Congratulations to Chris Moulton.

[Rick Wilson]

Congratulations to Chris Moulton.

See the home page:

“April 21, 2003: Congratulations Chris! Our newest Uechi-ryu Shodan heads for his US Navy assignment tomorrow. He was sick on Saturday, when his special test was scheduled, so we had a first at the Mattson Dojo in Brockton this morning. Thanks to Steve White, Alan Moulton (Chris's father) and Chong (Mother) for helping out. Chris passed his test with flying colors. Good luck with the Navy!”

Great job and well done to the board for putting a well deserved special test together.

[Deep Sea]

Thank you, Rick, for the post.

I thank also Dr. White for sacrificing his Monday morning to be on the test board for Christopher.

Surrounding The Test:

I regretted not putting Chris up for testing when he turned sixteen because when his testesterone glands kicked-in they also kicked his karate into a corner except for when I could corner him as my assistant instructor.

Chris' sixteen years of MA training plus his natural physical talents exhibited themselves properly even though he ws still a little weak and "under the weather." It was fortunate for Chris that he made it to several pre-test classes at the Hut for evaluation because that's where and when senior board test members formulated their opoinions on candidate worthiness. Without those attendencies and the resulting feedback to Sensei Mattson and myself, I believe Monday's test would not have been possible. Even my super-critical eye which was more demanding of my son than of other students gave him a green light.

The Illness:

Chris' flu came on suddenly, last Thursday night/Friday Morn. With my concern over SARS, I marched him [early training to cadence] right back into the hospital where he worked. The staff put him on a new super anti-biotic that is taken for three days rather than ten, but continues to work for ten days.

The Going Away Present:

Now, guess who is coming down with the same sore throat and feverish symptoms?

Epilogue:

I will post a few pictures after I get home from work.

[Bill Glasheen]

Allen

Congratulations, and stop making excuses. I'm sure Chris did just fine. Let someone other than a parent be the judge...

Just remember that antibiotics won't kill SARS, and they won't kill flu. Both are viruses! But surely you want him 100% before traveling.

Best of luck to him!

- Bill

[Deep Sea]

Not excuses, Bill, just a concerned parent's rite [not right] of exasperated written worry, concern, as well as apprehension about his health, performance in front of GEM, and the fact that he needed to drop one pound before he arrived at the Great Lakes and was not feeling good to begin with.

What he had is what he left me for a present to remember him by. And that is a severe head cold coupled with stuffed sinus and post nasal drip which took a turn for the worst on yours truly by the medication given to me by the nurse at work. That's according to my doctor, who's office I left less than an hour ago.

But it's over and it's just begun.

I know Chris did just fine, Bill, he always does in all his endeavors. Thanks for the support which is always appreciated.

[Steve]

Hi Allen - thank you for the kind words. It was a pleasure to help Chris test. He was well prepared and did a wonderful job. I, on the other hand, was worried about getting by black belt revoked!

[newguy]

Congratulations to Chris..and to his proud Dad as well. I hope you do get around to posting some pics.

And to Chris - best of luck in the Navy - and a sincere thank you for electing to serve our country.

[Deep Sea]

I, on the other hand, was worried about getting by black belt revoked!

I know you’re not serious, Steve. And because of that I’ll relate to you that I interceded in your behalf after I found out it was going to be a single black stripe.

However, if there’s a streak of seriousness in the tone of your thoughts, I can assure you that what I saw when I reviewed the video makes me wonder which dan rank you are. Don’t reveal what it is because you can keep a lot of people guessing this way.

Thanks for the kudos on Chris. I was given confidence by the board members in attendance at the Hut during his pre-sea trials, I mean by the results of their observations that he was a ready candidate. He knows his 5 kata very well.

The downshot in my book is that he was unable to train with the frequency and intensity as I had hoped, and near the end of that training period he fell ill [the present he gave to me in with which I’m still out of work.]

But the upshot, and what makes me really proud of Chris, is that what was witnessed of him at the Hut and what was witnessed of him on test day was not the result of cramming sessions, rather from sixteen years of Uechi-ryu imbedded within him. Uechi now is part of his soul. Whatever he did and however he did it at whatever level his performance was, it was done from within. That which he gave to me on test day was something very special.

Newguy, I culled some pictures and hung them along the outside of my cube yesterday. It seems that quite a few of us who work in the room I do are active in a variety of martial arts.

I’ll transfer them to a computer to where I can FTP them and then provide a link. Thanks for asking for them.

[jorvik]

Allen
You must be extremely proud of your son. ( It's the hardest thing for a parent to watch their children grow, but the most rewarding when they turn out well )
I am sure he will be a credit to the service, his country....and of course to you and his mother.

Well done

[Deep Sea]

Surf's up

The last pix was taken with him standing next to his recruiter moments before he left.

Which pix displays Chris' ever-present arrogance?


Please visit the following link:

http://www.uechi-ryu.org/volatile/ChrisShodan/

[newguy]

Very nice pics - some good 'action' shots! Thank you for sharing.