Uechi-Ryu Karate-Do
Little bit of History
The origins of Uechi-Ryu Karate are rooted in a personal story and the refusal of a single man.
In 1897, the young Kanbun Uechi (上地完文) decided to flee Okinawa to avoid Japanese conscription. Accompanied by a friend, he clandestinely traveled to China and remained in the Fujian province until 1910.
For 13 years, Kanbun studied under Zhou Zhi He – known as Shu Shi Wa in Okinawan (周子和) – where he practiced a martial art derived from tiger and white crane techniques. The teaching was highly disciplined and centered on the mastery of three katas:
- Sanchin (三戦)
- Seisan (十三)
- Sanseiryu (三十六)
In 1904, Kanbun was appointed as a teacher of this martial art, known locally as Pangainoon (半硬軟), meaning “half-soft, half-hard.” He opened a training hall but stopped teaching in 1909 after a tragic incident involving one of his students. Disheartened, Kanbun decided to return to Okinawa.
Back home, he focused on family life and working on the family farm.
In 1924, for economic reasons, Kanbun emigrated to Wakayama on Japan’s main islands. There, he met Ryuyu Tomoyose, who convinced him to become his disciple and later to teach others (initially targeting the Okinawan community).
The effectiveness of Uechi’s art spread quickly, and in 1932, the first Pangainoon Karate training hall was established.
Kanbun began teaching his art to his son Kanei when Kanei was 16 years old. Ten years later, Kanei became a certified instructor and opened his own dojo. To honor his father, Kanei renamed the Pangainoon Karate School as the Uechi Karate School (Uechi-Ryu).
Kanei modernized the style by adding educational exercises and introducing additional katas to facilitate student learning. Modern Uechi-Ryu now consists of eight katas:
- Sanchin (三戦)
- Kanshiwa (完子和)
- Kanshu (完周)
- Seichin (十戦)
- Seisan (十三)
- Seiryu (十六)
- Kanchin (完戦)
- Sanseiryu (三十六)
Kanbun returned to Okinawa in 1945, where he passed away in 1948.
Key Features
Uechi-Ryu Karate uses a high, almost natural stance, making it very effective for close-quarters combat and self-defense in reduced distances.
It is also the only Karate style practiced with open hands. In a guarding position, the hands are extended forward, ready to strike, grab, poke, or throw.
Due to the close combat nature of the style, avoiding strikes from opponents can be challenging. To prepare for such situations, practitioners engage in progressive body conditioning to harden the body parts used for blocking strikes (arms, legs, abdomen, chest, etc.).
Uechi-Ryu Worldwide
In North and Latin America, the primary organization managing Uechi-Ryu is the International Uechi-Ryu Karate Federation (IUKF). Founded in the 1980s by George Mattson, it initially focused on North America before expanding to Latin America and beyond.
Since 2019, George Mattson has passed the presidency of the organization to Darin Yee.
In Europe, Uechi-Ryu was introduced to France by Yukinobu Shimabukuro (a student of Toyama Sensei) starting in 1986.
Uechi-Ryu Karate is generally practiced under the auspices of the Association Uechi-Ryu Europe, whose president is Didier Lorho. Members of the URKDE (Uechi-Ryu Karate-Do Europe) are recognized by the FFK (French Karate Federation) and the others National European Federations.
Shimabukuro Sensei serves as the European and Russian representative for Soke Sadanao Uechi (上地完尚), the great-grandson of Kanbun Uechi and president of the Uechi-Ryu Karate-Do Association (上地流空手道協会) based in Futenma, Okinawa.
Shimabukuro Sensei is an admirable man and teacher, always offering wise advice with a smile and demonstrating great attentiveness to others.