Uechi-Ryu Academy

Combat Uechi-Ryu

Combat Uechi-Ryu is a close-range self-defense system that emphasizes the combat application of Uechi-Ryu. The system incorporates the most important principles, theories and techniques found in traditional Chinese martial arts. Combat Uechi-Ryu is a "no-frills" martial art, with no flowery movements, no impractical or complicated techniques, no high or spinning kicks. Its movements are both soft and hard, both circular and straight, its techniques are simple but extremely effective with emphasis on the use of integrated force or whole body power, the development of strong connection with the ground or "rooting", the development of proper body structure, the development of fast and explosive techniques, the development of coiling energy, yielding to a greater force, and pressure point strikes designed to disable a stronger or a larger opponent.

Our training covers five methods of practice: forms, self defense techniques, two-person drills, sensing hands and free fighting.

Forms

Most forms are prearranged sets of defense and attack techniques and movements designed to build the foundation of a martial art system. Sanchin, the most important form in our system, however, was never designed for that purpose. Sanchin is simply the glue that binds all of our techniques together. The forms teach us the content of our art, and practicing the forms helps us develop a strong physical foundation, proper footwork, strong stances, power generation, fluidity in movement and good balance.

Forms, however, do not teach us how to develop fighting skills. The primary aim of practicing the forms should be learning the principles and the fundamentals that the forms are designed to teach us, so that the fighting applications of the forms will not be restricted to routine combination of techniques.

Self-Defense Techniques

Learning fighting or self-defense techniques is an integral part of combat Uechi-Ryu training. Every technique we teach meets three criteria: a technique must be simple, practical and effective. If a technique is not simple, practical or effective, it will not work in a real fight. Simple means that any one regardless of age or gender can execute the technique. Practical means that one does not need to go thru many steps to complete a technique. Effective means that when the technique is executed the opponent is either disabled, or no longer able to fight back.

Effective self defense techniques must be based on real martial arts principles. The student must have a clear understanding of why he is performing a technique one way and not another, the student must also know when a technique is effective and when it is not. Some of the principles we teach at the Uechi-Ryu Academy include: defend and attack from a rooted position, defend and counterattack at the same time, use integrated strength or whole body power when defending and attacking, unbalance your opponent, and kick below the mid section.

Two-Person Drills

Combat Uechi-Ryu two-person drills are the bridge between learning self defense techniques, and free fighting, and are designed to teach the practitioner the essence of Combat Uechi-Ryu, including timing, rooting, moving the body in an integrated fashion correct footwork, trapping, grappling, and take-down techniques. As the practitioner's self defense techniques become fluid and natural, defense and attack take action without thought, and the practitioner manifests his power effortlessly.

Sensing Hands

Sensing Hands is a relaxed, two-person sparring exercise. A chief objective of sensing hands training is to aid the student in developing exceptional abilities derived from an amplified sense, structural integrity, and movement efficiency. Sensing hands training also help the student cultivates abilities to influence other’s structural stability.
Three specific techniques are emphasized: sticking--maintaining light contact with an opponent's arms; listening--sensing the magnitude and direction of an opponent's force; and yielding--responding to an opponent's force partially by yielding, and partially by controlling or guiding its direction. The ultimate goal of sensing hands training is to minimize the amount of force required to neutralize attacks, so that one may defeat strength with skill.

Free Fighting

The focus of our free fighting training is on using practical and realistic techniques in addition to learning strategies for engaging the opponent, and strategies for defense and attack. Combat Uechi-Ryu free fighting does not involve any techniques which would stand a risk of failure under the stress of combat. Many martial arts styles teach complex fighting techniques which require tremendous skills and agility to execute, however, under pressure of real attacks these complex techniques fall apart. A street fighter does not attack the same way a training partner does. A real attack carries with it a threat of serious injury or harm.

Our free fighting training responds directly to the mental and physical stress one experiences in a real fight. Combat Uechi-Ryu free fighting also ensures that our counterattacks don't put us at further risk of injury. We don’t telegraph our moves, we don’t “cock” strikes, and we don’t kick above the waist area. We seek to minimize the risk of injury in a real attack by utilizing simple, direct and practical techniques such as proper blocking, striking, trapping, uprooting, and take down techniques.