Martial Arts SummerFest - 2014

[gmattson]

This should be one of our best years. Fantastic Presenters and an all new scheduling process. Hope to see you all at this really great event.

New Information sheet, updated Presenters listing and details on the 2014 Masters Celebration.

http://uechi-ryu.com/fests/summerfest/

[Van Canna]

http://uechi-ryu.com/summerfest-presenters/

Really a good bunch to get to know and listen to, and also to make friends with.

It is amazing what you can learn just by watching or just listening to these 'specialists'...things that cannot be taught in traditional ways as the 'street confrontation' knowledge is much too varied.

If you have ever thought that you may have to use karate in self defense, then you will do yourself a great disservice by NOT attending this year's camp.

I also have found over the years, a deaf ear to potential civil liability survival, once using karate for self defense.

It is really comical for me to see even high rank practitioners, master ranks, etc._ gloss over this critical knowledge.

These are the people who, after 'defending' themselves...will have a case of 'knee buckling' after being served with a summons a complaint to appear in court on a civil suit, and, having tendered the summons and complaint to their home owner's Liability insurance company_ are told their insurance policy does not cover their 'self defense' response action.

So they will have to retain their own personal defense attorney, experts and investigators for trial preparation $$$$$$

and if found liable in a civil trial...they will have to dig into their bank accounts, savings, 401K retiring accounts and mortgage their house, to pay a judgment against you.

Best of luck

I will be available at camp to give some advice on what you need to do ...to avoid your knees knocking together down the road.

[Van Canna]

From Mattson sensei:

This will be my last communication with the Presenter's Team before camp begins and I ask that you read it carefully and to contact me if you have any questions about how Saturday's seminars will be conducted.

Friday is a no-brainer. I selected six excellent teachers who each has a special message and seminar content that should provide all participants with an exciting and knowledge-filled day.

Saturday is a different matter. We will have a record number of participants and over 50 teachers who have expressed interest in teaching and. . . all 50 of you are highly qualified teachers and excellent motivators who will make the 2014 Summerfest a huge success.

I know each of you will do your best to aid me in making Saturday's seminars run smoothly and trouble free. As you realize by now, after reading my last newsletter, the jungleplex facility will be set up to accommodate ten stations. Each station will be assigned a "category" and teachers will post themselves to the station of their choice, whenever they wish to teach or assist in teaching.

Our goal is to man all ten stations every hour from 9am - 5pm.

More than one teacher can select a station. The senior ranked teacher will be in charge of the class and will assign other participating teacher to help with the seminar.

Remember the theme of Summerfest. . . "Relate all that is taught to Uechi-ryu!" and at the beginning of each seminar, briefly explain how the subject matter of the class relates to Uechi-ryu and will advance the student's understanding and appreciation of their own personal Uechi-ryu.


Saturday I am hoping that all the seniors in attendance, will get involved with the "spirit" of the camp and take advantage of this "open-ended" assignment of classes and along with me, will enjoy the experience.

Friday we will have one featured seminar every hour. Teachers in attendance who are not on the schedule are encouraged to spend the hour at one of the open stations and work with any participant who is looking for some help with their kata or whatever.

Take the opportunity to meet new people, sign autographs and help to make the camp memorable for everyone, including yourself. I'll be out there and hope you will be as well.[/

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[robb buckland]

This is a great new format !!!! I look forward to seeing all of you in Plymouth !!!

[Van Canna]

Remember the theme of Summerfest. . . "Relate all that is taught to Uechi-ryu!" and at the beginning of each seminar, briefly explain how the subject matter of the class relates to Uechi-ryu and will advance the student's understanding and appreciation of their own personal Uechi-ryu.

[gmattson]

Van. . . many thanks for mentioning this year's camp on your excellent forums. SummerFest has become a focal point for expanding our understanding and appreciation of our beloved art as well as an wonderful opportunity to renew old and discover new friendships. For me and many of the participants, Camp is a place to recharge batteries and regardless of rank, become a student again, eager to "cross hands" with an open-mind.

See you next Friday, August 1st. . .

[Van Canna]

Thank you George...the Summer camp is what you said and more. Even if just a place to go and see what the gathering is all about and enjoy a good party in a lovely area. Some of us might even learn a thing or two.

Making....Good lasting friends is really the ultimate goal of Uechi Ryu.

[Otto]

Summerfest. Wow. I mean Holy Wow!

Why I've never attended before will always remain a mystery to me. I haven't had that much fun in years. Everyone there, anyone I knew, and anyone I met for the first time, were wonderful. It's the way the world should be, it's the way people are supposed to be. It's the way my dad taught me that people really are if given the chance. More important, at least to me, it's the way the world of Martial Arts should be.

A long standing family commitment kept me from the ceremonies of Saturday evening. It was for a dear friend's daughter, and family has to come first. But I was there in spirit. I didn't make it Sunday because I have an old car that decided it wanted the day off. Probably a good thing because i was so over stimulated from Friday and Saturday that I might have spontaneously combusted. I couldn't sleep Friday night, fought for it on Saturday night, too. My mind kept going over all I learned, thinking about all the wonderful people I met. And marveling at how Martial Arts are supposed to be. The thing is - it's how I always think of the Martial world, the way summerfest was, the way the PEOPLE were. But as I'm sure all of you know, that's not always the way in the Martial world. The way people were at Summerfest is why I joined martial arts in the first place, so long ago.

I have never studied Uechi-ryu. My loss, I assure you. But I have always loved it. And have known some of you for a long time. (and I sure as hell have had my ass handed to me by many Uechi guys over the years in the ring) I met so many class acts this weekend. I've been in this game a while now, spent my career as a cop, too. I can talk to someone less than a minute and usually know where they are coming from. I have never felt so comfortable, and had so much damn fun, in I don't know how long.

As for the arts themselves, as for real deal self defense, as for quality of movement - off the charts awesome! It really was like being a kid at Christmas. Of course, processing everything is going to take a while. I have so much to work on it's not even funny. But work I will. Dilligently.

My humble thanks to all that put on this wonderful event. You make putting on a gi fun again. To my new friends, thank you so very much.

[Van Canna]

So glad to have seen you and chatted with you at camp, Otto. You are a class act.

[gmattson]

I had a great time as well. . . Taught two all day "events" (Wed and Thu) in Lexington (Thanks to Allan Azoff for putting the Thursday event together) and one in Plymouth on Thursday. . . Everyone kept me busy teaching on Friday and Saturday, so the time flew by.

No surprise that quite a few of you will be at Winterfest (March 7 & 8th) in Mount Dora, FL.

Make your travel plans early.

[hthom]

Great Summerfest, again!

Congratulations to George, and to Darin for an excellent job setting up the place and organizing the picture taking. I thought he was going to make me sit with the kids for the picture because of my size

Sorry I had to leave early due to family commitment, and missed the Saturday night event, especially the event for Van. I did say hello to some old friends before I left, and missed a lot more.

I was watching some of the seminars. Fantastic. All of them. By the way, Dave Kelley my partner at Station-1 did a wonderful session on self defense. Must do it again, Dave.

Where were you Otto? Wished you had stop by.

Saw my old buddy Mehran Shakar there. One of the best Uechi practitioners. I must stop by his dojo in El Cerrito CA to rekindle old friendship, and learn some of his Chi Gung.

Winterfest is next. My private travel agent the wife will be booking my flights soon. Hey you guys from the east coast, if I can make it to the Winterfest every year, you can make it. You can almost walk there.

[Van Canna]

It was also a real pleasure for me to meet and watch Mehran in action. Excellent form and very strong. He was a student of our departed friend Ahti Kaend.

And Dave Kelley is one of the old warriors hailing from Sensei Durkin's Dojo.

He was Top gun in the NH State police.Spectacularly effective Uechi Ryu.

The beauty of our Summer camps...so many good friends and outstanding technical know how.