Uechi Family

The Okinawa archipelago is considered by karatekas as the birthplace of Karate. The most widely taught styles of Karate on the island are Uechi-Ryu, Shito-Ryu, and Goju-Ryu.

Kanbun Uechi

This young Okinawan clandestinely embarked for China in 1897 to discover Chinese martial arts and also to escape Japanese conscription.

Kanbun Uechi stayed there for 13 years and brought back with him many combat techniques and three katas:

  • Sanchin
  • Seisan
  • Sanseiryu

A few years later, he opened his first dojo in Wakayama.

Kanei, his eldest son, would go on to modernize the school, renaming it Uechi-Ryu.

Kanbun Uechi

Uechi Family

As you’ve understood, Uechi-Ryu is a family-style martial art that is passed down from father to eldest son or Sōke (head of the family).

Kanei Uechi (2nd Soke) with American students

Since the creation of the school, four generations of Sōke have succeeded each other:

  • Kanbun Uechi
  • Kanei Uechi
  • Kanmei Uechi
  • Sadanao Uechi

The current Sōke shares his heavy responsibilities with his two brothers, Kanji and Kanyu. It is also worth noting that Sadanao (完尚) can also be pronounced Kansho.

The Sōke is also the president of the Uechi-Ryu Karate Association, or Uechi-Ryu Karate-Do Kyokai (上地流空手道協会), which was founded by his grandfather Kanei Uechi. The main dojo of this association is located in Ginowan (Okinawa).