Kanbun Uechi facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Uechi Kanbun |
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Uechi Kanbun
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| Born | May 5, 1877 Motobu, Okinawa, Ryukyu Kingdom |
| Died | November 25, 1948 (aged 71) Ie, Okinawa, USMGR |
| Native name | 上地 完文 Uechi Kanbun |
| Style | Pangainoon and Uechi-Ryū |
| Teacher(s) | Zhou Zihe 周子和 |
| Rank | Grandmaster |
| Notable students | Kanei Uechi (son), Ryuyu Tomoyose, Saburo Uehara, Seiko Toyama, Seiryo Shinjo |
Kanbun Uechi (上地完文, Uechi Kanbun, May 5, 1877 – November 25, 1948) was the founder of Uechi-Ryū. This is one of the main karate styles from Okinawa, Japan.
Contents
Early Life and Dreams
Kanbun Uechi was born on May 5, 1877, in a farming village called Izumi in Okinawa. His family grew daikon radishes. From a young age, Kanbun dreamed of learning martial arts.
Some people say he studied basic fighting techniques in Okinawa. However, official records from Okinawa do not show him learning any martial arts before he traveled to China.
Learning Martial Arts in China
When Kanbun was 19, in 1897, he left Okinawa for Fuzhou, China. He wanted to avoid joining the Japanese military. More importantly, he wanted to study martial arts with Chinese masters.
Kanbun later shared stories about his journey. He said he was the only one to survive his small boat trip to China. A Chinese martial artist rescued him and introduced him to a teacher.
In Fuzhou, Kanbun first tried to learn Kojo Ryū. But he was made fun of by an instructor. This made Kanbun even more determined to find a good teacher.
He then began studying herbalism and a Kung Fu style called "Pangai-noon" (or Pangainun). His main teacher was Zhou Zihe 周子和. Zhou Zihe was a master of Tiger and Crane styles of southern Kung Fu. Some newer research suggests that another person, Zheng Xianji, might have been his main teacher.
Kanbun Uechi received a special teaching license from Zhou Zihe in 1904. Two years later, in 1906, he opened his own martial arts school in Nanjing, China. He continued to train with Zhou Zihe for 13 years in total.
After these years, Kanbun Uechi decided to return to Okinawa. He was determined not to teach martial arts again. This was because of a serious incident where one of his students used a technique in a dispute.
Return to Okinawa and Teaching in Japan
Kanbun returned to Naha, Okinawa, in 1909. For a while, he refused to teach martial arts. He got married, and his first son, Kanei Uechi, was born in 1911.
In 1912, a tea merchant and Kung Fu master named Go Kenki moved to Okinawa. Go Kenki knew Kanbun was a skilled martial artist. As word spread, people asked Kanbun to teach, but he still said no.
In 1924, when he was 47, Kanbun Uechi moved to Wakayama City, Japan. He needed to find work because of money problems in Okinawa. He worked as a security guard at a cotton mill.
A co-worker named Ryuyu Tomoyose convinced him to teach privately. After two years, Ryuyu Tomoyose gathered 30 other men who wanted to learn. They all agreed to pay a small fee each month. Since Kanbun's salary was low, he agreed to start teaching again.
From 1926 to 1932, he taught in small rooms at the company dormitory. He taught before work, during lunch, and after work. Later, he opened a general store and his own public school. He called it the "Pangai-noon Karate Academy."
Uechi-Ryū Karate
In 1934, Kanbun Uechi met Kenwa Mabuni, who founded another karate style. Mabuni suggested that Kanbun change the name of his style to "Uechi-Ryū" (上地流). This means "style of Uechi."
In 1940, the style he taught was officially renamed "Uechi-Ryū Karate" in his honor. Today, it is one of the four main styles of Okinawan Karate.
Kanbun Uechi continued teaching in Wakayama until 1946. In November of that year, he gave his school to Ryuyu Tomoyose. He then returned to Okinawa and settled on the island of Iejima. Kanbun Uechi passed away from kidney disease in 1948.
After his death, Kanbun Uechi's son Kanei and his senior students continued to develop the style. They added five new kata (forms) to the three Kanbun brought from China. Today, Uechi-Ryū is taught all over the world. It is very popular in the Northeastern United States.
Rank and Legacy
During his lifetime, Kanbun Uechi did not use the Japanese Dan (rank) system for ranks. However, out of respect, he is now considered a "10th dan" and is called "grandmaster" by those who follow his style.
Family
Kanbun Uechi had four children. His oldest son, Kanei, followed in his father's footsteps. Kanei continued to teach and spread the Uechi-Ryū martial art. Kanbun also had another son named Kansai, and two daughters, Tsuru and Kamai.
