A quick look at the
HISTORY and PEOPLE of UECHIRYU KARATE-DO
The history of Uechiryu Karate is a fascinating one. Its roots go back to the origins of martial arts! Few styles have the advantage of such a long and exciting history as ours.
Shushiwa (also known as Chou Tsu Ho or Chu Chi Wo) was the sifu (sensei) of Kanbun Uechi.
Up until recently, Shushiwa was known as Shushabu. For instance, Kanshiwa kata was known as Kanshabu. It is accepted that Kanbun, for all his strengths, had a speech impediment - which caused the confusion. Shushiwa’s history is vague at best. He has always been considered as being an extremely well-practiced martial artist and teacher. It is believed that he was born in 1874, in Nanko-chin Shibata village in the Zhitian area, in China.
In 1897, Shushiwa took Kanbun as his student, after Kanbun Uechi (through his knowledge of Chinese medicine) cured him of an illness. Shushiwa, described as an intelligent and dedicated student, became proficient in several forms of Chinese boxing, particularly Tiger Fist, one of the Five Fists of Fujian. Legends attribute Shushiwa with great strength. He reportedly could hold the weight of two people hanging from the fingertips of his outstretched arms. He also became an accomplished painter and calligrapher.
In 1926, Shushiwa contracted a severe illness and died. He was fifty-two years old.
Kanbun Uechi was born May 5th, 1877, in Izumi, a mountain village on the Motuba Peninsula in northern Okinawa. He was the eldest son of samurai descendants Kantoku and Tsura.
As a young man, Kanbun Uechi was proficient with the bo (staff), and would teach the local children. At the age of nineteen, Kanbun Uechi fled to China in order to escape Japanese military conscription. He arrived in Fuchow City, Fukien Province and met Shushiwa. For the next ten years he immersed himself in the study of kenpo and Chinese medicine.
In 1907, Kanbun Uechi, with the encouragement of Shushiwa, opened a school in Nansoe, about 250 miles southwest of Fuchow. The school ran well for the next three years, until one of his pupils killed a neighbor in a dispute over the irrigation of drought stricken rice fields. He closed the school and left China, vowing never to teach Karate again.
In 1910, Kanbun returned to his native village, Izumi (Okinawa), and married Toyama Gozei. Together they had five children, the eldest being Kanei Uechi.
In 1924, Kanbun left his home to go to the mainland of Japan in search of stable employment. He worked as a janitor in a cotton mill. Ryuyu Tomoyose, a young Okinawan who lived next door, convinced Kanbun to privately teach him kenpo. It is the first time Kanbun teaches karate outside of China. One year later he would open a private school. He continued to teach for the next twenty-four years. He then moved to Ie-jima Island (off the coast of Okinawa).
In 1940, the style Uechiryu (translated to Uechi’s Way, Path or Style) is named after Kanbun Uechi.
November 25th, 1948 Kanbun Uechi dies of nephritis. He was Seventy-One.
Kanei Uechi was born June 26th, 1911. He was eldest son of Kanbun and Toyama Uechi. At the age of sixteen, he began his training under his father in Wakayama, Japan. Ten years later he received a Certificate of Instruction and Proficiency from his father, and began his own dojo in Osaka.
October 18th, 1939, Kanei Uechi married Shige Nakahara from Izumi, Okinawa. Together they would have six children. The eldest son being Kanmei Uechi.
Ten years later Kanei Uechi opened a school with the assistance of Ryuko Tomoyose (son of Ryuyu Tomoyose).
After his father died, Kanei Uechi began radical changes to the style. Older uniforms were traded in for the gis and belts similar to what are used today. Also, Sport Sparring was growing in the Orient and becomes officially added to Uechiryu training. He actively helped Uechiryu become a style open to the public without compromising its integrity and authenticity. Toward this end, five more Katas (Kanshiwa, Kanshu, Seichin, Seirui and Kanchin) were added to the style, as well as a host of other exercise routines (Kyu-Kumite, Dan-Kumite, Junbi Undo, Hojo Undo and others).
In 1957, Kanei Uechi moved his school a short distance to its present location in Futenma, calling it “Uechi Ryu Karate Dojo” (a.k.a. “Soke”). One year later he would hold his first official black belt test. Among the many great students that would be promoted at this test was a young American named George Mattson.
Later the Futenma Dojo would be reconstructed and renamed “Soke Shubukan” (Style Headquarters).
Over the next thirty years, Kanei Uechi spearheaded numerous innovations and promotions of Uechiryu. He also led an expedition to China to retrace his father’s life there and discover the origins of Uechiryu.
Kanei Uechi was promoted to Judan (tenth degree black belt) in 1967. As a result of his efforts the Uechi Karate Association became an international organization with member schools in the United States, Canada, England, France, Yugoslavia, Bulgaria, Saudi Arabia, Mexico, Brazil, Argentina, Australia, New Zealand and the Philippines.
Kanei Uechi was elected president of the All Okinawa Karate Federation Zen Okinawa Karate Renmei in 1975.
February 21st 1991 Master Kanei Uechi dies at the age of 79. Kanmei Uechi then became the headmaster of Uechiryu.
September 14th 2015 Master Kanmei Uechi dies at the age of 74.
Currently, Kancho Uechi (Great-Grand son of Kanbun Uechi) is the headmaster of Uechiryu Karate-do
Ryuyu Tomoyose was born on Ie-jime Island. In the early 1920s he traveled to Japan, in search of employment. Here he met Kanbun Uechi, who he convinced to end his fourteen-year, self-imposed ban on teaching karate.
When one of Ryuyu Tomoyose sons, Ryuko, became interested in studying Karate, Ryuyu referred him to Kanei Uechi. It was the beginning of a very strong and long-lasting relationship. Together they would start several dojos and markedly improve an already strong style of martial arts.
In 1956, with the permission of Kanei Uechi, Ryuko Tomoyose began teaching George Mattson, the first non-Okinawan to learn Uechiryu Karate and to receive the rank of black belt.
Ryuko Tomoyose made several trips to the United States, two of which were with Kanei Uechi. He is fluent in English, and often served as Kanei’s Translator. He also accompanied Kanei Uechi on an expedition to China, retracing Kanbun Uechi’s life there and the origins of Uechiryu.
Ryuko Tomoyose has a long list of amazing accomplishments, in addition to becoming one of the highest ranking living martial artist in Okinawa. In 1988, Ryuko Tomoyose was elected president of the Okikukai (Okinawan Karate Do Kiyokai), and in 2000, was made a national living treasure of Japan.
Ryuko Tomoyose passed away on April 9th, 2019
George Mattson is the father of American Uechiryu.
In 1956, George Mattson began his tutelage under Ryuko Tomoyose. He was nineteen. A year and a half later, after vigorous training, he was promoted to the rank of Shodan.
In 1958, George Mattson returns to the United States with two assignments given to him by Ryuko Tomoyose.
Begin teaching Uechiryu to Americans
Write a book about Uechiryu
He completed the first of these by beginning to teach at the YMCA in Boston.
In 1963, George Mattson publishes his first book THE WAY OF KARATE. This was the first hardcover book of martial arts to be published in the English language. He also wrote Uechiryu Karate-Do, which was published in 1974 and The Way of Uechiryu Karate, which was published in 2010.
Throughout the 1960s, 70s and 80s, George Mattson ran his dojo at several locations around the Boston area. He has taught and promoted some of the best American Uechi practitioners to date.
In 1983, George Mattson hosted the first “Uechi Summer Camp” on Thompson Island, in Boston Harbor. This has been a long-lasting tradition that continues to this day, and has, at one point or another, hosted every great Uechi practitioner.
In 1997, George Mattson was promoted to the rank of 9th dan (Hanshi) by Master Kanmei Uechi. He was the first American to ever achieve that rank. He currently holds the rank of Judan.