Kanbun Uechi
The system of Uechi-Ryu was founded by Kanbun Uechi. At the time Master Uechi called his system of martial arts Pangau-noon (meaning half-hard/half-soft). The system was later renamed Uechi-Ryu in honor of its founder Kanbun Uechi. Master Uechi began his karate training when he moved to China in 1897. In China Uechi was taught the Pangau-Noon system by Cho Tzu Hou. This style incorporated the movements of the tiger, dragon, and crane. Master Uechi taught his system in China, then Okinawa, and he finally settled in Japan, where he died in 1948. Kanei Uechi, Kanbun’s son was named his successor.
