| INTRODUCTION
As
my students, friends, and most
of my associates know, for the
past several years I have been
compiling a book based on the
training concepts of old-style
UechiRyu KarateDo. The mechanical
techniques of UechiRyu are found
in books already available,
as well as in dojo training
manuals and handout material.
I will not “rehash”
that which can be found in other
well known UechiRyu publications.
Except for certain individual
techniques described by Chinese
sources, mine is not a manual
but a book of understanding
concepts and their applications.
This
book, with its detailed explanations
and historical information previously
unknown to Westerners, is unique.
Living
on Okinawa and studying here
for most of the past 28 years
has resulted in being the highest
ranked foreign UechiRyu practitioner
residing in Japan, and the only
foreigner in the Japanese community
to independently own a Japanese
Government recognized UechiRyu
dojo. This unique position has
facilitated the accomplishment
of considerable research here
in Japan and in China. Over
the years many photographs and
documents have been shared with
me that are directly relevant
to the lives of principle players
in the history of UechiRyu.
Official
Chinese Government sources,
previously untapped, yielded
an impressive amount of information
regarding Shuu Shiwa Sensei,
his teachers, and in particular
his Japanese student named Shangdi
Wanwen (Uechi Kanbun, in Chinese
dialect). These sources prove
via government records that
Kanbun Sensei was indeed a student
of the man we know today as
Shuu Shiwa. Other very surprising
and intriguing information,
actually having been available
for many years, was freely shared
by the Chinese Government.
Official
Japanese Government sources
in the form of documents, books,
and government cultural preservation
videos, also provide information
about historical UechiRyu persons,
many of whom are known to practitioners
around the world.
Some
pieces of information cross-referenced
that given us by Toyama Sensei,
as he told us tales that Kanbun
Sensei related of his training
and exploits in China. Kanbun
Sensei’s description of
the city in China where he first
taught correlated exactly with
the most likely candidate for
that city, found during a recent
search; more contacts are being
established now to finally nail
down the exact site. Government
records of certain techniques
taught by Shuu Sensei describe
in detail the techniques performed
by Toyama Sensei today, as taught
to him by Kanbun Sensei. I believe
there is no better proof available
today than a disinterested government
description of the style as
it was performed in China more
than 100 years ago.
More
information from sources here
on Okinawa and in China becomes
available as we place informed
requests before the appropriate
source individuals and agencies.
The new book will combine all
the information gathered and
translated by researchers of
Chinese history, hours of interviews
with Toyama Sensei and others
on Okinawa, and supporting documentation,
to provide the most complete
picture of the life, travels,
techniques, and training concepts
of Kanbun Sensei than has yet
been seen.
The
Chinese texts and their professionally-certified
translations will be included
along with Japanese language
texts and their translations.
All
this however comprises just
one important section of the
book. Other sections will introduce
UechiRyu Zankai history, development,
and events up to date of publication,
discuss theory and the concepts
found embedded in the kata and
bunkai, and make available a
collection of mostly unpublished
essays by contributing students
and associates. Some material
published elsewhere by non-UechiRyu
persons but referencing UechiRyu
will be reprinted with permission
as part of this new book.
Currently
the work consists of approximately
440 A4-size pages. It is already
large enough and “finished
enough” to warrant printing;
however I estimate this probably
represents less than ½
of the finished book. I foresee
a finished volume of about 1000
pages or more – the book
is still in its early stages.
Right now about 100 more pages
are being worked on, and there
are more essays being written
by practicing students, researchers,
and teachers. Research is far
from complete, and hours of
interviews must yet be transcribed
with more to be conducted. That
which is already compiled has
yet to be edited and further
revised.
I
estimate at least 6 to 10 more
years of writing, researching,
and collecting before it is
ready for printing. When my
part is finished, this will
be a limited printing; first
recipients will be Zankai members.
Due
to the poor reception of previously
released translations and the
abuse of information that presents
a contrasting view of dated,
accepted UechiRyu history and
concepts, I and the other Zankai
seniors and researchers will
carefully evaluate the feasibility
of a general public release.
Of chief concern is that the
target population is far too
small to warrant the cost of
a large-scale printing. Historically,
UechiRyu book sales have a poor
track record, and while the
amount of information in this
one is already extensive even
in unfinished form, the book’s
focus is restricted to specific
areas of research and expertise.
Above,
I used the phrase “when
my part is finished” –
actually I don’t see this
as a work that will ever be
finished, as might be a novel
or simple training manual. My
intention is to leave an ongoing
work for my students to continue.
This is a growing project to
which I hope Zankai students
will contribute their further
discoveries and research. The
fact that in such a short time
we have been able with perseverance
to discover so much that has
not been uncovered for decades
only means that the young students
of today, who have many more
years to plan and carry out
deeper and more detailed research,
will find and record so much
more! Hopefully, this will never
be a “finished”
book. I imagine my initial volume
to be a sort of seed that has
finally sprouted and is taking
root, to be nourished and tended
by my students and theirs, and
hopefully beyond.
As
an indicator of the present
extent of the book, I include
here the current Table of Contents.
I distributed this previously
outside of the Zankai but there
was little comment from the
recipients, furthering my belief
that only Zankai members will
express much interest in the
printed edition when ready.
Not
shown yet in the TOC are certain
works in progress, such as a
substantial section which will
comprise the history of Shuu
Shiwa, Kanbun Sensei’s
experiences in China, and Toyama
Sensei’s history. Of Kanbun
Sensei’s history we will
use only what the Chinese Government
released to the general public
so there is no prying into Uechi
Family privacy or affairs. I
am uncertain as yet regarding
the exact placement of that
section, and am awaiting further
information from the researchers
and sources in China. Unfinished
yet is the chapter containing
many anecdotes told to the Wakayama
Dojo students as they sat in
the dojo after training hours,
spellbound as Kanbun Sensei
spoke of his training and teaching
experiences in China. More medical
information relating directly
to our training is forthcoming
as well. Newspaper and magazine
articles must be edited and
some translated excerpts added.
Student essays in need of translation
or grammatical revision remain
piled on my desk, though I am
chipping away at them one by
one. Kanji needs to be added
to some writings. Essays about
Okinawan karate culture, clarifying
certain points relating strictly
to practice and dojo administration,
await revision and verification.
Our need for deeper understanding
leads to further research and
sometimes startling finds.
If
there is an end to this research
and art, it is beyond my reach
in this lifetime. This will
ever be a work in progress.
Seizan
(Book
Title)
Okinawa KarateDo UechiRyu Zankai
History, Training, and Concepts
TOC:
Introduction
Okinawa:
History of Okinawa KarateDo
(from Okinawa Prefectural MA
Website)
The
Development of Ryuha (from Okinawa
Prefectural MA Website)
Uechi
Ryu KarateDo ~~ A Brief History
Regarding
Diversification within the UechiRyu
System
Differences
between Old-Style and Contemporary
UechiRyu KarateDo
Teaching
Lineage of the UechiRyu Zankai
- Shuu Shiwa Sensei
- Uechi Kanbun Sensei
- Uechi Kanei Sensei
- Toyama Seiko Sensei (from
Japanese Government / Okinawa
Prefectural
Board of Education “Official
Registry of Okinawan Martial
Arts
Masters” entry, English
and Japanese)
- G. Seizan Breyette
- N. Elangovan
History
of Okinawa KarateDo UechiRyu
Zankai
History
of Zankai in India
The
Dojo Kun
- The Development of Modern
Dojo Kun, and
The Continuing Erosion of Old
Styles Today with Emphasis on
UechiRyu
- Uechi Kanbun Sensei’s
Original Five Directions for
Karate Practitioners
- Contemporary Dojo Kun
- Contemporary Five Directions
for Students
Traditions
of the Nagahama Dojo
- Special Instructions for School
Students (English and Japanese)
- Dojo no Kami
- Clapping of Hands
- Photos and their Placement
in the Dojo
- Placement of the Dojo Kun
- Kneeling Seiza Before and
After Practice
Dojo
Operations, Administration,
Student Relations, and Teaching
Concepts
- A Good Philosophical Administrative
Policy from more than Two Thousand
Years Ago...
- Teaching Philosophy of the
"Little Dragons" Pre-school
Karate Class
- Basic Psychosocial Stages
- Horney's List of Neurotic
Needs
Meaning
and Philosophy of the Zankai
Crest
UechiRyu
Syllabus
Terms
and Phrases for Zankai Students
UechiRyu
KarateDo Supplemental Exercises
- Junbi Undo (warm-up exercises)
English Text with
Original English/Japanese Dojo
Poster
- Hojo Undo (supplementary technical
exercises) English Text with
Original English/Japanese Dojo
Poster
- Tips and techniques of stretching
– Brian Chapman
UechiRyu
Zankai Testing Requirements
- Training / Testing for Minors
- Kyu Promotional Requirements
- Dan Promotional Requirements
Notes
on Bunkai
About
Teaching Titles in UechiRyu
Today
Regarding
the Meanings of Kata Names and
Kata Philosophies
- An Abbreviated Discussion
- A Detailed Examination of
UechiRyu Kata Meanings
- Introduction
- The Chinese Way, and the Necessity
of Developing Supportive Kata
Within the UechiRyu System
- From Sanchin to Kanshiwa:
The Development of Chikarazuyosa
- From Kanshiwa to Kanshuu:
The Development of Binkansa
- From Kanshuu to Seichin: The
Development of Yawarakasa
- The Leap into Seisan, and
Back to Sanchin: The Blending
of Three Elements
- Softness, Continuous Motion,
and “Acting With”
- The Development of Hojo Undo
- Seiryu and the Refinement
of Anteikan
- Kanchin: Combining All the
Previous Elements in “One
Stroke”
- Sandairyu: The Development
of Dai-Rokkan
- The End that Never Is:
The Continuous Development of
UechiRyu Study Material
Within the Zankai
Translations
from Japanese Texts
- An Example of the Difficulty
of Translating from Asian to
Western Languages
- The Words “Pan Gai Nun”
and the Wakayama Dojo Signboard
- Comparative Translations from
the UechiRyu Kyohon, 1977
- From Page 308: Shushiwa Koto
So-sei Osho
(Shuu Shiwa equals [is the same
as, or is also called] So-sei
Osho)
- From Page 410: Regarding the
exact manner in which
Uechi Kanbun preserved his training
from Shuu Shiwa Sensei
- From Pages 452-453: The first
person who entered
into the Wabo Shataku Dojo
- From Pages 475 (bottom) and
476 (top): [In reference to
Tomoyose Ryuyu’s fighting
technique]
- From Pages 566 and 567: In
reference to Uechi Kanbun Sensei’s
Original Style,
and the Modernization of UechiRyu
by Uechi Kanei Sensei
(From a Letter sent in August
2005)
Essays Section
- SEIZAN -- The Gift of a Name
- The Budoka
- Training Philosphies of the
UechiRyu Zankai
- Yagai Renshuu
- The Purpose and Practice of
Dantai no Kata
- The Philosophy of Old-Style
Renzoku Kumite and Jiyu Kobo
- Shimabukuro Senpai -- An Interview
with his Son
- The Art of KarateDo parts
1,2,3 by Sumako Matsuda-Breyette
- THE ART OF KARATEDO: WHAT
KARATE MEANS TO ME - Part 1
(A Commentary on "the Budoka"
by Seizan)
- THE ART OF KARATEDO: WHAT
KARATE MEANS TO ME – Part
2
(A Commentary on the Interview
with Shimabukuro Natsukichi
Sensei's son)
- THE ART OF KARATEDO: WHAT
KARATE MEANS TO ME: Part 3
(Why don't we have "KIHON"
(basics) anymore)
- Visit to Chennai India, 26
March - 3 April 2003
- Karate and KarateDo
- Cover and page 11 from Bodhi
Times, May 2003
- Message to Indian VIPs, March
2004
- Visit to Chennai India, 25
December 2004 to 3 January 2005
- Visit to Chennai India, 02
August to 16 August 2006
- “Personality Development”
(A speech delivered to the students
of the Science Academy of India,
13 August 2006)
- “What do I Want from
Kata?
- Comments on two published
papers
Student
and Guest Essays
- Elangovan, Natarajan –
My Okinawan Odyssey
- Fonseca, Bruno –
1. “UechiRyu Zankai –
The Search for Authenticity”
2. “My Okinawa Story,
a UechiRyu Devotion”
3. “The Sun Behind The
Clouds...”
- Furugen Senato – Ishikawa
Tsuru (School Essay)
- Shimoji, Shin Robert –
Karate Dojo (School Essay)
- Balwako, Kevin – OLD-STYLE
UECHIRYU: A personal account
of training in Okinawa.
- Hoe Boon You (Adrian Hoe)
– My Anamnesis (in 5 parts)
Story
Lessons for the Dojo
- Story of the Stone (Ishi no
Hanashi)
- Hear no Evil, See no Evil,
Speak no Evil
- On Penmanship
Self-Defense
Training
1. Personal Views
2. Awareness Techniques
3. Road Rage
4. Self-Defense for children
5. Defense from Dog Attacks
Medical-Related
Essays and Information
- Anatomical Charts
- Medical Implications of Sparring
(Adrian Hoe) (in 3 parts)
- Corpus Luteum (Allison Beh)
Relevant
News Articles
Collected
Dojo Kun of Various Systems
and Styles
Complete
Okinawa KarateDo UechiRyu Zankai
Chronology
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