Insights Into Uechi-Ryu Karate by Justin Testa is the latest book created with the help of Y42K Publishing Services. It’s available in hardcover, paperback, and for the Kindle.
Whether you’re a beginner or an advanced practitioner, Insights into Uechi-Ryu Karate offers valuable insights to help you enjoy and grow in the martial art for a lifetime.
Insights into Uechi-Ryu Karate reveals the style’s understructure, particularly through Sanchin kata, the system’s core. The book discusses the “OldWay,” a term Sensei George Mattson coined to describe a practice method that aligns with the half-hard/half-soft principles taught to him by Master Tomoyose Ryuko and Master Uechi Kanei in the 1950s. While these principles are analyzed in relation to Sanchin, they apply to all movements in Uechi-Ryu karate.
The book also explores bunkai, offering guidance on interpreting kata for practical self-defense. It discusses pre-arranged kumite and its relationship to freestyle sparring; and introduces visualization and shadow sparring as training enhancements. Additionally, it emphasizes the importance of supplemental exercises—breathing, core development, flexibility, resistance training, and cardio—while providing strategies for balancing karate practice with family and work commitments.