A historical Perspective During the Reign of

Yaku

(A translation)
Reason and logic play an important role especially in Kenjutsu. To fully understand these concepts one can slide in and out or shift automatically from passive to active modes of intent. That is why one reason for training in technique for example is to develop ones mind, body spirit unity. Another is to develop body or physical strength. Also weight control is a key item of interest for all students. Most importantly are the basics or core techniques of a style. They must be practiced, honed and polished to perfection. With all of these factors taken into consideration and put into practice one can understand ones foe and they can be re-directed.
Techniques again have a purpose. They must not be thought of as singular in nature but multiple in nature. These types of holes must be plugged and corrected in order for a strategy to work. Ones study of technique is to build up a larger base of techniques taken form all sources. This then will lead one to victory. Also one must have spirit or heart behind the technique to make it alive. Technique alone for technique sake is nothing. Anyone can copy a motion and use it.
But to be able to use it effectively one must be spiritually apt and one must diversify. Try everything and discard nothing.

The idea of perfecting technique is in understanding the technique. Break down and build it up again and again until its rote. They gave a saying “Gi wa Dori – Dori wa Gi” or the reason for technique is the technique of reason. To learn the art of the sword one must learn its techniques. Ones mind when learning Kenjutsu must not be cloudy or muddled for all the techniques the world will do you no good if the mind or spirit is muddled. Any idiot can cut. But to cut with perfection like that of an expert swordsman is to cut without cutting or being seen. These ideas at times seem to be in opposition to many known values. This is what the enemy looks for in an opponent is doubt, fear, inconsistency and lack of technique. That’s why they variety is spice of life, so should Kenjutsu be. Variety in technique is the key to a being a successful swordsman. Now if we go to Kata of which is made up of techniques they make the sword movements. Then again in later stages of development the spirit moves the sword rather than the individual. The body acts as one force or entity and behind that is spirit.

These ideas were all handed down in secret many hundreds of years ago. There have been those who never had formal teaching and were victorious i.e., Musashi Miyamoto is one that comes to mind. A self taught swordsman who eventually developed his own style. It all depends on the student how hard he wants to apply himself in this art. There are those that do just that but they are rare individuals.

--Kaisetsu—

(Commentary)
This text in its entirety was written to allow one to take a peek into what it takes to be effective in an art. Reason is the cause for spirit. To know spirit is to know reality and then victory. The reason for performing technique is to build up the mind, body and spirit. The more you learn the more your technique base is increased. Reason and technique create a one mind one body.
Kiden Shoten

Budo Hidensho yori

Ganryoku
The importance of Ganryoku cannot be overstated here it’s the key to your studies and to you life and its development. Ganryoku will be a developed daily as you practice Uechi-Ryu Karate-Do. In order to take on more than one attacker it is important that your self-development be precise and your form flawless. This is defined and perfected through repetition with a partner. This is required in order to find these openings in ones opponents’ amour and to be able to read your opponents mind and divine his intention. These exercises will help you develop your own self-insight. Insight training is not the rule of right. It’s a tool for self-development. Although the changes will not be imminent as they take time to nurture, develop and grow as your mind, body and spirit does. This training will allow your bodies reflexes to also become automatic. It’s a results driven exercise.
Subsequently, this insight can be further developed when practicing Jiyu Kobo by making it instinctive as your repetitive exercises continue. As Jiyu Kobo starts each partner starts to develop an attack plan and they may change in mid-course as the situation develops. I believe in earnest that eye contact must be maintained as part of the body whole. Here good technique usage comes into play. For example when utilizing hand feet together in a defensive or offensive move the eyes track through the mind and the body takes over. This is like using the spear or sword. You do not think about the weapon which is the same as the hand and foot.
The spirit will guide the body. So form al l of this we can surmise that in order to keep control ones body this type o practice is necessary. Insight can be a very strong force one can use to ones advantage. Bogyo is developed around insight. This is important in that when you are engaged in combat your actions become instantaneous through unconscious effort by employing good judgment. A person will can be a strong force in the making or breaking of this mindset. However, in a brief second to have a lapse in spirit could cost you a contest or your life depending on the circumstances. To be adept in Jiyu Kobo one must also learn and apply the Sanchin basics. To practice and forge the body in these basics will make your training much that easier.

---Kogeki no Koki---

(The Psychological Moment of Opportunity for an Attack)
Both partners or opponents face each other one will always seek to dominate the field. This then calls for both to develop instantaneous strategies in order to ply the craft right. The opening movements will decide the outcome of this encounter. At that moment only one will gain the psychological advantage. Or both may be equally matched and the moment may be a standoff.
The one gaining the advantage may cause doubt or lapse in spirit. This is what to look for. In that instant you seize the moment. This also takes careful thought because remember all happens in he blink of and eye. As mentioned before to do this to capture the moment takes tremendous spiritual control. The eyes are the one give away point of interest. Once the opportunity is seized the attack must look like it came from nowhere body position is all-important also. The following are some useful strategies:

1. 
   Debana (Projecting part of the head) Projecting the head is all-important. As a part of the body whole observation head is also a give away point. This could be termed like a stop hit. Whereby you stop the attack before or either in mid-stream before it can develop. This breaks down the others game plan before it can even be initiated. If the head is kept still the attack can form from either a hand strike or a foot strike.
   

2. 
   Shirzoki Giwa (The re-direction rearward) Retreat as your partner retreats, attack when he attacks. Face an attack with a counteroffensive as quick as a flash. If using a technique like the angled sidekick the defender projects the head and attacker moves you counter and immediately kick.
   

3. 
   Gi ga teishi shita Shunkan (The instantaneous stopping of a technique) When your partner becomes fatigued or is confused then alive the moment. By projecting your spirit in the attack or defense you sow seeds of disorder and in a flash with your technique you effectively counterattack without delay.
   

4. 
   Bogyo no Shunkan (Instantaneous Defense) when initiating an attack using any technique the attack must be done in a flash, in the blink of an eye.
   

5. 
   Kamae o kaeru Shunkan (An instantaneous change or return to the original) by changing position in an attack and leading the offensive you will exhaust your opponent. Also change attacks according to the opponents lead. If he leads with the left do the same and then mix it up according to his skill level.
   

6. 
   Kogeki ni taishite taisei kuzushite Shunkan (The instantaneous destruction of an opposite attitude or position) Crush the attack before it even develops and recover. This will damage and confuse the attacker position. This has to be done in a flash without thought.
   

7. 
   Sonota (The rest of the story) the rest of this lies in the deep breathing technique of Uechi-Ryu called Kokyu-Ho. The development and distribution of energy through proper breathing techniques.
   

---Tasei no Kuzushi-Ho---

(Destroying a position or an attitude)
In Karate we are always looking for an opening in order to counter a pending attack. It becomes a game of strategy like the game of “Go” when an opening is found it must be acted upon as quick as a flash. If not you will be defeated. In battle or combat it is most important to capitalize on this or you could be killed. This must be practiced over and over with a partner. As the partners face each other and assume a posture and if an opening occurs attack re-direct or subdue. Each partner can create and initiate an attack in a blink of an eye. The following explanations of situations follow:
1. As you and partner begin a session each assumes a posture that is light, flexible, yet strong. As one kicks there should be on precursor to a move.

2. 
   Aite no mae ashi o harau (Sweeping away a partners front foot) In a front facing position before your opponent can execute a front straight kick sweep the front facing foot to put your opponent off balance. You can also attack the front facing knee and still unbalance your opponent.
   
3. 
   Ude o geri ageru (Using the fore arm block an incoming
   

low or middle kick) In the Uechi-Ryu front facing left kamae, the right hand crosses to meet the left at mid-arm it meets the kick and guides o the left arm to discard to the left or the right.
4. Mae geri de kogeki suru you ni mise kakeru (Misdirection using a fake front kick) By faking a front kick as the opponents rises or drops to block you grab the opponent and counter with a straight fist or fore knuckle punch.
5. Aite no kogeki o sasou (Attacking a partner with feint or a ruse) Attack your opponent with either a kick, punch or a combination of both and then counter with an opposite.
6. Aite no uke o harai otosu (Attacking and blocking your partners kick) As your partner executes a front low or middle kick you step back into a wide horse stance and block capture the kick depending on the stance using either the left or right trapping and push the away or to the opposite side.

---Renshu no Kokoroe---

(Understanding the term Practice)
1. Kenkyushin (The enquiring Mind) Sozosei (The Creation of Nature)
Karate has made much progress over the year. Its roots drenched in ancient history and secrecy. Up until now its history has been vague and in regards to this the natural techniques we have learned helped us to rise up to where we are in today’s 21^st century Karate. We still keep the history, legends and secrecy alive.
From Karate we have learned how to develop our bodies, preserve our health and keep traditions alive. It is human nature I think to do so with such an art as Karate. We also develop a strong spirit, which in turn hones our mental development as well. Beginners look upon this art as path fraught with difficulties. True and not true. It’s what you want to make it and how you want you’re self to develop.

For example to do a study of the hand strike or foot strike can be complex in nature. But when working with a partner you begin to learn how to break down these techniques into a simpler form helps to understand a technique, how it’s applied and what other variations are available. This promotes a kinship with the partner and develops encouragement and personal development. One also has to research what other new techniques are out there and try to use or develop them to your advantage. Always persevere.

To fail in this endeavor one will only hamper or shorten ones outlook on life. One must out all ones effort into this art if this is the path you decide to follow.

Always be open to new technology and new ideas. From these one can create a whole new concept or idea.

Training in Karate from the beginning must be subjective in nature especially in the way you think and act. Kata and technique work hand in hand. This together with your training you develops vastly in the style you are studying. From this you will eventually acquire a set of skills that will be with you for the rest of your life. When working with a group of people to learn certain skills you develop a kinship like that of a family. Often when working a technique one will see at some point the aha factor in that this could be done this way and still be effective and not detract from the style at hand.
When in training you can later on reflect back on what you have learned. By developing yourself both in attitude and spirit you it will be easier to see your flaws and correct them before they develop into bad habits. One will make a mistake that is a known. One must be modest and humble and take correction from both your sempai and sensei with good grace. This also goes when training in form.
---Renshu Keikaku---

A Training Plan)
In theory or practice there are many exercises one must learn and each takes time depending on the discipline. The exercises take much concentration as include Jiyu Kumite and Yakusoku Kumite. Then onto Kata no Kenkyu, or the study of Kata.

This practice requires the individual/s to perform many repetitions of these exercises. A minimum of two hours or more should be dedicated in the long run to these exercises. They are practiced over and over for long periods of time. These can be sharing exercises especially when training with a partner so once each day one should schedule an exercise regime an open area with plenty of room. During that time period one should concentrate on Junbi Undo, Hojo Undo, kotekitai, and Sanchin. These are the basics. Other group exercises

Karate Uenchi-Ryu Shoshinsha no

tame ni yori

(Uechi-Ryu Karate for the beginner)
---Kata to Jiyu Kumite---

(Kata and Free Style Fighting)
Kata and Jiyu Kumite are inseparable. They both depend on each other. Therefore, then which direction will these two exercises take us? As one practices they will see that the two are fused together. Much like the beginning precepts of the Sanchin Kata. For the beginner thinks of mind, body, and spirit as separate entities but in time they will see that they are only parts of a whole and should be viewed as such. The same here with Kata and Jiyu Kumite. They will after a time become part of you as much as your hands and feet. The Karate-Ka’s real ability is based on and will be developed through the practice of these two exercises. Karate has no rule of rules of right or wrong. Karate is way of life and is but a set of principles on how we should lead our life.
Therefore, these two run parallel to each other and that’s how they are taught. In the world of Karate people make to much ado about this art. It is neither complicated nor is it simple. These two exercises are mutually bonded together in harmony and spirit. To not think about them in these terms is defeatist. He point being made here is that if one tries to separate these two only problems will follow in ones training. Emphasis on Kata basics during free style fighting is important in that one must consider individual development and safety. To develop precise accurate movements in Kata is very important.

In Jiyu Kumite safety is a factor but most importantly development of the self is also very important. Speed, timing and stamina will follow. Spirituality and strategy are two other key factors one must consider. One should use their skills only as needed. Plying this art uselessly can waste lots of energy. This type of thinking is #1 with the Okinawan’s. When taking part in a Shiai or contest people often forget all what they are taught especially in a crisis situation at the beginner levels. That is why we practice thousands of repetitions of these exercises. It will after a while be so ingrained in your nature that you no longer think about what to do and you react automatically. This has produced doubt in opponents who have faced a true Okinawan Karate-Ka. The substance or makeup of an individual like this is truly awesome to see. He has a certain gentleness or unsettling demeanor about him or her when in action. This quiet gentleness is best described as moving meditation. This type of training eventually peels away what we think is real and eventually shows us what reality really is. Oneness.

This type of feeling does not automatically materialize. It may take many years to develop before you seen any minute changes at all. Some of us are born with these innate abilities and are brought and developed with training. Others struggle all their life to achieve this level of oneness. This gets us into a term called Sakuso or complicated ideology and Tosui, which means rapture or fascination. These appear to be self-conflicting ideas. Just as Kata and Jiyu Kumite may seem different they are not and neither are the above two terms. They do compliment each other. We think the afore two statements are complicated yet fascinating. Why is that? If we take the complicatedness out of Kata and blend the Kata with Jiyu Kumite we become fascinated that hey this system works. To refuse this concept you will be struggling forever. Study this art and come back in 15 years or so and then go over your old ideas about this style. This pursuit of martial knowledge is a never-ending story. It’s an ever evolving process. When one starts at a Dojo it should be three times a week at a minimum. From then on as you develop you can add as many days as the Dojo is open depending on your zeal for this art.
Always pursue this art with a partner. You work as a team to see how far your endurance will take you. As you work out you begin to develop mentally and physically.

You develop a certain rapport with your partner a merging of energies that should always compliment each other throughout your training career. To see the cloudiness in your partners mind and he yours you develop your strategies accordingly. This takes 15 years or more to develop this attunement of a partner or another psyche.

In a contest to divine ones intent mentally takes many, many years of practice in and out of battle. Be always selfless of feelings and never self-righteous. Be intelligent in all your endeavors. There were provisions made in this style to enable one to be reflective in mind, body and spirit. To develop a keen insight into the self as well as others one must also develop “Haragei” or that innate sixth sense some have naturally and others have to develop over many years of practice. One day in a brief moment self-realization will manifest itself then you can shed all the curtains of reality.

The intuition that the body develops with this kind of training is used for actual fighting applications. The point of this is written in a diagram o be shown on page 520. This type of intuition is based on a heightened perception that one gains through this training. This type of attitude can be capitalized on during any parts of your training especially during two person drills. A person must also know how to handle and use this perception as a training tool. Out in the public an average person may not be attuned to you as would another adept in this art. But the possibility of mis-use is always out there and the adept should be warned not to use this heightened sense only in the direst of situations.

In the dojo when either practicing the two person drills or in Jiyu Kumite this technique should be employed and honed to a fine edge. This practice has its place. Kata or Kumite, which is more important? Children are a fine example, especially when they come of age. This is the time to teach basics of this art. As they develop so do their skills. That’s why it is best if possible to start martial arts training at an early age. Also the difference in the way a father and mother raise their son for example will be different.

What’s more important a child raised by his father or mother? It should be a combination of both. As they teach the child about life they use instinct. The same applies to Kata or Kumite. If one places more emphasis on one than the other then there will be a mismatch or gap in ones training that would have been crucial at the later stages of ones training.

A child as he or she develops his or her personality traits should be a fine mix and developed to the best extent possible. The same with Kata and Kumite. Then as they grow into young adults their perception, skills, health, and social behavior will have enabled them to be developed into a fine young human being. Shigatte o Karate no Kata to Jiyu Kumite onaji de gozaimasu. Two people trained in the same art over the years become inseparable as Karate-Ka or friends. They act as whole rather than separate entities. Taken a bit farther lets say their a re a set of twins who studied Karate from an early age these two would also be inseparable in their training and life. Kata and Jiyu Kumite have many practical applications in and out of the Dojo. Jiyu Kumite has its uses in actual fighting situations. Jiyu Kumite in the outside world can be used to your advantage. Look how much faster you can run without getting tired in order to avoid a possible or potential conflict. In other words sometimes it’s better to walk away than be confrontational. Jiyu Kumite teaches one common sense in other words. One must always hone and polish ones techniques. This is done through Kata and finally through practical application in Jiyu Kumite. Kata is more or less a prescribed set of movements to develop certain attributes in an individual. Jiyu Kumite is less constrained and the applications can be used in any order or combination as long as one adheres to certain rules the Kata have taught us. When in doubt or trouble always go bask to basics. They may save you an embarrassing situation or your life one day.
One can now say that Kata and Jiyu Kumite have mutual interests an are inseparable. The above comment was intended to show how these are interleaved and co-dependent. There are three levels or ranks that are used to attain this ability. In reality the people of Karate and their continuing study of Kata and Jiyu Kumite often ask where the unity in these two practices is. Must you break off from one to develop the other? The answer is no they have to be studied together.

There are two essential points here are people born with this innate nature or is it developed? Yes and Yes. In this world today the leaders of Karate take all their learning’s from the past and use those to develop the future. All of these theories and practices are practiced and put into use and are still being taught today. Therefore in my opinion the many authors of Karate and their accomplishments must be studied and the facts gleaned in order for one to move on in the future. We must still use the past to our advantage. As we practice today in Karate we can often see and feel the rich heritage that is out there for us. We practice until we attain the spiritual level of Mushin no Shin or mind of no mind.

When in Dojo practice or in a contest we have to be always aware of the self and how it is developed and how we pass this art onto others. There is much learned that could be used selfishly. In contest two people are pitted against each other to practice theory of technique. To learn form these encounters helps to build self-confidence and spiritual strength. Every day, month or year we practice we unknowingly pass through different phases or levels in our life. The more we learn the better we become as individuals and eventually teachers. To not do this we then miss out on many truths and their associated pats that could be traveled. It would then be a dull world indeed.
However, we are only flesh and blood and can only accomplish so much in our lifetime. We must open our eyes to reality be conscious of the real world and how it relates to us. This is accomplished through the study of Karate. Once we break through the cloud of reality and consciousness we can then affect change in first our lives then in others.
In the new age or era of Karate one would be able to witness many new innovations of this once ancient art form. Many gathered to witness demonstrations of this art from the orient. Slowly the past was brought forward to the future. The practice of Jiyu Kumite bloomed in the Dojo as a toll for sharpening ones skills. Even then Karate and Jiyu Kumite were inseparable terms. By this time they had their own philosophy of these two practices. The founder of Uechi-Ryu and his son are testaments two these practices within their art. The face of Bujutsu was changing. It still held tight though to the spirituality and honor system.

The Bujin of then and now still practice the codes of honor and some still hold true to the ways of the old samurai.

It is rightly so to be impressed with the warrior of long ago. What he stood for was right and justice. Originally Bujutsu was designed to protect and defend oneself family and lord from all physical harm. To bring down an opponent with honor and skill were the watchwords of the day. The Bujin’s influence was world renown. His skill in hand to hand and weapon arts was unmatched. Many specific or family developed techniques steeped in mysticism and spirituality. Long ago one had to adopt a war like attitude in order to survive. To bring down an opponent with skill and honor was the way thus bringing honor to oneself his family and downed opponent’s family.
Uechi-Ryu and its associated exercises and technique drills were woven together to make this style what it is today a system of physical, mental and spiritual development. Although this style was developed from war like exercises and attitudes adopted from other styles in China. These were then refined throughout the centuries. This art developed much like the other arts of Bujutsu. These were styles based on the times and they served the Bujin well. The Bujin was useful then and is still useful today. Even today the art of Uechi-Ryu still instills the look of a Bujin in all who learn this art. The Bujin of the early Uechi-Ryu emulate people like Miyamoto Musashi, (1584-1645), Toyoomi Shushi, Tokugawa Ieko, These samurai learned well the way of the soldier. They stood for truth and justice in times of both war and peace. They were of the Zeihei-Ho or the righteous soldier way. They also all studied Miyamoto Musashi’s Gorin no sho or the book of five rings. Miyamoto Musashi also developed the two-handed sword style Niten-Ryu or two heaven style sword techniques. He also wrote many treatises on Kendo and Bujutsu and studied and wrote the technical principles of Heiho as they related to swordsmanship. His style of the times was based on the soldier’s way of survival. He practiced daily as if expecting or taking part in a war. His warlike attitude enabled him to achieve fame on his own. He was a self-taught sword expert.

Again from people like Miyamoto Musashi other Bujin had a once in a lifetime experience of knowing, working or hearing about this legendary swordsman. At the turn of the century when the Momoyama was closing and Edo era opening up there was a Confucianist who was an advocate of Tanren Bujutsu. He lived from 1630~1714 his name was Kaigen Yakunaki. His chief area of study was Kyudo. He studied ten years a literary specialist. He wrote about the cause and effect of war on man and the Heiho or the soldier’s way. Bugei or the martial arts for those who trained in them eventually saw that the martial arts were like a two edged sword much like the Bunbu Ryodo. This was the way that Tanren Bujutsu came about. As Karate opened up during the warring eras these Bujin had a whole new set of skills to use and develop. Along with that came the use and development of a form of Jiyu Kumite. He us of these practice sessions spread to other arts. They had their practical uses in the Dojo and helped develop and fine-tune the soldier’s hand to hand skills to be used during battle. By adopting and learning this training exercise it made the adept more fluid in his movements and style. These exercises were often passed down by word of mouth through the particular style in practice. In combat these exercises proved invaluable. Their dynamic elements helped polish these basics skills already learned. Kata practice was also important in developing these requisite sets of systematic exercises these very important composition of martial elements formed the basis of the Bujin and his fighting skills. Jiyu Kumite or sometimes called sham fighting had its purposes in that it gives the user the latitude to use not just one set of learned techniques but to tear the Kata down even further and use the others techniques not shown. They have to dug out and used and experimented with these other techniques. There are many advantages to this effort. It’s a trial and error effort that will lead to developing better strategies.

Jiyu Kumite is composed of two things substance and in-substance. We saw this when both Kata and Jiyu Kumite were analyzed. It is generalized that man first developed his fighting style in China by watching other animals fighting. From there man hand organized his hand and foot fighting styles in an organized fashion. Then form this Bujutsu was formed. Now man armed with formidable weapons of self defense thru the practice and use of Kata and Jiyu Kumite. Also mans character and spirit were built and fortified.
As we now know both Kata and Jiyu Kumite compliment each other and vice versa. This was partly accomplished through rigid rules of control. Why then is Kata so important? The Kata is made of many complex techniques woven in a set pattern to be used in a variety of situations. Thru Jiyu Kumite we practice and polish these techniques in order to make the Kata alive or take on a personality of its own. Although there are no set precedents in Uechi-Ryu’s Jiyu Kumite, as there is in Yakusoku or Dan Kumite. These exercises have certain techniques that are taken form the Kata and demonstrated to you in a stylized form. In Uechi-Ryu these should not be construed as being all there is. It’s again up to the student/s to unravel the mystery of the other possibilities and work those into a set with guidance from a Sensei. In this new age of Karate even with Uechi-Ryu there has been many changes in the way exercises, techniques, and Kata are to be performed. Still holding fast to the basics of long ago these changes were for the good of all not just one person. Although the way Karate was taught long ago is very rarely taught that same way today for obvious reasons.
These new additions or changes were so artfully weaved in Uechi-Ryu that most cannot see the subtle changes. It takes a trained eye and expert knowledge and history of Uechi-Ryu to see these changes. We often ask ourselves which is more important Kata or Jiyu Kumite? Both are equally important both on a conscious level and also on an unconscious level. That’s like asking which came first the chicken or the egg? The tools that man has been given he needs to really assess on both levels of consciousness. Like any other art in Bujutsu each art is systemized according to a set of strict rules or codes of conduct. If we were leave out parts and pieces of these attributes we would have nothing but chaos and nothing would be accomplished. Kata and Jiyu Kumite are inseparable.
Next a few quotes from a Philosopher Tanaka Tairo. He wrote many commentaries on the above subject of Kata and Jiyu Kumite how they are connected and how they should be taught.