Kanbun Uechi was a Japanese martial arts master and founder of the Uechi-Ryu Karate style. He was born on May 5, 1877 in the village of Izumi, Okinawa prefecture, Japan.
From an early age, Kanbun Uechi was introduced to traditional Okinawan martial arts. He began his apprenticeship with his father, Kanjo Uechi, who was an expert in Pangai-noon (another name for Pangainoon), a fighting style indigenous to Okinawa. Uechi also studied with other renowned masters of the time, including Shushiwa, Shu Shiwa and Shinyu Yabu.
In 1897, at the age of 20, Kanbun Uechi left for Fuzhou, China, to deepen his knowledge of martial arts. He studied there for ten years under the tutelage of Master Zhou Zihe, an expert in the Chinese fighting style known as Pangai-noon (another name for Pangainoon). Under Zhou Zihe’s guidance, Uechi perfected his technique, his understanding of martial principles and his physical stamina.
After returning to Okinawa in 1906, Kanbun Uechi founded his own dojo and began teaching the style he had developed by combining the teachings of his father and his Chinese master. He named his style Uechi-Ryu in honor of his family.
Over the years, Uechi gained a reputation as a respected instructor, and his Uechi-Ryu style became increasingly popular in Okinawa. He devoted the rest of his life to teaching and promoting his style of karate. His students, some of whom went on to become masters themselves, carried on his legacy and helped spread Uechi-Ryu throughout Japan and the world.
Kanbun Uechi died on November 25, 1948, leaving behind him an important legacy in the world of martial arts. His style, Uechi-Ryu, is now practiced by many around the world, and is recognized as one of the most influential and respected styles of Okinawan karate.
Kanbun Uechi’s contribution to the development of the martial arts, in particular Uechi-Ryu, remains a precious legacy that continues to influence the generations of martial artists who follow his teachings.