The Eight Kata of Uechi-ryu

Uechi-ryu has eight kata. All of them are built on the principles of Sanchin.

Sanchin

Sanchin was handed down directly from Pangainun-ryu, a school of Southern Shaolin boxing. It trains the basic stance, a sharp gaze, a body strong enough to withstand punches and kicks, and the focus to lose oneself completely in the form. When kata are performed, no other kata may come before Sanchin. Every kata of Uechi-ryu follows its principles: it is the basic and absolute kata of the style.

Kanshiwa

Created by Kanei Uechi in 1954, Kanshiwa combines the names of Shu Shiwa and Kanbun. It was once called Kanshabu, but in the early 1970s the name Shushabu became Shushiwa, and the kata was renamed Kanshiwa accordingly. It was originally performed with the one-knuckle fist (shoken), but the first three punches were later changed to the regular fist (seiken). It is the only Uechi-ryu kata that includes seiken punches. (Designated Fukyu Kata III.)

Kanshu (Daini Seisan)

Created by Seiki Itokazu, Kanshu also combines the names of Kanbun and Shu Shiwa. It was first called Daini Seisan and renamed in 1970. It contains many movements from Seisan and was designed as preparation for learning it. Although it is meant for beginners, its open-hand circular blocks, and its swinging elbow strikes and thumb-knuckle punches from a low stance, make it quite demanding.

Seichin

Created by Saburo Uehara in 1963, Seichin is considered the most difficult of the kyu-level kata. It contains many movements from both Okinawa-te and Pangainun.

Seisan

Seisan is one of the three kata brought from China, together with Sanchin and Sanseiryu, and it still exists in Chinese boxing today. Chinese boxing groups the dragon, tiger and crane fists together, and Seisan is based on the crane fist. It is a kata for practicing techniques that work in real combat. Almost all of its techniques are open-handed, and it is known for its toe-tip kicks and the one-legged crane stance. It requires speed and explosive power.

Seiryu

Created by Kanei Uechi, Seiryu differs from the other Uechi-ryu kata because it uses the cat stance (neko-ashi-dachi) often. It has many open-hand techniques, such as circular hooking blocks and thumb-knuckle punches, and requires strong, resilient legs.

Kanchin

Created by Kanei Uechi, Kanchin moves much like Sanseiryu and is the seventh kata of the style. It is characterized by techniques launched from a low, rooted stance after a turn: a sharp stepping elbow strike, a scooping block with the one-knuckle fist and a low sweeping block. It requires resilience (muchimi) and twisting power in the lower body, and is known for its speed and dynamic movement.

Sanseiryu

Sanseiryu came from China and is the last of the eight kata. It assumes opponents on every side. The stances change freely between natural stance, front stance and a low rooted stance, and the changes of tempo give it an artistic quality. Beauty, power and speed come together in it as a true art of the moving body.