Motobu Ryu - Uehara

[Timothy.G.B.]

In my search for the mysterious and intriguing in karate, I wondered if anyone has a link to video of Motobu-Ryu karate.

I know there is a video of Chosei Motobu Sensei now on the market, which I know is not Motobu-Ryu as taught by Uehara Sensei. I have been intrigued by the footage I have seen of Motobu-ryu.

Are there any Motobu-Ryu (Uehara Sensei's Lineage) practitioners out there that might provide some info or video links? Anyone else with interesting footage or information to share?

Thanks in advance,
Tim Black

[dsomers]

You can find a video here http://budogu.com/shopsite_sc/store/...roduct627.html , & the book here: http://budogu.com/shopsite_sc/store/...roduct604.html

David

[dsomers]

Here's another book : http://www.budovideos.com/shop/catal...shi_Ikeda.html

David

[Matthew Barnes]

There are videos available of the late Uehara Sensei, but I don't know if they are available outside of Japan and Okinawa.

One is entitled "Motobu Ryu Tatsujin". I don't recall the publisher or the title of the other.

Matt

Edit - oops! the other is the video posted above. I should have clicked the link before responding.

[Nyuck3X]

F.Y.I.

In the Dragon Times, (vol. 20) Charles Goodin Sensei of
the Hawaii Senenkai writes:

"My understanding is that the art taught by Choki Motobu is called
Motobu-Ryu. The art taught by Choyu Motobu, as carried on by Seikichi
Uehara of Okinawa is called Motobu Udunde. Chosei Motobu also studies
under Uehara."

Note that Chosei is Choki's third son.

This was taken from his conversation with Chosei Motobu in April of 2001.

Peace

[JS3]

I agree with Nyuck3X

I was attended a semiar by Motobu sensei and he teaches two different arts.
"Motobu-ryu" was his fathers art and focused, at least the seminar did,
on naihanchi 1 and 2 and the 12 prearanged sparing sets.

He did do a demonstration of Motobu Udunde (Palace Hands) and it was very
different from Motobu-ryu more of an "Aiki-Jujitsu" feeling to it.

[robertmrivers]

You should be able to type in Motobu Ryu Uehara Tatsujin (or some combination thereof) on a search engine and find the DVD. Motobu Sensei is actually on it as Uehara Sensei's uke.

FYI, September marked the official recognition of Motobu Chosei Sensei as the 14th Soke of Motobu Udonde (Udundi). He teaches both arts...his father's Kempo and his family's art of Udundi. They are separate. While they are different, especially in how they appear, the principles of the arts are, as is the case with most traditional martial arts, similar. You can see some footage of Motobu Sensei's visit at the research society web-site www.kenkyukai.org

Best

Rob


Robert M. Rivers
Tri-State Yudanshikai Kenkyukai

[Katsujinken]

There are 5 Videos with Uehara's Motobu Udun Ti, 3 of these are concerned solely with Motobu Udun Ti, the other 2 contain some footage along with other stuff:

Tim,
Here is a summary of the material that is available, some of this has already been mentioned, but I provide a comprehensive summary, mainly to emphasise that 3 videos with the name Okinawa Bu Jutsu ae actually 3 different videos and to raise awareness of some other short and in one case very useful footage:

1. Okinawa Bu Jutsu Seikichi Uehara Volume 1
This volume contains the footage of Chosei Motobu and looks at the Karate type Kata's that were intorduced into the style in the 1980's, but it also contains some weapons and empty hand grappling work (Tuite). The narration is in English
This is Volume 1: http://budovideos.com/shop/customer/...09&cat=&page=1

2.Okinawa Bu Jutsu Seikichi Uehara Volume 2:
This concentrates on weapons and the grappling as well as some history. the narration is entirely in Japanese and no katas are demonstrated.
This is volume 2: http://budogu.com/shopsite_sc/store/...roduct687.html this is the one called Tatsujin Uehara


However there is also another video of Uehara called
3. Okinawa Bu Jutsu Seikichi Uehara 10th Dan by Budo International which contains demonstrations of kata, Weapons and Tuite as well as an interview with Uehara who is in his 90's, the narration is in English. This video can be found here: http://www.immortal.co.uk/detail.asp...pgno2&urn=1148


There are two videos with other footage of Uehara and these include:

4. The Uchina Video Okinawa Karate Masters available from www.karate.org.yu
This video contains footage of several senior Okinawa Martial arts dojo's and their respective Sensei. Uehara's part is a demonstration of techniques and a comparison with Okinawan Dance (ODori).


5. There is also some footage of Uehara on An Introduction to the Way of Eternal Budo available at: http://www.budovideos.com/shop/custo...86&cat=&page=1. I have not seen this one (5) so am unable to comment on it.

There is some discussion of Uehara's Motobu Udun Ti on a previous thread entitled Humble Origins at http://www.e-budo.com/forum/showthre...Humble+Origins. This covers things such as origin, lineage, technique and discussion of videos Andreas Quast is discussing Okinawa Bujutsu volume 1 (1 above)and I am discussing Okinawa BuJutsu Seikichi Uehara 10th Dan by Budo International (3 above).

As for the book http://budogu.com/shopsite_sc/store/...roduct604.html the translation into English by Joe Swift is available through Amazon Germany and is available here: http://www.amazon.de/exec/obidos/ASI...801646-4570129

There is as far as I am aware no video links on the net of Seikichi Uehara and most of the footage is of Uehara in his later years, though there are some still photo's on the net and in Mark Bishops book of Uehara when he was younger.

There may however be some further footage in a couple of private collections, but one of these collections at last in the UK may only be of Seitoku Higa doing his version of Ti with some Uehara motobu Udun Ti influence. I have seen one piece of footage like this against knife atacks which was attached to a video Mark Bishop did for a karate group a few years back.

Regards

[RobertRousselot]

Originally Posted by Timothy.G.B.

Are there any Motobu-Ryu (Uehara Sensei's Lineage) practitioners out there that might provide some info or video links? Anyone else with interesting footage or information to share?

Thanks in advance,
Tim Black

Most likely there aren’t any teachers. I contacted the Motobu Ryu Honbu about someone in the US claiming to be the US Rep. for Motobu Ryu. Turned out he was lying since they have no US Rep.
I have Mr. Uehara’s complete series as well as Mr. Motobu’s. Both are interesting styles.

[Katsujinken]

Mr Rousselot,
I believe that you are correct that there are no teachers of the complete system of Motobu Udun Ti outside of Okinawa.
Although there are some people from America and Europe who have occassionally trained with Uehara, one of these was from Spain and two were from the USA. None of these people however according to an interview published in JAMA Vol 5:3 ever learnt the complete system.

Shian Toma of Seidokan Motobu Ryu Karate also trained at Uehara's dojo and has a big organisation in the US, but again Toma did not learn the complete system, it was an influence.

The chap from Spain is however also linked to Toma's organisation but went to Uehara's Dojo once every 2 years and stayed for about a month.

As for the person claiming to be the US rep it would be somebody with either the initials RS or JP.

I am also led to understand that Seikichii Uehara had some influence on Oyata Sensei which is something I am particularly curious about.

It will also be interesting to see what actually happens to Motobu Udun Ti now that it has returned to the Motobu family.

Regards

[robertmrivers]

Greetings

True, there are NO certified teachers of Motobu Ryu in the US. He does, however, have students...in particular the group the just hosted him in July. Can't stress enough that we/they are NOT representatives or graded instructors, but have simply been given permission to train in Motobu Ryu. I can possibly answer some questions should you have any. But, am still a student. "RS" claims to be associated with Toma Sensei's group but Toma's Web-site denounces him having any affiliation...

Sincerely

Rob Rivers
www.kenkyukai.org

[RobertRousselot]

Originally Posted by robertmrivers

"RS" claims to be associated with Toma Sensei's group but Toma's Web-site denounces him having any affiliation...

Sincerely

Rob Rivers
www.kenkyukai.org

RS made a nice fake (and funny) dan rank and put Toma's name on it.

[robertmrivers]

"Yes it will be. Motobu studied his father’s style and is presently studying his Grandfathers style."

Naturally, Motobu Sensei would personally say he is studying (he is very humble) the art...but for someone else to say it implies he is a student and not the Soke. I have pictures of the ceremony held in September recognizing him as the 14th Soke of Motobu Ryu Udundi if anyone is interested.

Gassho

Rob Rivers

[RobertRousselot]

Originally Posted by Katsujinken

Mr Rousselot,
1) I believe that you are correct that there are no teachers of the complete system of Motobu Udun Ti outside of Okinawa.
Although there are some people from America and Europe who have occassionally trained with Uehara, one of these was from Spain and two were from the USA. None of these people however according to an interview published in JAMA Vol 5:3 ever learnt the complete system.

2) Shian Toma of Seidokan Motobu Ryu Karate also trained at Uehara's dojo and has a big organisation in the US, but again Toma did not learn the complete system, it was an influence.
3) As for the person claiming to be the US rep it would be somebody with either the initials RS or JP.

4) I am also led to understand that Seikichii Uehara had some influence on Oyata Sensei which is something I am particularly curious about.

5) It will also be interesting to see what actually happens to Motobu Udun Ti now that it has returned to the Motobu family.

Regards

1) I think I have seen the Spanish guy in a video once upon a time.
2) Toma and a few others trained a lot with Mr. Nakamura of Okinawa Kempo as well as other places.
3) That would be RS
4) They were training partners once upon a time.
5) Yes it will be. Motobu studied his father’s style and is presently studying his Grandfathers style.