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Kanbun Uechi (1877-1948) |
Uechi-Ryu Karate is named in honor of Kanbun Uechi (1877-1948).
Kanbun Uechi was an Okinawan who studied a martial art style
called Pangai-Noon in China's Fukien province from 1897-1910.
His teacher who was, Chou-tzu-ho (a.k.a. Shushiwa), had a
reputation among the old masters as being a very fine teacher.
Having had the distinction of being the only Okinawan to have
actually taught in China and to be accepted there as a teacher,
Kanbun's teaching career began in China in the province of Nasoue
in 1908. Eventually, his reputation as a fine teacher grew, and
his school was successful. It is believed that after about three
years, Kanbun was involved in a dispute about water irrigation.
The situation escalated and Kanbun killed his opponent in an
altercation. Following this incident, Kanbun left China for Okinawa,
vowing he would never teach karate again. A depressed economy, led
him to move to Japan in 1924. It during this time that Kanbun Uechi
began teaching karate again. His son, Kanei Uechi (1911-1991)
studied under his father, and soon became a master of the style.
Following Kanbun's death at the age of 71 in 1948, his students
renamed the style from Pangai-Noon to "Uechi-Ryu" in his honor.
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Kanei Uechi (1911-1991) |
With the death of Kanbun Uechi, the role as head of the style passed to Kanei
Uechi, Kanbun's eldest son. Kanei was born in 1911, began training
in 1927, and started teaching in 1937. Under Kanei's
leadership, the style became popular and spread throughout
the world.
Among the changes he made to the style,
were five 'bridging' kata between the three original kata:
| Kanshiwa |
Seiryu |
| Kanshu |
Kanchin |
| Seichin |
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Pre-arranged training exercises were introduced (Kyu-Kumite
& Dan-Kumite), belt rankings, and sparring. Kanei also began
teaching the style to American servicemen occupying Okinawa after World
War II. In 1989, Kanei Uechi relinquished his role as
head of the Uechi Ryu organization due to a severe illness, and that title
passed to his eldest son, Kanmei Uechi. In 1991, Kanei Uechi died at
age 80.
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George Mattson |
One of the first Americans to begin training in Uechi Ryu was a young
soldier named George Mattson, who joined in 1957. George progressed
rapidly and after a few years was given permission to begin teaching in
the United States when he returned after being discharged from the U.S. Army.
George established his dojo in Brockton, MA, just outside of Boston.
Over the years George Mattson has built up one the largest Uechi Ryu
organizations in the world, the International Uechi Ryu Karate-do Federation
(IUKF).
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George Mattson |
Another pioneer of Uechi-Ryu in America is Kyoshi James Thompson - Hachidan. The Uechi-Ryu Karate Do Kokusai Kyokai is led by
Kyoshi Thompson has been a practitioner of Uechi-Ryu karate for over 40 years, and resided on the island of Okinawa
for 10 years. While there he was a student of the late Kanei Uechi at the
Futenma dojo.
In the fall of 2000, Kyoshi Thompson decided to form and lead his own organization:
Uechi-Ryu Kokusai Kyokai. Currently this organization is comprised of
several dojo in north America and one in Germany. He still leads classes at:
The Uechi-Ryu Karate Do Kokusai Kyokai Honbu is located at:
The Okinawan Karate Academy
1837 South Westnedge Avenue
Kalamazoo, Michigan 49008
Sensei Thompson still leads and conducts classes there. Anybody
who is currently practicing Uechi-ryu, Shohei-Ryu, Konan-Ryu or
Pangai-Noon is encouraged to enquire about joining the Uechi-Ryu Karate
Do Kokusai Kyokai.
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