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1. What is Karate?
Karate is an unarmed or empty handed method of self defense stressing punching, kicking and blocking.

2. What does the word Karate 空手 mean?
The word Karate is made up of two Japanese words: "KARA" meaning empty and "TE" meaning hand. So simply the word karate means empty hand.

3. What is Karate Do?
The word "DO" 道 means "THE WAY". Karate Do means: The Way of Karate, or Karate as a way of life. It refers to the ability to use one's mental, physical and spiritual skills acquired through Karate in one's everyday life.

4. What is Uechi-Ryu Karate?
Uechi-Ryu Karate is a form of empty handed techniques based on a Chinese-Okinawan system of self-defense.

5. What does the word "RYU" mean?
"RYU" 流 is a Japanese word meaning style. Uechi-Ryu Karate means Uechi Style Karate.

6. Where was Okinawan karate first introduced, and by whom was it introduced?
Okinawan Karate was first introduced to Japan by Gichin Funakoshi, who studied a form of Chinese Boxing during the late 1800's. Funakoshi's style of Karate was later named Shotokan.

7. What country is considered to be the birthplace of the Martial Arts?
India is considered to be the birthplace of martial arts. This form of "active meditation" was introduced to China by an Indian Buddhist Monk named Bodhidharma around 520 A.D. Martial Arts then traveled from China to Okinawa around 1392. The old writing of "Karate" 唐手 literally meant "China Hand".

8. What is the Chinese name for Uechi-Ryu, and what does it mean?
Pangai-noon 半硬軟 (Pan-Gai-Noon) is the Chinese name for the style we now study. It means half hard - half soft.

9. When was the word Uechi-Ryu first used?
The name Uechi-Ryu was first used in 1948, when Kanbun Uechi died, Kanbun's students renamed the style out of respect for their teacher. The style's name was changed from Pangai-noon to Uechi-Ryu.

10. Who was Kanbun Uechi?
Kanbun Uechi (上地完文) is in whose honor this style of Karate is named. In 1897, Kanbun Uechi left Okinawa For China to study Chinese Boxing. He studied in Fukien province in Southern China for ten years. He was the first non-Chinese to teach in China, and taught there for a total of 3 years. he was in China for a total of 13 years.

11. Who was Kanbun Uechi's teacher?
Kanbun's teacher was Chou-Tzo-Ho 周子和 (Jo-Zu-Ho), also know as Shushiwa; also known as Shushabu.

12. What three animals is Uechi-Ryu Karate based on?
This style of karate is based on the TIGER, the CRANE and the DRAGON.

13. Why did Kanbun leave China?
Kanbun left China and vowed never to teach Karate again after one of his students became involved in a fight over a land dispute and was forced to defend himself. The student killed the attacker in the process. Due to public scorn and shame over this matter, Kanbun left China and returned to Okinawa.

14. When did Kanbun Uechi begin teaching again?
Kanbun began to teach again while living in Wakayama 和哥山 Japan. He began teaching an Okinawan named Ryuyu Tomoyose (友寄隆優) and a select group of Okinawans.

15. What are the three original katas of the system, and what do their names mean?

Sanchin (三 戰) - 3 Conflicts
Seisan (十三) - 13 Positions of Attack and Defense
Sanseirui (三十六) - 36 Positions of Attack and Defense

16. What else did Kanbun bring back from China in addition to the 3 original katas?
Kotekitae (小手鍛え) , sparring (自由組手) and Chinese medicine (漢方)

17. Who is Kanei Uechi?
Kanei Uechi (上地完英) is the son of Kanbun Uechi. He was born June 26, 1911 and he died in February of 1991. Kanei Uechi was the first Okinawan Master to teach Uechi-Ryu Karate to westerners.

18. When was Kanbun Uechi born, and when did he die?
Kanbun Uechi was born on May 5, 1877; he died on November 25, 1948.

19. Who was Kanei Uechi's teacher?
Kanei's teacher was Kanbun Uechi - his father.

20. When did Kanei Uechi begin to study Karate?
Kanei Uechi began to study Karate in 1927.

21. Where was Kanei Uechi's Dojo located?
Kanei's dojo is located in Futenma, Okinawa; and is now operated by his son, Kanmei Uechi.

22. Who is Kanmei Uechi?
Kanmei Uechi (上地完明) (5/10/1941-Present) is the son of Kanei Uechi. He holds the rank Kyudan 9th Degree Black Belt and is the President of the Uechi Karate Association.

23. Who is George Mattson?
George Mattson was the first American to teach Uechi-Ryu Karate in the United States and has written several authoritative texts pertaining to our style of Karate.

24. Who is George Mattson's teacher?
George Mattson's teacher was Ryuko Tomoyose, son of Ryuyu Tomoyose who was Kanbun Uechi's first Okinawan student.

25. What rank does Buzz Durkin hold?
Kyudan 9th Degree Black Belt (also known as Hanshi)

26. Who is Buzz Durkin's teacher?
Buzz Durkin's teacher is George Mattson

27. What rank did Kanei Uechi hold?
Judan, a 10th degree black belt (Hanshi-sei)

28. What are the Dan ranks?

1. Shodan
2. Nidan
3. Sandan
4. Yondan
5. Godan
6. Rokudan (Renshi)
7. Nanidan (Kyoshi)
8. Hachidan (Hanshi)
9. Kyudan (Hanshi)
10. Judan (Hanshi-sei)

29. What are the Kyu ranks?

10. Jyukyu
9. KyuKyu
8. HachiKyu
7. Sichikyu
6. Rokyu
5. Gokyu
4. Yonkyu
3. Sankyu
2. Nikyu
1. Ikkyu

30. What are the eight katas of the Uechi System?

Sanchin
Kanshiwa
Konshu
Seichin
Seisan
Seirui
Konchin
Sanserui

31. What is the capital city of Okinawa?
Naha is the capital of Okinawa.

32. What is the formal name for arm rubbing/arm pounding?
Kotekitae

33. What is "MUSHIN" 無心?
"MUSHIN" is a Japanese term meaning no mindedness; clearing one's mind of distractions.

34. What is "Min-Chin-Chu-Ryu" 眼精手抉?
MIN-CHIN-CHU-RYU is a term used by Kanbun Uechi to describe Pangai-Noon. It means "Speed with Glare".


38. What are the Eight Virtues of a Black Belt?

Modesty
Courtesy
Integrity
Compassion
Gratitude
Self-Control
Perseverance
Indomitable Spirit

39. What is the Uechi-Ryu Butokukai 武徳会?
The Uechi Ryu Butokukai is an organization of schools whose Senseis have Buzz Durkin as their teacher and who test their Dan students together within Mr. Durkin's Butokukai.