Seizan

Welcome aboard, Scott! When you come back to Okinawa in August, I'll introduce you to Nago-san (forum name). He's a Uechi Family student and a real gentleman.

Nago-san, On a film I have of Kanei Sensei he is seen wearing a red belt. This film was taken during his performance at the Budokan up on the Mainland. I can't fix the date (late 60's? Early 70's?) but will try with a bit of research. I didn't see a red belt in UechiRyu before or after that particular event (maybe he wore it only for that performance?). Not sure if he had been awarded his 10th Dan by a Japanese association by then, or after. I do know he was awarded a 10th Dan by the Okinawa KarateDo Federation after the Japanese award (a few months after, I think). Can the Uechi Family comment on this bit of history in the ranking / belt system of UechiRyu? Thanks.

Uh ... ahem ... As systems evolve and change we will likely see more innovations in displaying rank via belts, stripes, bars, etc. The arts have come a long way in this regard over the past 100 years or less. Perhaps the day will return when external indicators of rank level are seen no more, and what is required is a simple display of skill. Then one might only say of another, "He is a teacher, for sure" -- or, "I will seek instruction elsewhere".

Nago, Interesting. I guess you and I are "old-fashion"...! I am intrigued to know sensei8's style.

Nago, Good to see you here! I have a photo of a Uechi-related practioner here on Okinawa. He is wearing a belt with 4 gold bars. I think he is 10th Dan, so one gold bar per rank starting with 6th Dan? I know traditional UechiRyu's higher ranks but this is a new one on me.

Hey Folks, Just discovered that Nago is also posting. He's a good friend for years, and a solid practitioner / teacher, just opened his dojo. Now there are two foreign-owned UechiRyu dojo in Japan! Congrats, Nago, let's have coffee. Starbuck's is opening here in Yomitan soon, close to Shinjo Sensei's dojo...!

Thanks for the welcomes... Chances are I will drop by the "Karate" forum now and again. I am not a "Frequent Forum Flier" but I'll try to stop by. Weather on Okinawa right now is unsettled. One day warm and sunny, next is cold (to us) and windy or rainy. My home and dojo are up the hill from the beach on the west side of Okinawa, facing across the bay toward Motobu (where Kanbun Sensei was born) and Ie Jima (where he spent his last days). Beautiful ocean view. In weather like this (our winter) the wind blows in from Siberia across the East China Sea, creating huge waves that break upon the coral reefs just off shore. I use the action of the waves to help teach movement in kata. In the summer, I use the tall sugarcane stalks swaying the breeze as a lesson in flexibility - they survive typhoons and spring back into place after. But I haven't seen snow in many years, and miss it terribly. My chance may come next winter as my German students plan to host me for training in Germany over the holiday season. Well, so much for intros and the weather report (I am a retired USAF Weather Forecaster)! Happy to be here. I can't get to every thread but I'll keep an eye on the "Karate" section of the forums, and step in if I'm requested. Best to all.

Hello everyone, My name is Gordi Breyette, named “Seizan” by my teacher, Toyama Seiko Sensei. Toyama Sensei is 10th Dan in UechiRyu, and owner of the Okinawa KarateDo UechiRyu Zankai (Mountain Association). He is the last active student of UechiRyu founder Uechi Kanbun Sensei, and was a student and colleague of Uechi Kanei Sensei for 40 years – so he survived both the father and son. Today, he teaches only Kanbun Sensei’s original performance style, rather different from Kanei Sensei’s. Toyama Sensei’s dojo is in Zakimi Okinawa, mine is in Nagahama (about 5 minutes away from his). I have lived on Okinawa since 1979, and hold the rank of 8th Dan. My wife Sumako (from Nago) is 5th Dan in UechiRyu, and is also a licensed Yoga instructor (All Japan Total Synthesis Yoga Assn.), certified in Therapeutic Thai Massage (studied in Changmai School of Thai Massage, Thailand), holds a teaching license for Japanese Board of Education, plus contracts to teach Yoga for a local government culture preservation center (Murasaki Mura, Yomitan). Oh yeah – she’s also the Chief of Civilian Security Forces on Kadena Air Force Base...! At this writing she is in India studying Yoga, Indian Dance, and will open a new UechiRyu Zankai branch club there. For myself, well... By day I work as an English teacher in a Japanese middle school, and I teach dojo 4 evenings per week and on Saturday. I have one major Branch Dojo in Chennai India, with several smaller branch clubs (one of which Sumako will officially open this Sunday). I travel to India to teach and test students every other year, and the Indian Team visits Okinawa on the alternate year. I also have small clubs in Germany, Norway, Canada, the United Kingdom, and other countries. I have no clubs established in the USA (a contemporary UechiRyu stronghold). Normally I am shy of forums (arguments, debates), but recent developments indicate that a Zankai representative might do well to at least make himself available to the general MA public on some discussion site. There don’t seem to be many other UechiRyu practitioners posting from Okinawa, and the other UechiRyu discussion forums are not frequented so much by members of this one. I can offer information about UechiRyu history, the Zankai, discuss specific aspects of this style, etc. As far as possible I will stick to provable or documented facts. If I’m unsure I’ll say so; I don’t speculate much (I’ve seen much of what “authoritative speculation” can become over the years!). I won’t engage in debate or political discussions, polemics or the like, nor will I teach students not my own. For some discussions, I may ask for personal contact at my e-mail address. I don’t want to alter anyone’s training or contradict anyone’s teacher, but I can share some understanding or clarifications. Please visit my site; the URL is found in my profile. It’s just a one-pager on which you will find some additional information, other Zankai links, and exactly 2 pictures... I’ll do my best not to confuse anyone...!