Research reference : syllabus of Uechi Kambun's school

Stryke · Post by **Stryke** » Mon Apr 23, 2007 5:56 am

Hi guys can anyone help out with this .

pretty simple question on the surface , but can any of you provide sources and quotes on what Uechi original syllabus contained ?

If you know [and can cite the source] what and how Uechi-ryu karate was practiced/taught by this pioneer/school .

I understand some of you folks are quotable sources in your own right , so please any information or even hearsay is welcome .

M J Brelsford · Post by **M J Brelsford** » Mon Apr 23, 2007 2:14 pm

Uechi Kanbun's school
“pretty simple question on the surface , but can any of you provide sources and quotes on what Uechi original syllabus contained ?
If you know [and can cite the source] what and how Uechi-ryu karate was practiced/taught by this pioneer/school .”

Here is some information for you, hope it helps…

This information is from my personal notes in talks with Kanei Uechi (in the early 80’s) and Ryuko Tomoyose (early 80’s until now)

Kanei: Kanei stated that his father taught in small groups, and very private, almost secret in nature. There were classes at night and in the afternoon, sometimes in the morning. His father was very strict on what and how he taught, wanting to pass on exactly how he learned it in China He taught the “big 3” sanchin, seisan, and sansei ryu.

Ryuko: There was lots of kata practice, and much emphasis on getting the kata “right”. Lots of conditioning was done, especially of the arms/hands, working the grip. Even had a special “machine to work the grip”. Also jiyu kumite was practiced.

Kanei: Kanei also stated there was much conditioning done, especially during sanchin. Sanchins were hard and demanding, used to build strength. Kanei laughed about this when he told me that in the jiyu kumite (free style application) there were no rules and folks would sometimes really go at it, but due to the conditioning there was little injury.

Ryuko: Stated that his father learned from Kanbun that sanchin was for building power, seisan was for building speed, and sansei ryu for power and speed. He went on to say that the fighting practice folks were told to use the moves of the kata, and not just “wild” moves. Also said sanchin training was intense.

I will look over more of my stuff, I have tons of it, see what else I might have and if I have more I will let you know.

Mark

maxwell ainley · Post by **maxwell ainley** » Mon Apr 23, 2007 4:11 pm

Hi Mark ,
Thanks for info.

max.

Stryke · Post by **Stryke** » Mon Apr 23, 2007 6:16 pm

Thanks a lot Mark , very helpfull .

mhosea · Post by **mhosea** » Mon Apr 23, 2007 6:56 pm

On the topic of jiyu kumite and "really going at it", I remembered this quote from Alan Dollar's site ( http://www.alandollar.com/uechi/hist_toyama.htm )

Toyama-san spoke of being constantly slammed across the dojo. He recalled he was once hit with a shoken (one knuckle punch) in the middle of the forehead which knocked him unconscious. He says that, over fifty years later, he can still feel that shoken punch.

M J Brelsford · Post by **M J Brelsford** » Mon Apr 23, 2007 10:52 pm

Stryke,

If I may, what kind of research are you working on?
Let me know!

Mark

M J Brelsford · Post by **M J Brelsford** » Mon Apr 23, 2007 11:05 pm

More Info,

Again from my personal notes from the 80’s

Kanei stated that the sanchin training was very demanding and physical. However, this type of training was the key to what he called proper training. He stated this type of practice strengthened the spirit.

He also said his father was always in a practice mode. He would, even when relaxing, be working on some type of conditioning. Often working strengthening his hands by striking the floor.

Kanei stated his dad was very methodical in teaching and tried to ensure what he learned in China was passed on to his students in the exact way he had learned it.

Mark

IJ · Post by IJ » Mon Apr 23, 2007 11:29 pm

I'm always confused when I hear that conditioning prevented injuries... what were they striking, each other's forearms? OR were they conditioning their faces, knees, and so on?

SAN-DAI-RYU · Post by **SAN-DAI-RYU** » Tue Apr 24, 2007 1:15 am

very good information Mark, thank you very much.

M J Brelsford · Post by **M J Brelsford** » Tue Apr 24, 2007 2:35 am

Ian,

Quote: "I'm always confused when I hear that conditioning prevented injuries... what were they striking, each other's forearms? OR were they conditioning their faces, knees, and so on?"

The conditioning was of the arms, legs, and body. This was mostly, back then, done through sanchin practice and other overall body conditioning. Remember Kanei said his dad told him, and he also stated the only places one could not condition was the face and groin.

Hope that helps.

Mark

Stryke · Post by **Stryke** » Tue Apr 24, 2007 5:05 am

Thanks Mark , PM

M J Brelsford · Post by **M J Brelsford** » Tue Apr 24, 2007 5:23 am

Marcus, also set you a PM

I will keep looking through my notes and all.

Mark

Stryke · Post by **Stryke** » Tue Apr 24, 2007 6:13 am

thanks Mark , very helpfull and much appreciated

Anyone else share any sources , any Uechi Books in your library have refences on this ? , any of you long timers got first hand knowledge/storys .

any Info much appreciated .

Bill Glasheen · Post by **Bill Glasheen** » Tue Apr 24, 2007 1:25 pm

Mark wrote:
Remember Kanei said his dad told him, and he also stated the only places one could not condition was the face and groin.

Ahem...

We've had folks show film clips of fellows from a particular style allegedly doing groin pounding demonstrations. I keep telling them there are numerous "tricks" to doing this, and I've done them in demos myself at halftimes of ACC basketball games. It gets the desired effect from the crowd.

But there's always some chi-meister wanting to jump on some fantastic story (of doom) about how someone has an ability the rest of us don't.

I like my testicles, thank you very much. And I plan on using my brain for a living which requires something more than it being a target for flying human body parts.

Sorry for that diversion, Mark. I couldn't help myself.

- Bill

P.S. Most people can survive a few direct hits to the groin. But there are a lot of other things in life we can survive where we'd be better off avoiding the insult in the first place.

Stryke · Post by **Stryke** » Wed Apr 25, 2007 5:21 am

Also does anyone recall the thread were Tomoyose I beleive was quoted as saying the extra kata were added to lengthen demonstrations ?

I think I have it saved somewhere but if anyone recalls(or can correct me) it`ll save me digging through my notes .