WELCOME TO UECHI-RYU INSIGHTS

Uechi-Ryū Karate-Do (meaning: The way of the style of Uechi karate) is a traditional style of Okinawan karate and one of the three main styles of karate practiced in Okinawa today. Originally called Pangainoon, the style was renamed Uechi-Ryū after the death of Kanbun Uechi in 1948 (see History). The style was expanded and popularized by his son, Kanei Uechi.

Pangainoon, meaning "half-hard, half-soft," refers to the principle in Uechi-ryu where one develops body flow to maximize energy, power, speed, and timing by accelerating movements with no tension (soft) and focusing energy at contact (hard). Uechi-Ryu (Pangainoon) is derived from the tiger, crane, and dragon. It is a very practical style of karate for self-defense, emphasizing front-facing stances and body position; circular blocking movements; tenshin (evading) movement; combined block/strike techniques; kicks below the waist; and toe, knuckle, and open hand striking.

There are eight kata in Uechi-Ryu. The original kata from Pangainoon are Sanchin, Seisan, and Sanseiryu. The other five kata were added to the style by Kanei Uechi and other senior students of Kanbun to help the students further develop their Uechi-Ryu techniques. Sanchin kata is the foundation of the style. Kanbun Uechi says, "All is in Sanchin (see the Old Way)."

The eight kata are Sanchin, Kanshiwa, Kanshu, Seichin, Seisan, Seiryu, Kanchin, and Sanseiryu. In addition to the eight kata, the style practices Junbi Undo stretching exercises; Hojo Undo technique-based warm-up exercises, pre-arranged kumite (sparring); freestyle kumite (sparring); Bunkai (kata movement application); Kotikitae (arm conditioning); and Ashikitae (leg conditioning).

Kanbun Uechi, for whom this karate system is named, studied Pangainoon in China at the Central Temple in the Fujian Province from 1897 to 1910. Kanbun left Okinawa in 1897 to avoid being conscripted into the Japanese army and to learn the Chinese fighting system. Little is known of Kanbun’s 13 years in China. His son, Kanei, did say that Kanbun directed all his energies toward the mastery of Pangainoon. He learned the physical art, which included Chinese medicine and the underlying philosophy.

After 10 years of study, Kanbun was permitted to open his school in Nansoue, China.  Unfortunately, one of his students was provoked into an argument and accidentally struck his attacker with a fatal blow. The village blamed this death on Kanbun.  After teaching for three years in China, Kanbun returned to Okinawa, vowing never to teach karate again.  

Many versions of the story of how Kanbun Uechi returned to teaching. The following story was told by Kanei Uechi, Kanbun’s son, and confirmed by Kanbun’s first student, Ryuyu Tomoyose.  Kanbun Uechi returned to Okinawa in 1910. About two years later, Gokenkein, a Chinese tea merchant and former student of Kanbun in China, visited Okinawa on a business trip.  Gokenkein urged Kanbun to resume teaching but with no success. Gokenkein became involved in a fight with a Naha karate teacher and defeated the teacher. Many other teachers challenged him but were not able to defeat Gokenkein. Many visited him, asking to instruct them in his style of karate. Gokenkein told them that there lived on Okinawa a great karate expert who was his teacher in China, Kanbun Uechi. Many young men visited Kanbun, asking him to teach, but he denied that he was a karate teacher. 

Every year, the Motobu police department has a celebration where all karate schools demonstrate their styles. The other teachers, anxious to see the proof of Kanbun’s skills, asked the mayor of Motobu to request that Kanbun demonstrate at the celebration.  Kanbun, not wanting to lose face, went onto the stage. Kanbun performed the kata Seisan extremely fast with strength and power. From then on, he was respected throughout Okinawa as a great karate expert. There was so much pressure for him to teach that Kanbun decided to leave Okinawa for Japan in 1924.

While in Japan, Kanbun lived in a housing compound in Wakayama, near Osaka. There he met a young Okinawan, Ryuyu Tomoyose. Tomoyose confronted Kanbun because he knew of Kanbun’s karate ability and implored Him to give him lessons. Kanbun finally agreed, but Ryuyu would never tell anyone else. Two years later, Tomoyose asked Kanbun to teach the public, arguing that the art would die out if he did not. Finally, Kanbun consented. Tomoyose recruited many students, mostly Okinawans. Kanbun taught in Wakayama until 1947. 

Kanei Uechi, Kanbun’s son, began his study of karate in 1930 under his father’s tutelage in Japan.  He opened his school in Osaka two years later. He returned to Okinawa and settled down in Nago. Ryuko Tomoyose, son of Ryuyu, who was living in Futenma, heard that Kanei was back in Okinawa. Ryuko found Kanei and convinced him to teach. Ryuko and a group of karate students built a dojo for Kanei and brought him to Futenma. This was the first time Okinawa had a teacher of Pangai Noon.  

When Kanbun died in 1948, his students renamed the style Uechi-ryu (ryu is the Japanese word for style).