Welcome to the Okinawa KarateDo UechiRyu Zankyokai
Information Center and Contact Page

UechiRyu Zankai Dojo, Nagahama Okinawa Japan
 

The Okinawa KarateDo UechiRyu Zankyokai is dedicated to the practice and preservation of Uechi Kanbun Sensei's original Pre-WW2 performance style and philosophy of UechiRyu KarateDo.

The Founder of the UechiRyu Zankyokai was Toyama Seiko Sensei, Hanshi Judan, last active student of UechiRyu Founder Uechi Kanbun Sensei. The current President and Owner of the Zankyokai is Toyama Naomi Sensei, Hanshi Kyudan.

The senior foreign representative for the Zankyokai is G. Seizan Breyette, Hanshi Kyudan. Seizan is a permanent resident of Japan and owns the Nagahama Dojo in Yomitan.

Seizan's wife Sumako Matsuda-Breyette, Godan, assists in Seizan's classes.

 

Seizan and Sumako have their home on the 2nd floor of the building. The dojo, guestroom, and lounge are on the ground floor (below the road level in the photo).

Dojo - Okinawa KarateDo UechiRyu Zankai

 

The Nagahama Dojo regularly hosts visiting students who lodge in the dojo guest room. Beside his Okinawan students, Seizan is responsible for training foreign Zankyokai students.

Others are welcome to visit and chat, however we only train students who are Zankyokai, or whose intention is to become a Zankyokai member.

Classes at the Nagahama Dojo are:

Monday and Wednesday 7-9PM
Tuesday and Thursday 7-8:30PM
Saturday 1-2:30PM

Class times may be extended or supplemented if there are guest students.

Sumako’s Yoga Class is on Saturday 10:30AM-12 Noon

During the school year, Seizan teaches English in the local Japanese school system.

Sumako works on Kadena Air Force Base as Chief Supervisor of Civilian Security Forces. She teaches Yoga at the Yomitan Health and Wellness Center (collocated with the Yomitan Village Offices) and at the Nagahama Dojo. She received certification in Therapeutic Thai Massage in Chiangmai Thailand. She also visited India with her Yoga students to study Baratanatayam Dance and to assist our Indian students, and recently accompanied Seizan on an administrative visit to Chennai and Minjur.

Training With The Zankyokai

Zankyokai training cultivates a lifestyle and a deeper understanding of oneself through the medium of KarateDo. We do not engage in competition or modify our style for use as a sport. Training requires a focused commitment and dedication to self-change and personal growth. The challenges to the ego are severe, our training being the vehicle we use to achieve our lifelong goal.

There are no books, manuals, or study guides written about this performance style. There are no DVDs or online videos available other than a few of Toyama Sensei's performances posted on YouTube. Training takes place only under the guidance of a certified instructor. This style of UechiRyu is rare today and will likely remain so - we do not solicit a large membership or compete with other styles for popularity. Our few representatives in foreign countries are cautious about accepting new students, especially those who must travel from far-off and cannot train with them year-round. But still the Zankyokai grows slowly and naturally, one person at a time.

Friendly visitors are welcome to drop by for a chat but only those dedicated to this one style, or who visit for the purpose of enrolling with the Zankyokai, may attend our classes. We ask you to respect our decision to limit class participation to dedicated members. Contact us ahead of time, as the dojo is closed when Seizan is away. If you are already a karate practitioner, we ask that you obtain permission from your teacher and/or Okinawan senior prior to your visit. If you are unsure of the customary protocols, please ask us.

Feel free to contact us with your questions.


G. Seizan Breyette
UechiRyu Zankyokai Dojo
743-1 Nagahama
Yomitan Okinawa
904-0324 Japan

E-mail: breyettg@ii-okinawa.ne.jp

You can also contact me via Skype at Seizan01. Text us first, please.

 
 

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