Dojo History and Lineage

Grand Master Kanbun Uechi, the founder of Uechi-Ryu Karate is responsible for lifting the Chinese veil of secrecy, bringing this martial art our of China and into Japan and Okinawa. At the age of 20, to avoid serving in the Japanese military (which at the time occupied Okinawa), Uechi fled to China. There, in Fukien Province, he studied the art of Fwange-Nun. His teacher was Shushiwa, a priest who had received his training from a temple monk. Uechi studied in Fukien for ten years and became a master of Fwange-Nun. At the end of his training, Master Uechi opened a school in Nanchon, a city in Fukien Province. He taught there for three years. During this time one of his students became involved in a dispute and called upon his training to kill another person. Disheartened by this event, Master Uechi vowed never to teach again, closed his school and returned to his homeland. The year was 1910. Master Uechi has the distinction of being the only Okinawan ever to have been accepted in China as a teacher. Returning to Okinawa, he married, and on June 26, 1911 his son Kanei was born. He still refused to teach his art and only once during the ensuing years reluctantly demonstrated his Kata (formal set of movements). In 1924, the Uechi family moved to Wakayam Prefecture near Osaka, Japan. In 1927, Master Uechi began teaching his young son the art of Fwange-Nun. Around this time, friends persuaded him to resume teaching publicly. The term Uechi-Ryu (Uechi's style) was first used in the fall of 1940. In April 1942, Master Uechi's son, Kanei, now a master in his own right, returned to Okinawa from Japan. Master Uechi continued to teach in Wakayam Prefecture until 1947. He then returned to Okinawa in April of 1947 and died November 25, 1948, in Lejima, an island off the coast of Okinawa. His body returned to Nago, Okinawa for burial. He was 71 years of age. 

His son Master Kanei Uechi opened his dojo (training hall) in Futenma, Okinawa in April of 1949. He continued to train until his death in February of 1991.

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In 1974, Ed DeCosta opened the original dojo which remains the oldest established martial arts school in North Attleboro, Massachusetts. Jean DeCosta joined shortly thereafter and together they have trained children and adults in the Okinawan-Chinese style of Uechi Ryu and Shohei Ryu Karate. The dojo offers three class divisions: Tiny Tigers (5 to 8 years), Juniors (9 to 13 years), and Adults (14+ years). Although Ed and Jean are the primary instructors, they are often assisted in class by high-ranking, senior students, allowing all to receive personal instruction and correction in executions of katas (a set of pre-defined self-defense movements) and basic techniques. The dojo is an active member of the "Okinawa Karatedo Association" and hosts karate training intensives with visiting Masters from Okinawa, Japan. In addition, the dojo has received a certificate from "The Federation of Uechi-Ryu Affiliated Karate Schools" of Okinawa, Japan.