history of uechi ryu

Uechi-ryu also known as way-chee-roo is one of a large number of karate styles from Okinawan and is now taught all around the world. This style of karate was first called Pangai-noon (pwan-gay-noon), Uechi-ryu has its beginnings in China where the art was developed from kung fu styles based on the movements of the Dragon, Tiger and Crane.

Pangai-noon was studied in China in the early 1900's by a young Okinawan named Kanbun Uechi. Kanbun studied for many years under the tutelage of Shu Shi Wa, a renowned Chinese Kung Fu teacher. He eventually became the 1st Okinawan to teach in China

Kanbun later spent a number years teaching the art in Japan where he added many of the aspects of Japanese Karate into his system. In 1940, Kanbun's students renamed the style Uechi-ryu (meaning Uechi's style) in his honor and proclaimed him grand master.

After Kanbun's death in 1948, his son Kanei took over the role of Grandmaster. During the next decades Kanei added several innovations into the style, eventually creating one of the most powerful karate styles practiced in the world today.