The Uechi Family

The Okinawa archipelago is considered by karatekas as the birthplace of Karate. The most widely taught Karate styles are Uechi-Ryu, Shito-Ryu, and Goju-Ryu.

Kanbun Uechi

This young Okinawan secretly embarked for China in 1897 to discover Chinese martial arts and also to escape Japanese conscription.

Kanbun Uechi stayed there for 13 years and brought back with him numerous combat techniques and three katas:

  • Sanchin
  • Seisan
  • Sandairyu

A few years later, he opened his first dojo in Wakayama.

Kanei (his eldest son) modernized the school, which he named Uechi-Ryu (Uechi School), by adding intermediate katas (Kanshiwa, Kanshu, Seichin, Seiryu, Kanchin); sandairyu will be also modified and renamed sanseiryu.

Kanbun Uechi

Uechi Family

As you’ve understood, Uechi-Ryu is a family-style martial art that is passed down from father to eldest son or Sōke (head of the family).

Kanei Uechi (2eme Soke) entouré de pratiquants américains (dont George Mattson)

Since the creation of the school, four generations of Sōke have succeeded each other:

  • Kanbun Uechi
  • Kanei Uechi
  • Kanmei Uechi
  • Sadanao Uechi

The current Sōke shares his heavy responsibilities with his two brothers, Kanji and Kanyu. It is also worth noting that Sadanao (完尚) can also be pronounced Kansho.; c’est d’ailleurs sous ce prénom que Sadanao est plus connu dans le monde martial (notamment en Europe).

The Sōke is also the president of the Uechi-Ryu Karate Association, or Uechi-Ryu Karate-Do Kyokai (上地流空手道協会), which was founded by his grandfather Kanei Uechi. The main dojo of this association is located in Ginowan (Okinawa).