
I highly recommend the DVD to all martial art enthusiasts and of course. All of these styles and organizations still teach the three basic Chinese kata, and still teach the kata introduced by Kanei Uechi.Shinjo Kiyohide and Shai Hai produced this exceptionally interesting and important DVD during Kiyohide sensei’s recent visit to Israel. Some are still known as Uechi Ryu, but have different organizational affiliations. Some of these organizations are now under a new name such as Shohei Ryu and Pangai-noon Ryu. Like most martial arts styles, Uechi Ryu experienced organizational splits after the death of both Kanbun and Kanei Uechi. Fingers are together pointing upward at a 45-degree angle. Arms are held up parallel to each other at shoulder height. The Uechi Ryu version of Sanchin uses fast open hand techniques instead of slow closed fist strikes, characteristic of most Okinawan styles like Goju Ryu. In Uechi Ryu, Sanchin is taught at the beginning level so that students can better grasp its meaning. Many styles that teach Sanchin only teach the kata after students have reached the black belt rank. Compared to other Japanese styles of karate, Sanchin in Uechi Ryu is the most similar to the original Chinese form. These three concepts are central to kung fu, and are integrated into Uechi Ryu. And it is interpreted to mean the battle to unify one's mind, body, and spirit. Sanchin means "three conflicts" or battles. The knees are bent inward facing each other in order to protect the groin, and the back is straight. The rear foot is facing forward, while the front foot is turned inward at a 45-degree angle. Energy is focused from the body's center rather than a twisting hip movement. Breathing is controlled, and exhalation is forced through clenched jaws resulting in a "sst" noise. The entire body is moved as a solid stable unit. Sanchin is characterized by a narrow, upright, "pigeon-toed" stance, performed with emphasis on "dynamic" muscle tension. The student must be able to actually use each technique effectively. The learning of these fighting kata means much more than merely memorizing the movements and doing them properly. All advanced techniques come from the seemingly simple moves of Sanchin, and show how Sanchin can be applied. The remaining seven kata are sometimes called fighting kata, because they show the self-defense applications of Sanchin in a more obvious manner. Sanchin, the basic kata, develops the principles of focus, power, and technique, which are needed for true karate-do. It is from the kata, that all karate techniques and principles come. Kote Kitae: Arm rubbing and pounding exercise used for conditioning the body.Ĭircle blocking techniques emphasizing half hard, half soft properties of offense and defense.ĭefinition and Purpose of Kata in Uechi RyuĪ kata is a set of pre-arranged karate movements, which are designed to develop certain abilities in the karate student. Sokusen techniques: Kicks are not with the ball of the foot, but with the toe. Sokuto Geri technique: Forward striking kick with the blade side of the foot. Practices three Chinese kata: Sanchin, Seisan, Sanseirui. Practices Sanchin, which is considered the core kata of Uechi Ryu. The organzation was created in 2000, and is comprised of several dojo throughout North America as well as Germany.ĭeveloped from three animal styles of Kung Fu: Dragon, Tiger, and Crane. The International Uechi Ryu Karate-Do Association (Kokusai Kyokai) is a major organization of Uechi Ryu, headed by Master James Thompson, Kyoshi Hachidan. Uechi-Ryu Karate-Do is a blend of Pangai-noon and native Okinawan fighting techniques, and is the martial art practiced by the Uechi family of Okinawa, Japan.
