San Sei Rui Bunkai". Videos made during this time as well as a book, and later DVD document how the sequence developed over time. Interestingly, a recent project headed by the Okinawan government involving many Uechi groups in Okinawa to publish a manual with a DVD for the style has non-"Okikukai" members demonstrate a form of the bunkai that has some slight variations from the current "Okikukai" version.
Special forms of strength training and body conditioning are generally practiced in Uechi-Ryū drilling. A formal Uechi-Ryū forearm conditioning exercise, called kote kitae, or "forearm tempering," involves variations of striking a partner's forearms with ones fists and forearms. Kanbun Uechi learned this conditioning exercise in China. Similar exercises involve conditioning the legs ashi kitae, or "leg tempering." Uechi-Ryū also trains with makiwara, as well as incorporates other traditional Okinawan physical conditioning exercises as part of their training, such as plunging hands into baskets full of rocks, or performing Sanchin kata stepping while gripping nigiri gamae.

Uechi-Ryū today

Like many arts, Uechi-Ryū experienced organizational splits after its founder's death. Nevertheless, in 2018 as part of its Okinawan Karate Style Research Project, the Okinawan Government brought together seniors from some of the main organizations which include the Okinawan Karate-Dō Association, Kenyukai, Konan Ryu Shureikai, and the Uechi-Ryū Karate-Dō Association.
Pangai-noon
In 1978 a group of Uechi-Ryū students headed by Seiko Itokazu and Takashi Kinjo broke away from the Ryū due to political disagreements and the desire to teach kobudō in their dōjō, and they adopted the style name Pangainoon Ryū. By the early 1990s Itokazu and Kinjo had renamed this breakaway style Konan Ryū. In the 2000s Kinjo and his students began using the style name Kobu Ryū, however one of Kinjo's students, Mikio Nishiuchi, reverted to using the style name Pang Gai Noon Ryū. This name has also been used by later groups over the years who have practiced the additional kata and exercises. All extant organizations are either former Uechi-Ryū organizations or schools that chose to use the old name, or current Uechi-Ryū schools which wish to give homage to the old name. In 2019 the Okinawa Konan Ryu Karate Dō Association : Founded by Itokazu Seiki and currently headed by Itokazu Seisho, changed the name of the association to Uechiryu Karate-do Kona-kai.
Shōhei-Ryu
After the death of the founder's son, Kanei Uechi, most of the senior practitioners of the original art split for political and personal reasons from his son Kanmei Uechi to form the Okinawa Karate-Dō Association. Barred by Kanmei Uechi from using his family name, the Okinawan Karate Dō Association eventually decided to rename its system Shōhei-ryu which combined the Late Emperor Hirohito's reign name Shōwa and his son Emperor Akihito's Heisei to mean "to shine brightly with fairness, equality, and peace." The Okinawan Karate Dō Association added a new two-man prearranged exercise yakusoku kumite and an application or bunkai form for the third original kata: "Sanseiryū bunkai." One teacher developed an additional kata which was deemed by the Okinawan Karate Dō Association to be a kata for his school. With the name "Uechi-Ryū" passing out of copyright in Okinawa, an easing of political and personal disagreements, and a desire to promote the style in anticipation of the 2020 Summer Olympics, on September 18, 2016, the Okinawa Karate-Dō Association officially dropped "Shōhei-Ryū" and returned to the name "Uechi-Ryū."

Major organizations of Uechi-Ryū

Many consist of a main organization in Okinawa with branches in other countries. Listed strictly in alphabetical order:
Okinawa based
  1. Jiteki Jyuku Association: headed by Ken Nakamatsu
  2. Kenyukai : headed by Kiyohide Shinjō: Started as a fraternity in the Uechi-Ryū Association in 1981
  3. Konan Ryu Shureikai : Headed by Tsuneo Shimabukuro
  4. Okikukai : headed by senior students of Kanei Uechi in rotation: current head: Keichō Tobaru
  5. Okinawa Karate-Dō Uechi-Ryū Zankyokai : headed by Naomi Toyama
  6. Okinawa Konan Ryu Karate Dō Association : Founded by Itokazu Seiki, currently headed by Itokazu Seisho
  7. Okinawa Konan Ryu Karate-do Renseikai : headed by Josei Yogi
  8. Okinawa Uechi-Ryū Karate-Dō Association : headed by Shintoku Takara
  9. Uechi-Ryū Karate-Dō Association : headed by Sadanao Uechi
  10. Uechi-Ryū Karate-Dō KenSeiKai Tomigusuku Shūbukan: headed by Yoshitsune Senaga
  11. Uechi-Ryū Karate-Dō Shinkokai : headed by Takenobu Uehara
International Organizations
  1. International Uechi-Ryū Karate-Dō Association : headed by James Thompson
  2. International Uechi-Ryū Karate-Dō Shubukai : headed by Yasushi Kuno
  3. International Uechi-Ryū Karate Federation : founded by George Mattson, currently headed by Darin Yee
  4. North American Jiteki-Jyuku Karate Association: American branch of the Jiteki Jyuku Association
  5. Okikukai Brasil: headed by Ramiro da Silva Leone
  6. Okikukai Karate Italia: headed by Fulvio Zilioli
  7. Ryukokaku Karate and Kobu Dō Association: headed by Tsukasa Gushi
  8. Uechi-Ryū Bushidō: headed by Bob Bethoney
  9. Uechi-Ryū Butokukai: headed by Buzz Durkin
  10. Uechi-Ryū International Karate-Do Association : Chairman Robert Campbell, and Vice-Chairman Jay Salhanick
  11. Uechi-Ryū Karate-Dō Shinkokai Shūbukan : headed by Isamu Uehara
  12. Uechi-Ryū Karate Dō Europe: President Didier Lorho; European branch of Uechi-Ryū Karate-Dō Association
  13. World Uechi-Ryū Karate Dō Kobudō Organization : President Gustavo Gondra