About Uechi-Ryu
Uechi-ryu is one of the longest-term karate arts and was founded by Kanbum Uechi (pronounced “Waychee”) of Okinawa and further developed as worldwide art by his son Kanei Uechi.
Okinawan Uechi Style Karate
The organization is known as OkiKuKai (Okinawan Karate Do-
Association). The karate style (or ryu) has been known by three
different names through its long history. From China it was referred to
as Puon-Gai-Noon descriptively meaning “hard - and - soft.” Out of
respect and familiarity to the founding and developmental contributions
of the Uechi father and son the art became known as Uechi-Ryu, which
is still often used today.
In November 1995, the OkiKuKai organization felt it natural with the passing of the original founders to bring a new descriptive name to the art and they chose ShoHeiRyu. The word comes from two Chinese characters, SHO means “to shine brightly” and HEI means “fairness, equality and peace.”
The Lineage Preserves the Essence
Though there have been a cycle of administrative name changes the art
remains the same. Master Kanei Uechi’s senior student, Shintoku
Takara, now heads the organization and is responsible for
continued proliferation of this wonderful karate system into the
twenty-first century. Master Takara is ranked Hanshi Judan (10th degree black belt). Promoted May 2004 to Hanshi Judan
are Master Tsutomu Nakahodo and Master Hiroshi Inada.
The evolutions in name are administrative only and have no effect on the essence of our practice. Since our leaders were the most senior students of the late Sensei Uechi, we continue to work in the same direction, are developing the same skills and using curriculum as taught by our late founding masters. The essence of our martial art remains completely undisturbed.