Koryu Uchinadi Kenpo Jutsu is a modern interpretation on Old style fighting arts/ traditions practised in the early 19/20th century stemming from China, South East Asia, Japan, Okinawa and the Ryukyu kingdom. It is based upon the findings & research gathered by world renowned martial artist Hanshi Patrick McCarthy over many years study, travelling and practice of these traditions.

Direct Linage:
To say that Hanshi Patrick McCarthy is just another high level instructor in this modern era and that Koryu Uchinadi is just another style of many would be an understatement. Koryu Uchinadi Kenpo Jutsu incorporates many techniques from different original traditions before being influenced by the birth of “styles”, ritual, influences of the times, modernisation and world marketing. McCarthy sensei has direct linage to the pioneers of original fighting methods. His principle teachers and influences are Sensei Richard Kim (1917-2002) & Kinjo Hiroshi one of the oldest living Karate Ka and influences left in the world today. They themselves are well documented to have learned and progressed under the founding masters of the traditional arts in documented times. Having passed their knowledge and understanding to McCarthy sensei along with his own findings and experiences he now passes down to his students thus giving them direct and solid foundations to keep the principles and techniques of old style alive in an ever changing, rule bound, systemised fighting arts world.     

Old style fighting arts:
In modern times fighting arts are much different to their original beginnings. Due to the changes and modernisation within our world and conformity of people to a civilised law abiding society, less emphasis is put on practicing karate for self defence, real life fighting with no regard for injury or death and a tool to aid in healing processes and health improvement. Instead these arts have now evolved into rule bound competitive sports thus changing training outcomes, understanding, meaning and original aspects the traditional arts were first meant to achieve. Because of this the original practices are not known to many karate ka in the modern world. Koryu Uchinadi Kenpo keeps these traditions alive and in the spot light so they will not fade into the world of the past and be totally forgotten about in time. It also gives modern karate a recordable history to its beginnings, natural progression through time and keeps alive the memory and teachings of the masters who pioneered and shared their knowledge and understanding from early times. Some of these important masters are people such as Kojo Taite, Hanashiro Chomo, Motobu Choki, Zhou Zhihe, Miao Xing, Kiyoda Juhatsu, Wu Xianhui, Tang Daiji, & Oshiro Chojo. Koryu Uchinadi Kenpo Jutsu combines modern interpretations from different old style fighting traditions. They are

Tegumi- Chinese method of clinching and grabbing,

Tigwa- A form of percussive impact (striking techniques),

Torite- Techniques of seizing and controlling,

Buki gwa- (kubudo) Art of weapons,

Kata- Holistic forms of human movement and solo practice of fighting techniques

Koryu Uchinadi Kenpo Jutsu is named after the very traditions it keeps alive.

Koryu: (old style) precursor disciplines such as Ju Jitsu (fighting on the ground), Ken Jutsu (sword technique), Aiki Jujutsu (throwing techniques & joint manipulation), & karate Jutsu (close fighting techniques),

Uchinadi: (Okinawa Te) a way to refer to karate in general and used widely in Okinawa,

Kenpo: (Quanfa) A modern interpretation for multiple martial arts,

Jutsu: meaning technique, method or skill

 

Ku Core application practices:
The above old style practices have been broken down and integrated to make up the core application practices of Koryu Uchinadi. Each one can be selected and used to counter an attack either when standing up or on the ground. Each method is designed to attack vulnerable weaknesses within the human body as to gain the upper hand against an attacker or multiple opponents. They are broken down into different groups, routines and names under the fallowing

Uchi/Uke waza: percussive impact, (punching, kicking, headbuts, elbows, knees, shouldering, etc..)

Tegumi: Close quarter clinching, grappling, pushing, wrestling in stand up

Kansetsu/Tuite-waza: Cavity Seizing & joint manipulation (Attaching vulnerable parts of the body not protected by the skeletal structure, (personally my favourite)
Shime waza: Chokes/strangles- air/blood deprivation

Nega waza: balance displacement (throws, trips, sweeps)

Ne waza: Ground fighting & submission (mounts, guards, chokes, joint locks, impact)

Gyaku waza: Escapes & Counters-(bear hugs, grabs, chokes, impacts, pushing, pulling, striking etc...)

Kata: Solo routines in which fighting principles are culminated, preserved and transmitted

These methods not only aid in the protection of oneself but can also be practiced to benefit one in health, cardio, flexibility, mind and inner spirit. A harmony can be seen within traditional practices as something so brutal and devastating in its worst can be practiced to heal, preserve and aid health in its best. 

Habitual acts of physical violence Theory (H.A.P.V)
Establishing and integrating fighting methods to progress those who practice them is only one side of the coin. The other side understands how to use them to counter an attack. So what attacks are there? Which technique works best for what? How best should one carry it out to get maximum effect in as quick a time as possible to minimise the risk of injury or death to oneself? The answers to these questions have been handed down through time within the solo routines of Kata. (Angle, speed, breathing, intensity, hard, soft, movement) Although information is scarce all documentation and research points to the conclusion that the pioneer masters worked out attack and defence techniques individually and recorded their findings. As finding a partner to inflict brutal techniques on regularly would not be pragmatic their conclusions were put together in solo routines as a way to remember and record them. These also give them a way to practice these techniques individually on their own. Unfortunately these attacks were not recorded in modern picture or video due to the technology of the early 19th century. Luckily attacking methods have changes very slightly through the evolvement of time and humans.  There are only so many ways one can be attacked by a hand, foot, body or head. Hanshi McCarthy has put fort his opinion gathered through research, experience and one to one learning from living masters into the HAPV theory. This theory documents individually an attack which can then be countered by any fundamental core application which best fits at the time to protect an individual. Examples of attacks could be punch to the face, bear hugs front/back, headbuts, stamping, grabbing, choke etc..... McCarthy sensei has documented 36 such attacks into the HAPV theory and is at the core of why KU has such variety in self protection in stand up and on the ground.

 

The Martial Mind:
At the root of traditional practices is not only fighting traditions but the martial mind. To achieve and realise these ( self contentment, undying spirit, peace, acceptance) within one’s self it is emphasised that alongside the physical one should try and obtain  progression of oneself through study, learning, experience, humility, understanding, being happy and living in harmony with people and the world. The term for this can be better explained through the term “Shuhari”

Shuhari:
This is a Japanese martial art concept and describes the different stages of learning and transition from beginner to master. It roughly translates to the fallowing

“Shu”; First learn- beginning a journey, learning the basics, practising them to improve skill, confidence and understanding. Learning from a master, obeying the core principles, taking direction, striving to become better, to become proficient in mind and body and the art itself.

“Ha”; through learning and practice we gain knowledge, experience and proficiency in life and an art.  Ha is then adding to what we know to improve the art. It’s breaking with tradition to improve the tradition and help it evolve like everything in life should. Not only does the art improve but the individual themselves by breaking with the normal and the experiences gained through doing that. It’s having the courage to step outside the box to look within the box e.g. (oneself/Art) see weaknesses and make them better. This could also be seen as looking at the bigger picture. It becomes the realisation of not something for the self but for life, people and the world we practice in.

“Ri”; can be described as coming full circle. Through the evolvement of oneself, spirit and mind a realisation comes with new ways of seeing the before. It’s the transcendence to where we act totally in confidence with our art, mind, heart and desires and see the difficult in simple terms. I like to think of it as “Seeing and conquering within oneself to improve, move forward and shape a better world without”.

I find the term “Shuhari” very complex when breaking it down. I ask the question does one ever know where they are within the term when having a mindset that something new learned can bring new realisations all the time and the enlightenment that I don’t really know anything and I’m only beginning again. And does one ever stop learning and know everything within life and an art? So is “ri” achievable? I can’t see it. I guess those who have reached it know it and have the confidence to say they know what they are talking about through that enlightenment. I’m not only talking within martial arts but everything within life. E.g. Business, professions, hobbies, family, nature, adventure,

Final Thoughts:

Koryu Uchinadi Kenpo Jutsu should be a martial artist’s treasured journey. It’s a physical journey which improves body and health. It’s a mental journey of spirit and enlightenment. It’s a combined journey of learning, discovery, and enhancement to become proficient in a martial art and understanding of oneself. It remembers founding masters in a different time. It seeks to find and perfect what they sought when they looked from outside their own box. I think every martial artist should do this to open up their world and see new ways. It’s vital in a world where martial arts are becoming different to what they were originally meant to be. I compare that to an extinction of something that will be lost for all time. Thankfully through McCarthy sensei and his ever growing organisation, instructors and students, KU can only keep progressing while closing full circle (“Shuhari”) and taking its place within the world now and into the future.

McCarthy sensei explaining the principles and defencive themes to HAPV and how they relate to traditional karate and kata applications.