 Karate Classes/Clubs for Adults and Children in Basildon, Billericay, Brentwood, Rayleigh and Wickford, Essex
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| History of Uechi-Ryu |
Kanbun Uechi was born on 5th May 1877 in Izumi, Okinawa. In 1897 he left for China. It was there in the southern province of Fukien, he studied a Kung fu style called Pangai-noon, meaning half hard, half soft, under the guidence of Chou-tsu-ho. Pangai-noon was based on animals characteristics and their movements, mainly the tiger, crane and the dragon.
Kanbun studied until 1908, then taught for three years at his own dojo in Nansoue, China. In 1910 he returned to Izumi, Okinawa where he became a farmer and was married. On the 26th June 1911, his son Kanei was born.
In 1924 Kanbun moved to the Wakiyama prefecture of Japan near Osaka. He taught there for twenty years. A neighbour called Ryuyu Tomoyose was Kanbun's first student.
In 1930 Kanei started to learn karate from his father. In 1940 Kanei opened his own dojo in Osaka. In 1942 Kanei returned to Nago, Okinawa and was married and farmed for a while. In 1945 Ryuko Tomoyose, son of Ryuyu was living in Futenma, Okinawa. He and others asked Kanei to teach. They helped by building a a dojo (Karate school).
In 1947 Kanbun Uechi was living on Ishima Island, near Okinawa, teaching his Martial Art. Kanbun died on Okinawa in 1948.
Kanei died in 1991 passing on the style to his eldest son Kamei.
Many of the high ranked black belt members of the Uechi-Ryu Karate Association Okinawa have since formed a new Association, the Okinawa Karate-Do Association and added to the system with new kata, bunkai and kumites.