Uechi-Ryu.com

Kresge is best remembered in Uechi circles as the man who taught himself karate from GEM's The Way of Karate. He claimed to be Kanei Uechi's US Correspondence Secretary. While in the military he opened Uechi schools in Britain, Wales, Holland and West Germany. Retiring from the military, Kresge settled in the Tampa Bay area and operated 11 karate schools, sponsored tournaments with over 2500 entrants, achived 5th degreee BB and outlived his predictions that the world would end. He also compiled an encyclopaedia of Karate which is now a collector's item and taught over 10,000 students.

Kresge now lives a reclusive life in St. Petersburg, Florida and has gained local notority for his annual Christimas light displays. This year his display has been chosed by the NBC Today show as one of three finalists in a nationwide contest for the best Christmas display.



See my research post as a "Guest" Sun Apr 17, 2005 1:23 pm or search the forums for "Ted Kresge."

http://forums.uechi-ryu.com/viewtopic.php?p=113422&highlight=kresge&sid=6019dfbd2a3bfa1de9



I want to know who signed this guy's Dan certificates

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There is much to make of every moment.

Well John...it was Santa
In return he guides his sleigh to St. Petersburg, as the lights can be seen from up north here eh
From "sensei" to "Elf" in one lifetime! Would like to hear what former students say about him, I suspect he was well liked.
I wish him well

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Léo

Ted Kresge is listed in Kanei Uechi's book as a student of James Thompson.

From what I understand James Thompson has no idea how he was listed that way.

There's a lot more to the story but you have to feel some sorrow for a man so passionate about an art who through whatever disturbance of the mind called it evil and turned his back on it.

Ted Kresge was my first Sensei's teacher.

F.

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Sans Peur Ne Obliviscaris
www.hinghamkarate.com

I was under the impression George ranked him shodan in Uechi ?

Any certificates at that time would have come from Kanei Uechi.

I don't know if they had separate test boards outside New England at that time. I was happy riding my trike and watching kung fu back then.

I think Ted Kresge may have later been in the USKA if memory serves.

Still amazing to think he self taught himself from a book. I think he was on a ship in the navy or something.

F.

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Sans Peur Ne Obliviscaris
www.hinghamkarate.com

Fred I could be wrong .... but I`m fairly positive George gave him shodan and later regretted it .

here it is




Seems guys Like Kresge and Fred Dukes , abused Georges good Nature , then once he had his foot in the door I imagined he tried this stuff with others .

Thank you Fred and Stryke for the contributions to this ongoing research project I've had for a few years.

In addition to the eleven dojo that Ted Kresge founded in the Tampa Bay, Florida area and surrounding counties, he used his commanding personal charisma, intensity and drive to introduce Uechi karate training into the physical education program at what was then St. Petersburg Junior College in the late 1960's and early 1970's.

I remember seeing some of his classes which he took out of the gym and into an outside quadrangle between the Social Arts, Science, Library and Cafeteria/Bookstore buildings. He introduced hundreds if not thousands of students in those years to Sanchin, Junebe undo and Hojo undo. Many continued their training in his Kresge Academy.

After Uechi Kanei Sensei appointed Master Tosh to administer Florida as a separate Uechi jurisdiction, many of Master Tosh's first students were, of course, Kresge's Black Belts and senior students. I believe Kresge's standards were quite conservative and demanding. He didn't promote more than forty students to Shodan.

The influence of Kresge and then Tosh contributed to the differences in the regional paths in the growth of Uechi in the US. Earl, the two Mattsons, Thompson and Tosh each developed through their individual creativity, interpretation and understanding Uechi-Ryu training as we know it today.

With his characteristic reticense and reserve, Seizen Breyette told me he had reviewed the correspondence between Uechi Kanei and Ted Kresge. I state this only to confirm that Kresge did, in fact, have a regular communication with Kanei Sensei in Okinawa. And that Uechi Kanei Sensei obviously wanted the Uechi style to flourish and grow.

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There is much to make of every moment.

Glad to hear your doing some research and establishing the history John .

If folks like you dont do it , it`ll likely be lost in a generation or so .

thats to me is a huge benifit of these forums , that it`ll provide a historical resource , not just a palce to discuss ideas and grow , but somewhere things can be kept for future researchers .

Maybe you`d share some of your findings when your redy maybe give us a rough timeline or something ?

Perhaps some forum history buffs would enjoy contributing to the Wikpedia entry for Uechi-Ryu. And possibly correcting any errors therein.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Uechi_Ryu

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Did you show compassion today?

I worked out with Kresge in the Boston ‘Mattson Academy’ back in the 6o’s when Ted came to visit and learn from George.

His Uechi, certainly unpolished, but one undeniable thing:

Ted was a bundle of energy and enthusiasm on the floor and very strong and dedicated in his performance.

He was also a very nice, friendly and respectful person. Whatever he may have been, the man accomplished almost ‘impossibles’ in his life, and for this he has my respect.

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Van

Well I don't know anything about those across the pond .......but I do know that Dave Scott introduced Uechi to England, and that another guy got hold of GEM's book and started teaching something called "Mushindo" a bit before that......the only other English guy I know of was a guy called Harry Benfield, I don't know how he came about his Uechi knowledge.but he went to Oki and was accredited by Kanei Uechi. ( Mr.Benfield was a friend of my Goju teacher and the teacher of my Escima teacher ( in Uechi that is ) .I saw him once and I met some of his brothers students in Wado -Ryu. He was/is a seriously "Hard" man ..........n.b.
just for the information .....

Harry Benfield was a great guy, and a good/tough practitioner.

We worked out together and had some fun together.

We loved to eat at a little Chinese restaurant in Chinatown with great and inexpensive food.

When living in town, Harry would patronize that restaurant every day.

I miss those old days and the old friends.

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Van

Stryke,

Haven't seen that quote thanks.

As far as Ted Kresge goes I have a hard time discussing someone in detail who is still with us.

Hopefully his lights have brought happiness to more people than Karate would have.

If Van says he was a good guy that is enough for me. I know I might not be here if not for him.

F.

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Sans Peur Ne Obliviscaris
www.hinghamkarate.com

I think this is a good point , no need to imagine or suppose what his motivations are/where

He must of ahd some talent to recieve his rank and undoubtedly sounds like he influenced many folks , If he changed paths no crime there .

And I like christmas lights !!!

no shortage of characters in life no matter what you do , martial arts most deffinately .

You are correct Fred, and so are you Marcus.

I find it difficult as well to cast a pall as unintentional and good natured as it may seem.

Look at how many self proclaimed Uechi Ryu 'stars' have fallen by the wayside over the years, or quit outright, or sat back behind pretentious behavior.

I remember Ted fondly for his tenacity and sheer 'guts' to get out there and 'get it' his own way, much like you and Marcus today. You are still training and competing in hard Judo matches, and Marcus has fought internationally full contact _ against world class champions and will do so again.

Ted was, and still is, able to touch so many lives with all that he did and does. I see him as a noble person, flaws and all.

And he didn't think twice about getting into a tough sparring match 'of the day' at the Mattson Academy.

We had some formidable, open tournaments fighters back then.

I wish him happiness.

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Van