Jesse Enkamp on Uechi ryu

[isshinryuronin]

Good intro to real karate:

MSN

 

[JonBhoy24]

Can’t get it to work, it plays, goes to an ad, then freezes. Ill find it later tonight, I love his videos.

 

[opr1945101]

utube:

My sensi 10th Dan, Grand Master James Thompson,, Began studying in 1958 in Okinawa (68 years ago), currently in Kalamazoo, MI USA

The deadliest karate style: Secrets of Uechi-Ryu

Why Uechi-Ryu Karate Isn’t Seen in Tournaments

Why don’t we see Uechi-Ryu Karate in modern tournaments?Because it wasn’t built for points. It was built for survival.With its tight guard, body conditioning...

www.youtube.com

 

[Darren]

Good intro to real karate:

MSN

great video! thank you.

 

[Same Trick49]

Video won’t open for me.
But Uechi-ryu, I was a few months in Okinawa in the later part of the 80’s, I visited a couple of dojos and all of them had a friendly welcoming atmosphere to them except for……Uechi-ryu’s hombu dojo, the dojo of Kanei Uechi.
He himself was bedridden by old age and illness, so the awkward atmosphere might have been it was not a time to greet visitors to the Dojo ?
The man I the dojo I spoke with I believe was Kanei’s son who was not the one I got the unwelcoming feeling from, it was the other,s in the dojo that gave off that sort of machismo hostility I put up with months previously at the JKA hombu i Tokyo, so I left and went to one of the nice friendly dojo’s in Naha city

 

[isshinryuronin]

Video won’t open for me.
But Uechi-ryu, I was a few months in Okinawa in the later part of the 80’s, I visited a couple of dojos and all of them had a friendly welcoming atmosphere to them except for……Uechi-ryu’s hombu dojo, the dojo of Kanei Uechi.
He himself was bedridden by old age and illness, so the awkward atmosphere might have been it was not a time to greet visitors to the Dojo ?
The man I the dojo I spoke with I believe was Kanei’s son who was not the one I got the unwelcoming feeling from, it was the other,s in the dojo that gave off that sort of machismo hostility I put up with months previously at the JKA hombu i Tokyo, so I left and went to one of the nice friendly dojo’s in Naha city

Not knowing the nature of the interaction between you and the others there, no comment on your specific experience. As a general rule, things are less formal in Okinawa than Mainland Japan. Still, there are expectations, especially at a renown honbu dojo. Often a letter or call of introduction, or even knowing someone known to them, will make you more welcome. Some established creds help being taken more seriously, probably more so in the 80's.

 

[Same Trick49]

Not knowing the nature of the interaction between you and the others there, no comment on your specific experience. As a general rule, things are less formal in Okinawa than Mainland Japan. Still, there are expectations, especially at a renown honbu dojo. Often a letter or call of introduction, or even knowing someone known to them, will make you more welcome. Some established creds help being taken more seriously, probably more so in the 80's.

I had learned the location of Kanei Uechis dojo from the officers at a local police station in Naha, the dojo was located far north outside of Naha, I decided go there early and I arrived around noon time, the dojo was at ground floor and there was no activity, a young boy called me over and motioned to follow him upp the stairs(that was outside the building) to 2nd floor, he opened a pair of slide doors and pointed inside, it was dark in there but I saw an elderly man sleeping in there and it struck me it probably was Kainei Uechi, I motioned to the boy that he should close the doors and I went back down where I was met by a man that seem like a caretaker/janitor, he informed me to come back later in evening when there was classes… and so I did…..maybe they had been told of the “incident” earlier in the day of an foreigner taking a peak into the Uechi household, but no one mentioned it,except me that told that I had been there earlier but was informed to come back later.

I also visited the Jundokan hombu dojo and Matsubayashi hombu which both was friendly welcoming..

At Tokyo JKA I showed up without letter of introduction but was accepted to sign up for classes, but it was tensed and almost a hostile feeling from time to time in there.. a guy from the US also signed up for class he was immediately paired up with one of the tough guys and got knocked down and out, was left laying on the floor till he picked himself up after some maybe 30 sek, went to the locker room and left not to come back again

 

[Buka19]

The first dojo I ever set foot in was George Mattson’s Uechi-Ryu Karate in Boston.
Other than fellow students of American Karate styles, I’ve trained with more Uechi guys than any others. I love Uechi-Ryu, I always have and I always will.

I really like Jesse’s videos, too. I do have a small difference of opinion in one point he made, though. That in tournament competition a Uechi student would have to adapt the style for competition because it’s not intended for it.

I believe that’s true for the most part, but there are a lot of exceptions. My buddy Andre Tippett is the first to come to my mind. His dojo movement and his competition movement are mirror images of each other.

True, he’s a big man and an NFL Hall Of Fame Linebacker, but he trained Uechi-Ryu years before he ever touched a football. His movement in the dojo and his movement in competition always looked the same to me. And, man, he is one serious pain in the butt to spar with. Thank God he’s a gentlemen and a good guy.

Andre Tippett, various Jiyu kumite matches

fast game of tag

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[opr1945101]

35 minute interview.

Sensei Masters of Okinawan Karate - James Thompson - Uechi-Ryu Karate 35 minute interview includes old time videos and stories of his life.

 

[Prince_Alarming103]

AWESOME resources, thank you everyone

 

[Xue Sheng96]

Use to train Taiji with a Uechi ryu guy, i am not sure who his teacher was, but the only Uechi ryu teacher i know of in my area back then was Ihor Rymaruk.

Use to talk to him about his training, all i can say is, until then i thought Kyokushin was the hardest training karate. What he was doing was easily comparable

 

[Jazzpurr1]

The first dojo I ever set foot in was George Mattson’s Uechi-Ryu Karate in Boston.
Other than fellow students of American Karate styles, I’ve trained with more Uechi guys than any others. I love Uechi-Ryu, I always have and I always will.

I really like Jesse’s videos, too. I do have a small difference of opinion in one point he made, though. That in tournament competition a Uechi student would have to adapt the style for competition because it’s not intended for it.

I believe that’s true for the most part, but there are a lot of exceptions. My buddy Andre Tippett is the first to come to my mind. His dojo movement and his competition movement are mirror images of each other.

True, he’s a big man and an NFL Hall Of Fame Linebacker, but he trained Uechi-Ryu years before he ever touched a football. His movement in the dojo and his movement in competition always looked the same to me. And, man, he is one serious pain in the butt to spar with. Thank God he’s a gentlemen and a good guy.

Andre Tippett, various Jiyu kumite matches

fast game of tag

share.google

Thank you for sharing, that was impressive and inspiring to watch! The timing on those sweeps and use of skill in many instances where he could have simply overpowered his opponents was so cool to see.

 

[isshinryuronin]

man, he is one serious pain in the butt to spar with.

I don't think you'd spar him as much as survive him. Great sweeps, right reverse punches and timing. In all those clips I don't think I saw him take a backwards or even sideways step - always right there, up close and personal. I'd like to have seen him up against Joe Lewis. I'd put my money on Andre.

 

[Buka19]

I don't think you'd spar him as much as survive him. Great sweeps, right reverse punches and timing. In all those clips I don't think I saw him take a backwards or even sideways step - always right there, up close and personal. I'd like to have seen him up against Joe Lewis. I'd put my money on Andre.

The best thing about Andre? He’s the mellowest, sweetest man you’ll ever meet. And has incredible control of his technique. How do I know that? Because I’m a hundred and forty two pounds and sparred with Andre many times. We sparred fast, throwing a lot of strikes at each other. And I didn’t die.

He is a true martial artist in every sense of the term. He would throw a blazing fast reverse punch to my face and barely touch my skin. Throw a sidekick to my ribs and just touch my gi against my skin.

What a class act. I’m a better man and a better martial artist for being lucky enough to know him.

As for the Andre Tippett and Joe Lewis thing, I’ve trained with them both many times and I’m not really qualified to hazard a guess. It’s kind of like the King Kong and Godzilla thing.

Either way, you’re screwed.

 

[opr1945101]

awsome!

 

[hoshin160011]

Uechi ryu is my MA of choice. I've modified my own practice over time so I hesitate to call it Uechi now but it is what it is. When the style is done well it's really something awesome. I feel blessed to have met and trained with so many Uechi practitioners and teachers. Uechi can be that hard exterior and soft interior even for its mood and interactions with others. Depending on the person or dojo there can be that Japanese insider and outsider feel. If you come across one of the harder- serious practitioners it's on you to be on your best behavior.

 

[isshinryuronin]

As for the Andre Tippett and Joe Lewis thing, I’ve trained with them both many times and I’m not really qualified to hazard a guess.

I've trained with neither of them. All I know about Andre's sparring is from your clips. I've watched Joe fight several times in person. Based on this, my analysis is as follows:

Both are tough strong guys, but Andre seemed quicker and able to move in well. Joe relied on his power and fought more from the outside using his side kick and backfist combos. He relied on these well perfected moves (he may have had others but didn't need them to win); Andre showing more variety of technique and his sweeps could have disrupted Joe's setup for his sidekick (which used a deep kibidachi to launch from). For these reasons I'd say Andre would've had the edge in a match.

This is just an intellectual exercise based on what I've observed. When two talented fighters with much different fighting styles match up the results can be surprising.

 

[Buka19]

I've trained with neither of them. All I know about Andre's sparring is from your clips. I've watched Joe fight several times in person. Based on this, my analysis is as follows:

Both are tough strong guys, but Andre seemed quicker and able to move in well. Joe relied on his power and fought more from the outside using his side kick and backfist combos. He relied on these well perfected moves (he may have had others but didn't need them to win); Andre showing more variety of technique and his sweeps could have disrupted Joe's setup for his sidekick (which used a deep kibidachi to launch from). For these reasons I'd say Andre would've had the edge in a match.

This is just an intellectual exercise based on what I've observed. When two talented fighters with much different fighting styles match up the results can be

Good call, I can’t disagree with any of that.

You know how they were eerily similar? How unhurried they moved in anything not fight or sport related. There didn’t seem to be a fast twitch fiber in their body. Like it was the second day of vacation and you were strolling to breakfast.

 

[isshinryuronin]

Good call, I can’t disagree with any of that.

You know how they were eerily similar? How unhurried they moved in anything not fight or sport related. There didn’t seem to be a fast twitch fiber in their body. Like it was the second day of vacation and you were strolling to breakfast.

That's true of many top big karateka. Also bears and lions. They leisurely lumber along - until they don't. Relaxed confidence.

 

[opr1945101]

Wyatt Earp’s famous proverb regarding marksmanship is: "Fast is fine, but accuracy is final. You must learn to be slow in a hurry."