Hojo undo: Okinawa roots Except for the makiwara, few of the other tools found in hojo undo made the transition from Okinawa to Japan in the early years of the twentieth century. But even back then, Okinawa’s indigenous fighting art of karate was beginning to spread beyond its island shores, taking ...

The following is not from the book but from an article on the web: Training with Tools/kigu undo In an age where karate training is often viewed as a family pastime for some or a career path for others, many of the older and more traditional forms of training have slipped from use, replaced in many ...

S.K. "His karate techniques would not have been so good if he had not trained intensely for at least 7 or 8 years" Referring to the some who might have questioned the 13 years length of time Kanbun trained in China. Evidently S>K> felt that to be any good at the style techniques, one would...

Welcome my friend. It is certainly very interesting to read and to get an insight into old training methods.

(Fujimoto) The techniques of Uechi-ryu have changed with time as the style moved from Wakayama to Osaka, and then to Amagasaki and finally Okinawa. It might be a worthwhile challenge to study these differences together with the history that made them. Rather than emphasizing what’s right or wrong, o...

The why of prearranged kumites Seizan Since jiyu kobo was no longer being taught, students who went in for fighting competition (which was becoming increasingly popular at the time and which attracted new students to the winning dojo or style quite nicely) were showing lack of control and technique ...

From the writings of Seizan we learn Uechi Kanbun deeply remembered the appreciation that Shuu Shiwa gave him. He believed that strictly passing [the training that Shuu Sensei gave him] on to the next generation was the highest [honor] he could show. So he never created kata, he didn't change or add...

Chapter seven of the book goes into the legacy and the differences in the style... it sets forth what I am fond of referring to as the 'human condition'... For example...Ryuyu Tomoyori was Kanbun's top student from the Wakayama dojo days. Tomoyori picked up the mantle Kanbun had left him by opening ...

You're welcome Tracy...looking forward to seeing you too at camp...always a pleasure my good friend. The book is not mine or I would bring it with me for you to take home and read. It belongs to one of my students. Really a nice one to read because it reflects first hand information from still livin...

<Announcement> Okinawa Uechi-Ryu Karate-Do Association Tokyo Branch has received many purchase orders of Uechi-Ryu founder, Kanbun Uechi's biography from Karate friends all over the world since English version of the book was published on March this year. Fortunately the books have kept receiving a...

Thanks for joining my forum ACloutier...feel free to post as you wish.

Tell us a bit about yourself and the dojo in Hawai.

Of interest is the fact that there was one woman student of Kanbun, and that Fujimoto will cover that in a sequel.

This by Laird on another thread, seems to fit with what Fujimoto talks about the many ways of practice. Martial arts are about looking inward and addressing ones short comings. A good student is honest with oneself and seeks to improve upon their flaws. A poor students constantly runs away to a new ...

Most of the time Kanbun sensei had an easy going disposition, but when practice started, his expression would become almost fearful and nobody wanted to go near him.

Interesting.

Now I call your attention to pages 135 and 136 of the book: Last paragraph page 135 How did he teach 'proper breathing'? First paragraph page 136...SK He would have us breathing out at the same time as a spear thrust and breathing in when drawing back for a strike. The thing is...even assuming stud...