January, 2004 mailbag

Note: In the course of a month I get literally thousands of e-mail. I don't normally place correspondence in the "Mailbag" that are either labeled "personal" or contain information of a personal nature. As I read and answer mail, if I find a letter that I find interesting, amusing, topical or educational, it gets filed in my "mailbag" for future use in this feature. I try to edit out any personal information like addresses or telephone numbers, unless the writer specifically requests that I publish it.

I welcome all e-mail and will answer everyone in as timely a manner as possible. Don't be surprised if you find (or don't find) your message in this section. However, if you are concerned about your letter finding its way into the "Mailbag", simply include in the header or at the beginning of message "personal" and I will honor your request. GEM

Hello Mattson Sensei,

I found this surfing. Is it authentic?
Thanks.
Ken Read

Training: Tigers and Sheep

Sometimes karate training can be called training as a tiger or training as a sheep.

If you train as a tiger -- hard training and body conditioning -- you can always train with tigers. Other tigers will also recognize you and you can train in peace with them.

They know that when two tigers really fight that one will die of injuries today and the other will die of injuries tomorrow. Both will die, so they have nothing to prove.

If you train like a sheep -- no contact and no two-man conditioning -- then you can only train with sheep. A tiger can train with tigers and he can also train with sheep. He just has to be careful not to hurt them. A sheep cannot train with tigers.

Sheep see tigers as being very frightening and their conditioning, he says, will cause cancer. A sheep training with tigers will get eaten up. Sometimes you see a sheep who sees the truth of tiger training and changes. In reality this sheep was actually a tiger in sheep's clothing waiting to come out. Watch people training. Look at how they act and how they behave.

A tiger can be like a little kitty but dangerous even though he is friendly. They are quiet and watch everything. They listen and watch. They know who they are and they have nothing to prove -- they are at peace. Sheep, on the other hand, make all kinds of noises and demand to be heard. They run around and seem to crave attention. They are easily hurt and easily scared. They always group together for their own protection. When danger approaches they look towards the group for protection because they cannot defend themselves. They are easy prey for tigers -- whether it is one sheep or several, sheep are still sheep.

This is the first time I've heard this story... and I thought I've heard them all. I'll check with Tommy when I get home next week. GEM

Hi Mattson Sensei,

Here is the URL for our new site, just up. www.threebattles.com
Please let me know if you notice any inaccuracies or omissions.

Any news on the Tomoyose article?

thanks again and all the best

Ken Read

Hello Mattson Sensei,

I am enjoying setting up a website for my school more than I thought I would. It's always refreshing to get organized, I guess - I find myself counting my blessings as I see so much of my school in one place.

One thing I want to do better with on my site is to have good information for my students about the important figures in the teaching lineage. I have lots of information and pictures and articles etc. about David, of course, but I have less about you, and almost nothing about Master Tomoyose and his father. I must say I am somewhat embarrassed to know so little about the teachers in my own lineage. Not to mention how little I really know about Uechi Kanei and his father.

Can you suggest good sources?

Thanks a lot for all your support.

respectfully,

Ken Read Northern River Karate School

My name is Jeff Miller and I live in the state of Pennsylvania..For many months now I have been researching and looking into the philosophies and the history of Uechi / Shohei Karatedo and I must admit I find myself wanting to know more and more because it truly fascinates me..

I'm going to head up and check out a Uechi / Shohei dojo very soon that Is run by Sixth degree blackbelt Dr. Dan Rinchuse and showcases many great visiting instructors like Jack Summers and Peggy Hess. The dojo also offers training and instruction in Shingitai Jiu Jitsu from John Saylor who was an olympic Judo coach for some years..I always wanted to learn karate and now I finally at the age of twenty eight have both the time and money to do so.. And as I said Uechi / Shohei and all of it's many great attributes is the style i want to be a part of and I want as a part of my path not only for the great and devastating techniques for self defense should the need arise but also for the history and beauty of this particular martial art..

I've looked at many styles but Uechi / Shohei just draws me in..It seems like it is a style of deep knowledge in simplicity while being very deceptive in it's complexity.... . . . Also Mr. Shinjo one of the legendary practitioners of this style looks like he was carved from granite..

New Uechi-ryu Dojo in South Carolina

Hi George:

Good and bad news! Bad: one of my Shodans, Norman Asbell, has moved to Anderson, South Carolina. The good news is that he's decided to open up a dojo (initially in his basement). Would you be so kind to post his info on your dojo list?

Norman Asbell Anderson, SC 29626 Tel: (864) 222-1747 ncasbell@charter.net

Thanks,

Bruce

Hi Bruce:

Congratulations to both you and Norman. "Moving on" is a fact of life and a big disappointment for sensei. But that is how Uechi-ryu has grown so much internationally. We need more good teachers like Norman. And... I bet he will visit you once in awhile.

Hope to see you all at camp this year.

I'll post the new dojo listing before the end of the week.

Bruce: I'm adding your name to the India IUKF e-group. We are discussing some very important issues that I'd like your advice with.

Best, George

Hello George-Sensei, Here is something I have been working on, hope you enjoy reading it. Best, Ethan

Interesting article on our "Cooperative Drills" Ethan. It is now posted in the "Articles" section. GEM

Mr. Mattson, can you refer me to an instructor/dojo in the white plains, ny/fairfield county, ct. area? thanks, Lou Louis C. Kirven III, esq.

Hi George Mattson, Happy new year ! I'm doing the uechi ryu genealogy of Brazil, but I don't have the background of the two senseis that is so important to our uechi history. Here is very difficult to localize then. If you have some information about Sensei Yohara and Sensei Takei Ohiana, mainly about who were they teachers please send to me. I don't know if the writing of the name is correct because the history of uechi ryu in Brazil are lost. Best, Wesley

Fantastic Book!

George,

Thank you very much for your kind words and for posting the first chapter on your [Mind, Body, Spirit] forum. Also, I appreciate the comments you made on the forum. When I set out to write this book it was intended for people such as yourself, people who have been studying this art for most of their lives and who appreciate what Okinawa and its legacy is all about. It is very rewarding to know that I was successful in that attempt and that the endless hours I spent studying old texts and interviewing people for authenticity have paid off. If there is anything I can do in the future to help you in any way please let me know.

I will be starting some promotional trips for the book sometime this year. One of the things we have in mind is to set up a clinic and spend some time afterward signing copies and discussing the book with interested students. If you are at all interested in something like that let me know. I do clinics and seminars on Okinawan weapons, kata and bunkai, jo/boken, jujitsu basics and a few other related topics. All proceeds after travel would go to the sponsor.

Thanks again for everything and I hope to meet you someday soon.

Respectfully, Robert Hunt

Hi, My name is Dan ...... and I am a student of Sensei Ed Huff. At the moment I am a nikyu and I am very interested in coming down to the hut to train and gain more insights into Uechi-Ryu-it would also be great to meet you!! I'm just wondering if it is possible to reach the hut by the T-I don't drive and I would be coming from the Back Bay area of Boston.
Thanks for any help you can give me.
Sincerely
Dan

Hi Dan: Directions and information concerning the "Hut" program can be found on the home page. Or click Here. GEM

My "honorary" son invited Susan and me to New York city to help him celebrate Chinese New Year's eve. We enjoyed an authentic Fuzou feast in a private room at famous Chinese restaurant. I took a picture of the strongest wine in the world. 50% alcohol! Wow... After a small glass of this stuff, I even sang a couple of songs!

Hi,

I have a couple of questions... I hope you can help.

Are there any further details on the contents of the vidmags? For example, does VidMag 18-B: Basics II, stock #: new 18-B, cover the "1-10" yakusoku kumite prearranged sparing?

Also, would it be possible for you to compare/contrast the two books: "Uechi-ryu Karate Do" by Mattson and "Uechi-ryu 2000" by Moulton (other than the $50 dollar difference in price). The number of pages is about the same, but one contains photos and the other illustrations. Since I'm just learning (about 6 months now), I'm specifically interested in which would be the better reference.

Thanks, Jake

TOP 8 MORONS OF 2003 - AND THE YEAR IS STILL YOUNG...

1. WILL THE REAL DUMMY PLEASE STAND UP? AT&T fired President John Walter after nine months, saying he lacked Intellectual leadership. He received a $26 million severance package. Perhaps it's not Walter who's lacking intelligence.

2. WITH A LITTLE HELP FROM OUR FRIENDS: Police in Oakland, California spent two hours attempting to subdue a gunman who had barricaded himself inside his home. After firing ten tear gas canisters, officers discovered that the man was standing beside them in the Police line, shouting, "Please come out and give yourself up."

3. WHAT WAS PLAN B??? An Illinois man, pretending to have a gun, kidnapped a motorist and forced him to drive to two different automated teller machines, wherein the kidnapper proceeded to withdraw money from his own bank accounts.

4. THE GETAWAY! A man walked into a Topeka, Kansas Kwik Stop, and asked for all the money in the cash drawer. Apparently, the take was too small, so he tied up the store clerk and worked the counter himself for three hours until police showed up and grabbed him.

5. DID I SAY THAT??? Police in Los Angeles had good luck with a robbery suspect who just couldn't control himself during a line-up. When detectives asked each man in the line-up to repeat the words: "Give me all your money or I'll shoot," the man shouted, "that's not what I said!"

6. ARE WE COMMUNICATING?? A man spoke frantically into the phone, "My wife is pregnant and her contractions are only two minutes apart!" "Is this her first child?" the doctor asked. "No!" the man shouted, "This is her husband!

7. NOT THE SHARPEST TOOL IN THE SHED!! In Modesto, California, Steven Richard King was arrested for trying to hold up a Bank of America branch without a weapon. King used a thumb and a finger to simulate a gun, but unfortunately, he failed to keep his hand in his pocket.(hellllllooooooo!)

8. THE GRAND FINALE (I LOVE THIS ONE!!!) Last summer, down on Lake Isabella, located in the high desert, an hour east of Bakersfield, Cal. some folks, new to boating, were having a problem. No matter how hard they tried, they couldn't get their brand new 22 ft boat going. It was very sluggish in almost every maneuver, no matter how much power was applied. After about an hour of trying to make it go, they putted to a nearby marina, thinking someone there could tell them what was wrong. A thorough top side check revealed everything in perfect working condition. The engine ran fine, the out drive went up and down, and the propeller was the correct size and pitch. So, one of the marina guys jumped in the water to check underneath. He came up choking on water, he was laughing so hard. NOW REMEMBER... THIS IS TRUE . Under the boat, still strapped securely in place, was the trailer.

[Sent to me by Gerry MacDonald]

January, 2004 Mailbag

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