Early history Uechi-ryū

the exact provenance of romanization pangai-noon not clear, , may lesser-known min chinese language. not japanese, okinawan nor mandarin chinese pronunciation of original characters. standard japanese pronunciation of 3 characters han kō nan (はんこうなん), while standard mandarin pronunciation bàn yìng ruǎn. cantonese language pronunciation bun ngaang yun. in modern times, katakana version of pangainoon (パンガイヌーン) has been used in japanese writing rather kanji (半硬軟).

after studying 10 years under shū shiwa/zhou zihe, kanbun uechi opened own school in nanjing. 3 years later, kanbun uechi returned okinawa, determined never teach again because 1 of chinese students had killed neighbor open-hand technique in dispute on land irrigation.

kanbun uechi left japan find employment. while working janitor persuaded co-worker, ryuyu tomoyose, teach again after having been first convinced show tomoyose ways of defending himself against different attacks. when confidence teacher restored, uechi, of ryuyu tomoyose, moved wakayama city, wakayama prefecture, where, in 1925, established institute of pangainun-ryū todi-jutsu (パンガイヌーン流唐手術), , opened dōjō public. eventually, in 1940, okinawan students renamed system uechi-ryū karate-jutsu (上地流空手術) in honor.

grandmaster kanei uechi

kanbun uechi s son, kanei uechi, taught style @ futenma city dojo, okinawa, , considered first okinawan sanction teaching foreigners. 1 of kanbun s students, ryuko tomoyose, taught young american serviceman named george mattson authored several books on subject , largely responsible popularizing style in america. uechi-ryū emphasizes toughness of body quick blows , kicks. of more distinctive weapons of uechi practitioners one-knuckle punch shōken zuki (小拳突き, shōken zuki), spearhand nukite (貫手突き, nukite), , front kick shōmen geri (正面蹴り, shōmen geri) delivered first toe (sokusen geri). on account of emphasis on simplicity, stability, , combination of linear , circular movements, proponents claim style more practical self-defense other martial arts.

in contrast more linear styles of karate based on okinawan shuri-te or tomari-te, uechi-ryū s connection chinese nanpa shorin-ken means former shares similar foundation naha-te (and goju-ryū) despite separate development. thus, uechi-ryū heavily influenced circular motions belong kung fu fujian province. uechi-ryū principally based on movements of 3 animals: tiger, dragon, , crane.