Kanbun Uechi
Encyclopedia
was the founder of Uechi-ryū, one of the primary karate
styles of Okinawa.
In his youth, Uechi studied bōjutsu
with Motobu experts.
Province, China
both to escape Japanese military conscription and to fulfill 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.
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.
, where in 1925, he married as well as 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.
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
).
Karate
is a martial art developed in the Ryukyu Islands in what is now Okinawa, Japan. It was developed from indigenous fighting methods called and Chinese kenpō. Karate is a striking art using punching, kicking, knee and elbow strikes, and open-handed techniques such as knife-hands. Grappling, locks,...
styles of Okinawa.
Early life
Kanbun grew up in the mountain farming village of Izumi on the Motobu peninsula of Okinawa. Uechi's family were farmers of daikon radishes.In his youth, Uechi studied bōjutsu
Bojutsu
, translated from Japanese as "staff technique", is the martial art of using a staff weapon called bō which simply means "staff". Staffs are perhaps one of the earliest weapons used by humankind. They have been in use for thousands of years in Eastern Asia. Some techniques involve slashing,...
with Motobu experts.
Time in China
Japan began a program of universal male conscription in Okinawa in the late 1800s. In 1897 at the age of 19, Kanbun fled to Fuzhou in FukienFujian
' , formerly romanised as Fukien or Huguing or Foukien, is a province on the southeast coast of mainland China. Fujian is bordered by Zhejiang to the north, Jiangxi to the west, and Guangdong to the south. Taiwan lies to the east, across the Taiwan Strait...
Province, China
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
both to escape Japanese military conscription and to fulfill 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.
Uechi next took up the study of herbalism
Herbalism
Herbalism is a traditional medicinal or folk medicine practice based on the use of plants and plant extracts. Herbalism is also known as botanical medicine, medical herbalism, herbal medicine, herbology, herblore, and phytotherapy...
and a Kung Fu system called "Pangai-noon
Pangai-noon
Pangai-noon was a style of Southern Chinese kung fu taught by Shu Shi Wa which formed the basis for Uechi-ryū karate. The name Pangai-noon indicates that the art's techniques are half-hard, half-soft, and is derived from the Okinawan pronunciation of the original Chinese.Shu Shi Wa was a teacher...
" (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.
Return to Okinawa
After returning to Okinawa in February 1910, Uechi moved to Wakayama City, in the Wakayama Prefecture of mainland JapanJapan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
, where in 1925, he married as well as 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.
The style he taught was renamed in 1940 to "Uechi Ryū
Uechi Ryu
is a traditional style of Okinawan karate. The founder of Uechi Ryū was Kanbun Uechi , an Okinawan who went to Fuzhou in Fukien Province, China to study martial arts when he was 20 years old. Uechi-ryū means "Style of Uechi" or "School of Uechi"....
" Karate in his honor, and is one of the four major styles of Okinawan Karate
Karate
is a martial art developed in the Ryukyu Islands in what is now Okinawa, Japan. It was developed from indigenous fighting methods called and Chinese kenpō. Karate is a striking art using punching, kicking, knee and elbow strikes, and open-handed techniques such as knife-hands. Grappling, locks,...
. 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
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
(along with one of its variants, Shohei-ryu
Shohei-ryu
is a style of Okinawan Karate that is descended from Uechi-ryu, and hence from Pangai-noon Kung Fu. Following the 1991 death of Kanei Uechi, son of Uechi-ryu founder Kanbun Uechi, there was an organizational split and the directors of the Okinawa Karate-Do association officially created the name...
).