Dear Sensei & Students;
This letter is to announce
the 2007 Uechi-ryu Journal
research project entitled
“Outlining the Continued
Development of Uechi-Ryu”.
As you may know the Uechi-ryu
Journal has the continued
goal of promoting research
and development; this letter
is being sent to invite you
and your students to participate
by completing the attached
series of questions.
In past meetings, seminars,
joint training sessions, and
on the popular forums, so
much has been discussed regarding
the continued development,
or lack of development; within
the Uechi-Ryu system. How
often have you heard terms
such as “my Uechi-Ryu”
and “your Uechi-Ryu”?
The fact is it is all still
Uechi-Ryu.
We need to understand and
agree that expressions of
style differ between individuals.
We sing the same songs but
with different voices. We
act the same part in a play
but have a different impact
on our audience. We play the
same notes on an instrument
but with different degrees
of expression and nuance.
We all practice Uechi-Ryu
but with differences effected
by our unique individual personalities
and understandings.
In Uechi-Ryu today technical
material is sometimes changed,
added to, altered, or even
discarded as befits the practitioner.
No such changes seem to have
been forced, so I surmise
all are electively embraced
as “one’s own
Uechi-Ryu”.
Whatever technical differences
are found between associations,
dojo, teachers, or students,
the fact remains that we still
retain identity as Uechi-Ryu
practitioners. This is the
important unifying factor
that makes us unique as a
system. Despite our differing
“styles” of performance,
we are one as a system and
we all practice the system
given to us by Uechi Kanbun
Sensei.
I propose that participants
present their own style (or
that of their organization
or dojo) for a better understanding
of our stylistic differences
– which in fact we may
find are more likely to be
“samenesses”.
If you are a teacher –
especially if you consider
yourself to be mostly independent
– please contribute.
If you are a student –
or a teacher who still frequently
trains with a higher-level
senior – please confer
with your senior to come up
with a presentation that agrees
with the concepts being passed
in your training lineage.
I submit the following outline
as a suggestion only; please
add or delete sections as
you like. If you wish you
can either mail submissions
back or send electronically
via email. Please address
your email to editor@uechi-ryu-journal.com;
or if using regular mail;
Uechi-ryu Journal
c/o Scott Taylor
RR#1 Site 2 Comp 10
Onoway, Alberta Canada
T0E 1V0
1. Introduction of yourself
and your specific Uechi-Ryu
style or association. Your
training lineage traced back
to Okinawa will help show
the specific style of performance
from which your present practice
derives.
2. Your views regarding statements
such as “Uechi-Ryu represents
a time capsule of Chinese
Kung Fu”, and similar
statements.
3. Your perception of the
differences between how (to
your understanding) karate
was taught 100 years ago,
and how modern times have
changed today’s study
of karate. Do you believe
today’s Uechi-Ryu (in
general) is different, and
how so?
4. Why, in your opinion,
were students satisfied to
train for many years using
only three kata and some conditioning
drills in Kanbun Sensei’s
day, but not today? What changed
this? Is such a training regimen
feasible today?
5. Was Uechi-Ryu improved
or impaired by Kanei Sensei’s
addition of 5 new kata, kumite
sets, and bunkai?
6. Is the “standard”
curriculum as taught by Kanei
Sensei quite enough for a
lifetime of study, or do you
feel we need more material
for further development?
7. Do you use material in
your dojo curriculum that
came from other systems or
sources? If so, explain a
bit of what it is, when it
was added, and how it affects
your practice.
8. Have you created new material
based on Uechi-Ryu? What needs
in your training does your
new material satisfy?
9. Do you plan further innovations
to your dojo curriculum?
10. If you could look ahead
past the next few generations
of students, what do you believe
you’d see in regards
to concepts, curriculum, and
training, relevant to the
needs of society?
11. Uechi-ryu is a "multi-animal"
system. What animals specifically
do you see in the system,
and do you think the animal
aspects are relevant to today’s
training?
I believe the above topics
will help us understand our
many viewpoints without debate
via open, frank presentation.
Be as detailed or general
as you wish, but please keep
in mind that we are not teaching
technique via these essays.
Just a brief description can
suffice too, for example “This
was created using the set
of Hojo Undo drills in kata-like
sequences”, or “This
drill/kumite/kata was created
based on a real situation
encountered by our Sensei”,
etc. You can include photos
if you wish.
Rather than open each essay
to endless debate or critique,
let’s just contribute
and share. If you have a comment
or wish further information
on any essay or idea, discuss
it personally with the author
(please include some contact
information). That way, we
avoid public critique of other
styles, all contributions
being purely informational.
The final result of this
will be that we can all share
a finished set of descriptive
“Uechi-Ryu Styles”
essays worthy of publication
in a hard-copy volume introducing
the various branches of thought
on Uechi-Ryu to the world.
Not a volume of karate techniques
(another “how to do”
book) or proclamations of
political agendas, but one
simply introducing and sharing
thoughts and perceptions on
teaching concepts and plans.
“Teach it to me, and
I’ll forget.
Show it to me, and I’ll
remember.
Explain it to me, and I’ll
understand.”
Instead of attempting to
teach each other our own ways,
let’s strive for understanding
and acceptance of our differences.
That would indeed be of value
to all.
I look forward to hearing
from you soon.
Warmest regards;
Scott Taylor
Editor Uechi-ryu Journal
www.uechi-ryu-journal.com
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