| Okinawa Karate |
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| Written by Administrator |
| Saturday, 08 March 2008 16:39 |
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Okinawan Karate and Uechi-Ryu Karate has a history that dates back over 600 years. "Ti", the ancient Okinawan martial arts, and Chinese Kenpo had merged to become original Okinawan martial arts. They are an integral part of the Prefectural Intangible Cultural Heritage. These arts were originally conveyed from the Masters directly to their Deshi (disciples). From the Meiji era (1868-1912) they became open to the public and therefore the popularity of karate spread very rapidly worldwide. Many schools (Ryu Ha) were established during the Showa Era (1926-1989), and evolved to become the three major styles (Ryu Ha) on Okinawa, "Shorin-Ryu", "Goju-Ryu", and "Uechi-Ryu". There are more than 45 million enthusiasts in more than 150 countries practicing karate. Okinawan Karate has been present on the small island for many centuries, but has been proven to exist through official documentation tracing its origins as far back as the 14th century.One of the most well-known styles on Okinawa is UECHI-RYU. It was brought to Okinawa from Southern China (Fujian) by the famous Grand Master Kanbun Uechi. He studied this style of karate from a Taoist priest named Zhou Zi Ho for ten years. Master Uechi returned to Okinawa in 1910, and ever since then, his system of "tiger, crane, and dragon" has been passed down through "hand picked" and dedicated Deshi until the present day in Okinawa. The key characteristics of UECHI-RYU are the qualities that each of these three entities symbolize: Tiger for strength and vigor, Crane for softness and grace, and Dragon for swiftness and unpredictability. The most conspicuous trademark of this karate style, however, is "Sanchin", a form of isometric contractions synchronized with a specific way of breathing and concentration. Sanchin is ultimately the "core" of the entire UECHI-RYU system. The following Kata are practiced in the UECHI-RYU karate system:
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