Dear Karate seeker,

We would like to introduce ourselves:

Ipswich Martial Arts was opened by Sensei (instructor) Ed Labrecque in 2002 under the tutelage of an American Uechi (pronounced way chee) Ryu (style) Karate group. He has been active in the martial arts for most of his adult life, and has not been happy with the route classical traditional karate has gone in the race to move martial arts into the 21st century. Sensei Labrecque decided to travel to Okinawa Japan, the birthplace of traditional karate. We hear him say things like “it’s not classical music if you change the notes it’s just a song.” The skills and techniques of the traditional karate masters were effective because they had to be.

On Okinawa, Sensei Labrecque had the honor of meeting with Master Kanmei Uechi, headmaster and patriarch of the family this karate is named after. After a series of these meetings, Master Uechi agreed to be Sensei Labrecque’s teacher. Now he is studying Uechi Ryu karate with the founding family of the style. After several years of training, Master Uechi told Sensei Labrecque to call his dojo (training hall), shibu (branch) the first official branch of the founding family in America.

Uechi Karate being practiced in its original form as directed by the Uechi family!

Sensei Labrecque continues his travels to Okinawa to maintain his training with master Uechi. Also, members of the Uechi Family travel to our school for additional training and annual black belt testing. We are so lucky to be members of a school where karate is studied the old way, the right way, and in our opinion the best way. We would be honored to welcome you to Ipswich Martial Arts and to start you on a wonderful journey.
Sincerely, the Ipswich Martial Arts senior staff