Martial Arts Of The World - Webs

244 Karate, Okinawan
shionna Kanryô, however, referred to the style only as gô no kenpô jû no
kenpô (hard-fist method/soft-fist method).
Higashionna Kanryô stayed in China for fourteen years, eventually
becoming the uchi deshi (Japanese; live-in disciple) of Xie Zhongxiang. Higashionna
learned nine empty-hand kata, various weapons kata, and
herbal medicine from Xie Zhongxiang. The kata that formed the basis of
Xie Zhongxiang’s system, which Higashionna brought back to Okinawa in
1881, were Sanchin (Fuzhou, Sanchen; Mandarin, San Zhan), Saifa (Choy
Po; Suipo), Seiyunchin (also romanized as seienchin; Chak in Chen; Zhi
San Zhan), Shishochin (See Heang Chen; Si Xiang Zhan), Sepai (So Pak;
Shi Ba), Kururunfa (Kew Liew Tong Po; Jiu Liu Dun Po), Seisan (Sake
Sang; Shi San), and Suparinpei or Pichurin (So Pak Ling Pak; Yi Bai Ling
Ba). These nine kata formed the heart, the core curriculum, of Naha-di
(Naha hand).
Uechi Kanbun traveled to Fuzhou in 1897 to avoid conscription in the
Japanese army. While in China, Uechi studied various combative styles, including
Tiger Boxing, which he learned from the Shaolin-trained Zhou
Zihe (Japanese, Shu Shiwa). Uechi eventually open his own dôjô (training
hall) in China, where he taught an eclectic combination of Tiger, Dragon,
and Crane Styles that he referred to as Pangai-Noon (pinyin banyingruan;
half-hard-half soft). Uechi Kanbun was forced to return to Okinawa in
1907, after one of his students killed a man in a fight. Uechi did not teach
Pangai-Noon in Okinawa during this period.
In 1928, Uechi moved his family to Wakayama, Japan. While in
Japan, Uechi Kanbun was convinced by Tomoyose Ryûyû to begin teaching
his art to other Okinawan expatriates. Uechi returned to Ishima, Okinawa,
in 1947 and taught publicly until his death in 1948. The Uechi system
is built around three kata: Sanchin, Seisan, and Seiyunchin.
Okinawan Karate
From the eclectic styles disseminated by Matsumura Sôkon (1809–1901)
and, later, Higashionna Kanryô (1853–1915) there began to emerge two
main schools of karate in Okinawa: Shuri-di and Naha-di, each named for
the respective area around which it was propagated. Although Tomari-di
was originally recognized as a distinct system, the style was later absorbed
by Shuri-di, especially as practiced by Itosu Yasutsune. Shuri-di was composed
of a variety of forms represented by a core curriculum consisting of
Chinto (in Japanese, Gankaku), Jion, Jitte (Jute), Kusanku (Kankû), Naihanchi
(Tekki), Pinan (Heian), Patsai (Bassai), Rohai (Meikyô), Seisan
(Hangetsu), Useishi (Gôjûshihô), and Wansu (Empi) kata. The kata Rohai
and Wansu are forms that were incorporated into the Shuri system from
Tomari-di. Naha-di consisted of the kata brought back to Okinawa by