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A Uechi Study Guide Material Learned In Uechi Ryu Why learn the Japanese terms and pronunciations for the exercises, counting and techniques used in Uechi Ryu? Martial Arts practitioners on Okinawa abandoned the traditional Chinese terms when they brought the various forms of Chinese martial arts to Okinawa. It can be argued that we too should adopt our own translated names for the various techniques as part of making the art our own. However, out of respect for the style, our ancestors in this style and language that they used, I believe that we should make the effort to use the traditional Japanese pronunciations. Using the traditional Japanese terms also helps to maintain the traditions of Uechi Ryu. Hopefully this also helps inhibit changes in the style and techniques by adhering to those traditions. Shihan Olsen