March, 2001 Mailbag

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Sensei Mattson, Thank you very much for attending the BUKA 1st Anniversary celebration. Your presence was very much appreciated by all the students who were eager to perform for you. I hope you were pleased by the performance of my students, instructors and myself. I was a little suprised to see so many in attendance, and I was glad that all went well. Everyone had a good time and enjoyed the students demonstration very much I hope that there will be many more of these anniversaries to look forward to in the future. Thanks again. 

Len Testa Brockton Uechi-Ryu Karate Academy 

Thanks again for inviting me to your dojo's first anniversary celebration, Len. I would have stuck around, but have been fighting a cold and didn't wish to share that with anyone.

I enjoyed the demo and your performance. It was good to see a full house of spectators and a few of the 'old timer' in attendance.

Keep up the good work.

Best, George 

When people ask me about Harvey Liebergott's book, Sissors, Rock, Paper, I have a difficult time trying to summarize it. However, I am constantly amazed at the amount of fan mail Harvey gets, saying how much they have enjoyed the book. Here is one that was cc'd to me that I hope you will enjoy. GEM

Dear Harvey: I am Dorothy I met you at the Summer Camp this year. I had no idea at all who anyone was at the camp and I am just blown away at all the marvelous people I met and didn't know who I was speaking with. You in particular.

I have about 6 pages left to read in your book. It is a book I will read more than once. There are so many things in your book that have given me insight, understanding, new dedication to my Karate. I am glad you had the courage to write about failing your first 3rd degree black belt test. I have learned so much from that, of course, I haven't internalized it yet. That will take time, I can only tell you if I had not passed my State Boards for nursing the first time I wouldn't be a nurse today. I would have been too humiliated to try again.

When I tested for my Green Belt I was so freaked out Steve had to ask me one question in Japanese because I wasn't getting it when he said it in English. I intend to work on doing my Sanchin like I am being tested and my next test I am going to try and do it like I am NOT being tested. I don't know how that will go but I am going to try it. It was wonderful reading about George Mattson and Bob Campbell and Lawrence Tan, I don't really know who Bob Campbell is.

As soon as I finish reading your book I am going to start it again and go even slower to be able to internalize a lot of what you have written. I am so glad you told me about your book. One thing that greatly relieved my mind was reading "You don't have to be perfect" just work to your best ability. I am now 57 I didn't start learning Karate until Jan.2000 and then I was 56. It was good to read you don't have to be young to study Karate.

Thank you again for telling me of your book and more important thank you for writing it.

Sincerely, Dorothy Reitman

Dear Dorothy:

Thank you for the wonderful letter. I have received about a dozen responses like yours, over the last half dozen years. Yours is one of the best and will keep me high for a week. Two of the others are Steve White's, on the library forum, and David Kahn's, rating the book on Amazon.com. 

If you haven't met Bob Campbell, you are in for a real treat. We imagine, when we become karate students, that the highest ranked seniors will all look like some of the people who surround George Mattson, but such people are really very rare, and rarer still are the ones, like David Mott and Bob Campbell, who are practiced in a variety of Zen arts. 


I hope that Bob and Larry Tan and David will all be at next year's camp, because there is nothing better than hearing them spill out insights at the Saturday party. Please come find me, and I will introduce you. Thanks again, for the letter.  GEM

Dear Mattson Sensei: I have returned from my Okinawa sojourn this past week, the experience was like "going back home"...what a wonderful feeling, the Jundokan is operating under the very capable Iha Koshin Sensei with a very strong board. Unfortunately the address give for Tomoyose Sensei wasn't quite correct...However, he did send his regards and to tell you the Kanji for his address translates to both IRIBARU and NISHIHARA, so I was looking for him in the opposite side of town. Once again thank you for your help and hopefully we'll be able to meet in th near future.. Sincerely, 
Robert Young 
Jundokan Miami 

George,

Thank you for including me in your eZine list. I will pass it on to my students. Ernie Sumpter (Philadelphia) called me about these dates as well. I will be on work travel for most of these dates, but as I said I will pass them on. 

Congratulations on another successful summer camp! The two students of mine (Dana and Heather) that went came back very excited about what they learned and couldn't wait to show me. In fact I have asked them to conduct a mini-seminar in place of one of our classes to show our dojo what they learned. 

I started a new job last March at the National Education Association Health Information Network as a health educator. I travel a couple times a month setting up and implementing parent education training programs and conducting HIV prevention and education seminars. It's going great! 

Ken Nakamatsu came to DC with his wife and their son Taichi this July after training at Frank's in Florida. We had great training with him and I enjoyed showing them around DC. His wife had never been here before and was very impressed and happy as she had only seen Florida and thought all of the US was like that! I'm glad I was able to show her something very different.

I am off Wednesday for 10 days in Alabama to conduct training sessions for work and then 5 days in Atlanta for a conference. I will stay with Bruce Hirabayashi and his family for a couple days as well and get some time training with him and his students there. 

I hope you and Susan are well.

Bob Kaiser

Dear Sensei Matteson, 

I am trying to find out if there are any Uechi-ryu schools in Louisiana or if there is any one qualified that might be interested in teaching. 

Thank You, 
B. Thomas 

Have you checked the "instructor's listing"? Also, post your question in the "Looking for instructor/dojo" Forum. 

I'll include your note in the March Mailbag as well. I'm sure there are dojo and instructors in Louisiana. . . We just have to find them!

Good luck and stay in touch.
Best, George

Dear Mr. Mattson,

I have just finished reading your book on Uechi Ryu Karate Do, and in the section discussing ten-point kumite you stated that there is actually an eleventh point, the take down, that you would gladly send if the reader wrote you. I would like the information on the eleventh point. I studied under Bill Kieth in South Florida, and I remember him teaching a take down in ten-point, but you gave a different description from what I learned.

Thank you very much.

Sincerely,

Christopher J. Corey
There is basically one takedown. The attacker throws a left front kick, which is blocked with a left downward block. The kick is followed up with a right hook or straight punch to the face. Defender blocks, with a rising left block (which can also be a counterattack to the face). He then drops slightly, taking out the attacker's right leg and in the process, dropping the attacker to the ground. There are many variations of the takedown and counterattack. There may be some video clips on our site.

You might bring up the subject on our forums.

Best, George Mattson 
ps. are you working out now with anyone? 

 Teaching Uechi to kids 
We all seem to have a problem teaching uechi to tots, do you have any ideas or some links to help get a few ideas. as the dojo grows these children become a big part of the school..

Greg Brown Merced, Ca

This subject has been discussed in detail on our Forums. Please post your question on the "Business Marketing" forum and I'll get involved in the discussion.

Best, George 

Hi, my name is Gord Hill. We have communicated before: I asked about the video clips and the stone article illustrations. I am a first degree with Tsuruoka Canada. I am originally from Thunder Bay Ontario, and am currently living in Winnipeg Manitoba. I have studied from the age of ten almost any book on karate that i could find, especially kata. About ten years ago i became facinated with sanchin. I guess it posed the greatest mystery to me. How could some of the greatest karateka speak of the most advanced kata being one that appears so simple. Yeah, right! I have invested alot of time in this study, where most was focused on the Goju version. I loved the articles you had on your site back in 97-98, esp. the breathing method and conditioning ones. The thing is, i have been able to observe your kata through the internet, and i must say that i am impressed. They are very beautiful and efficient. I have noticed that there are variations of seisan. Maybe i'm mistaken, but in your book, the kata starts off with double nukite, then the ridge hands to the head region, yet there is another site, where the clip shows the kata start with three sanchin like movements, like seisan from goju or hangetsu, or just about any other style of seisan that i've come across. Am i mistaken? Thank you for your time. I love your site. Gord

Simple explanation Gord (wish all my email was so simple to answer):

There is a 'short' form Seisan and a 'long' forum. The long form begins with 3 Sanchin steps and arm moves, the short, with the circular temple strike with ridge hands.

Best, George 
ps. thanks for the kind words.

Dear George;

Now that I have a friend to translate for me, and I don't depend on the translator of Altavista, I am going to explain my idea in details.

I think that Saturday night during the camp, it would be positive that the organization IUKF organized each year the "Worldwide IUKF Championship" and that this championship would be exclusively for brown belts and danes (individually, not in teams), that they would compete in kata and kumite, only for affiliates of IUKF.

This way every year we would have a world champ of kata and a champ of kumite. To these two champs the organization could give prizes, sending them to a large international event (for example to the great championship in Okinawa).

I propose that it be during the camp because for the affiliates of foreign countries (outside North America) we could travel taking advantage of the camp and the tournament at the same time, without having to pay to travel twice.

We are willing to participate each year. Also Canada, Bermuda, England, and maybe Germany aside from Argentina could do it.

I believe that this would help the other worldwide entities of karate to look at us in a better way and I believe that more people would want to participate in the camp knowing that a world championship would take place there.

It would be excellent to start in 2001.

It would be positive, for it would give the opportunity to our competitors, (IUKF), to have experience in the new WKF rules, which would be the ones we would use for this competition.

This is my thought, surely improvable. Maybe you have your own opinion. I would like to know what you think about it.

Of course I propose the idea, together with my willingness to work with it, with the competitive point of view, since it would carry combatants to participate in this event. Also I would be willing to provide my experience of referee WKF since I have participated personally refereeing in many tournaments in Argentina with these rules.

Sincerely

Carlos

Good ideas Carlos. Hopefully we can give it a try this year. GEM

Dear Mr. Mattson, I was wondering if you could let me know what the age divisions will be for the children's competition at the tournament. Also, what belt colors will fall into beginner, intermediate and advanced categories for kata and fighting. One last question, will children be able to participate in kumite competition and if so what will the age divisions and requirements be? I appreciate any information you can give me. Thanks, Aaron 

We have expanded the children's division from last year. Here is what we are offering:

Because of the huge range of belt rank differences within schools, we have divided the children's group according to age:

For Kumite:

Boys 14-17 yrs Girls 14-17 yrs Boys 11-13 yrs Girls 11-13 yrs Boys/girsl 8-10 yrs Boys/Girls 5-7 yrs

For Kata:

Boys/girls Beginner (14-17yrs) Boys/girls Advanced (14-17 yrs) Boys/girls beginner (11-13 yrs) Boys/girls beginner (11-13 yrs)

Boys/girls Beginners (8-10 yrs) Boys/girls advanced (8-10 yrs) Boys/girls beginners (5-7 yrs) Boys/girls advanced (5-7yrs)

For purposes of defining rank: Beginner youth (white/yellow/orange/blue/purple belts); Advanced Youth (green/brown/red/black belts)

Hope this helps, George Mattson 
ps Be sure to check out the tournament page for updates. 

Mr. Mattson;

My son started Uechi Ryu about nine months ago, and he absolutely loves it!! I would love to help him at home as he is just turning seven but I really cannot remember all the different steps. I was wondering if there was a book or a guide that I could purchase describing the steps, and movements...E.g eight form and twenty six form have me confused so we really cannot practice, but I know if I could be more help to him he would really excel in Karate. If there is anything at all you could suggest I read, I would great appreciate it.

Sonya MacIsaac Elmsdale, Nova Scotia

Please check the Uechi Store. Everything you need can be found there. GEM

Dear Sensei, Hello. I am curious to to see if you know of any Uechi dojos in the Ohio area. I haven't had any luck finding any on my own. If not, could you tell me of any similar styles that I could take. I took a year of classes over ten years ago in Peabody, MA and loved it. Nancy Gavenda was my sensei then. I would prefer not to have to switch to Tae Kwan Do. I have heard of a karate called Shoren Ryu. Do you know if that is similar? It is 45 minutes away. The reason I want to take Uechi Ryu or something very similar is that I feel that that it is a beautiful artform that enhances the mind, body, and spirit in a very traditional, nonflashy way. If you can answer these questions I would be very grateful. Also, if you find that Uechi Ryu has not made it into Ohio yet maybe you could try to talk some of your blackbelts into coming to north central Ohio and opening up some dojos. We need them!!!! Thank-you very much!!

Sincerely, Carol A. . . . .

All the Uechi-ryu schools are listed in our "Instructor/dojo" section Carol. Good luck and stay in touch.  GEM

Hi, George.

Glad to hear you received the book ---- I certainly hope you enjoy reading it as much as we've enjoyed publishing it.

- - - - - - - Below are some items/links you may want to display on your site:

the basic catalog information: Title: Mountains of Madness: A Scientist's Odyssey in Antarctica Author: Dr. John Long (with foreword by Tim Bowden) ISBN: 0309070775 Price: $24.95 Page count: 270 Trim size: 6 x 9 Binding: hardcover Pub date: 2001

the direct link to John's book on our web site, and a link to JHP's homepage: http://books.nap.edu/catalog/9848.html

http://www.jhpress.org/

the table of contents: Foreword Preface 1 A Strange and Hostile Land 2 Of Heroes, Rocks, and Fossils 3 Survival Training: Tekapo, New Zealand 4 Arrival in Antarctica 5 Antics on Ice 6 A Very Good Christmas 7 Dry Valleys, Sand Dunes, and Rivers 8 Back to the Great White South 9 Cape Evans and Cape Royds 10 A Flight of Discovery 11 On Mr. Darwin's Glacier 12 The First Worst Day of My Life 13 Dancing on the Gorgon's Head 14 Up the McCleary Glacier 15 A Room at the Fish Hotel 16 The Skua 17 The Ascent of Mt. Gudmundson 18 Over the Mulock Glacier 19 Mt. Ritchie and Deception Glacier 20 Onwards to Escalade Peak 21 "I'm Dreaming of a White Christmas" 22 On the Snout of the Alligator 23 Long Day's Journey into Night 24 Skating Away on the Thin Ice of a New Year 25 Working on the Portal 26 At the Crucible of Shark Evolution 27 Pick-Up Day Problems 28 Base Blues and Arrival Home in Australia 29 So Much for the Afterglow 30 Reflections from the Ice Epilogue Appendix 1 What I Liked and Disliked About Antarctica Appendix 2 Some Great Recipe Ideas from Antarctica References and Source Material Acknowledgments Index

the cover image (I can provide this in other formats if you so desire, but .jpg and .tif seem to be the most acceptable these days -- they are both saved at a manageable 72 dpi resolution):

(See attached file: 0309070775.jpg)(See attached file: 0309070775.tif)

a description: This extraordinary book is the first-person account of John Long's two unforgettable "summers" on the southern continent. Told in a highly accessible and entertaining style, Mountains of Madness is the account of his three-month long fossil hunt. As the story unfolds, we learn of both the highs of scientific discovery as well as the grueling yet essential routines that must be practiced every day just to stay alive in one of the harshest environments on our planet. Alternating with the author's wonder at the intense beauty of his surroundings are his immense frustration and boredom that stem from being completely at the mercy of the elements. Throughout the course of the expedition, danger is never far off in this inhospitable land. Despite having been trained in the art of building snow caves and practiced in the skill of traversing glaciers, Long tells of two brushes with death in just one afternoon. The hair-raising escape from a deep crevasse is fraught with tension-only to be followed by yet another encounter with sudden disaster when the crash of an avalanche buries Long deep in the snow. - - - - - -

You can post as much of this information as you like. You may also want to mention that the book is available (through the link I gave you above) to read in full-text on our site, free of charge. It can also be purchased on our site at 20% off. Right now, this is all I can think of. In the past, we've found that the above materials are the most important for people interested in reading or buying a particular book. If you think of something else however, that may be beneficial to your visitors, please do not hesitate to let me know. I will try and get you any additional information you may want.

Thanks again for your efforts in publicizing John's book. I know he will be as pleased as we are.

Let me know when you post this information --- send me the address so I can make a record of it for John's publicity folder --- and also let me know when your review is available.

Sincerely, David Reynolds Joseph Henry Press dreynold@nas.edu 202.334.3320 

Great book. Thanks for sending me a copy. I've posted a review already in our Forum section. GEM

And now... From the author:

Hi George,

I've organized for the publisher to send you an advanced copy of my latest book- "Mountains of Madness - A Scientist's Odyssey Through Antarctica", so it should get to you sometime next week. Launch date for the USA is February 15th for the book, so if you can put the message up on the website it would be great. It mentions my involvement with the martial arts and puts karate in a powerful light, so I hope it has some interest for all Uechi Ryu exponents out there. The National Academy Press website has a discounted price on the book-its under $20.

All the best, John 

Mattson-sensei,

Thank you again for continuing to maintain a place where a dialogue between many practitioners can take place. It is a wonderful gift to the community.

Bob Kaiser's Washington Karate Academy in Washington, DC has a new website:

http://www.wkadojo.com

Could you please add it to our information in the directory?

Many thanks,

Dana Sheets Nidan Washington Karate Academy 

Thanks for your kind words Dana. Best regards to Bob and your fellow students. I've updated the link with your new website. GEM

Just read your web and it is great. It is good to hear a well trained fighter tell the truth. Most fights are aggression and wrestling and shear animal nature and ruthlessness. I was once taking karate. I tried to kick in self-defense an opponent and missed completely. He laughed and said what the hell was that. Later into the fight I was picked up and thrown in the most awkward and hateful land on your neck position i can ever imagine. I barely caught myself with upper body strength. I don't know why you chose to write such a helpful sincere letter but it is good to see some one care about the many helpless people in this world. It means alot, Thankyou 
....18yrs

Thought I would drop a line and say how nice it was to run across a web site that featured a story on master urechi ... what memorable part of my life, short lived but struck me forever in the heart and soul ... i left Okinawa in 1968 ...trained at the home dojo ...unfortunately like all military dependents daddy was transferred ...... we were not traditional 90 day visitors .. we lived on Okinawa from 1962 to late 1968 ... although i was only there between the ages of 11 and 17 ... i have relished the year i had the opportunity to learn the spiritual and sincere side of Uechi ryu karate- the book given to me by mr uechi ... and written by you is still a treasured part of household now at the age of 50 ... i was very disappointed in the few karate classes that i attempted to join when i returned to the states in 1969 .... the emphasis and spirit was not there .... i never pursued the sport ...i can not express the passion, nor what impressed me so much to understand the difference at such a young age ... maybe it was the master himself, his home, i don't know , but i have and will always relish that one moment in my life ...... i remember him saying you can not learn from a book, but take this with you, the kata"s will remain fresh ....... i have never used nor desired to use my knowledge physically ..... nor ever or rarely told anyone about my partial ability ... the store front in the article i read...the one in futema ..i lived very close to that store ..although i was there in the 60''s i immediately recognized the store, i bought many orange drinks there ... "nehi" and fire crackers... the pooping balls ....... 
... the way you wrote ... The way of Karate ... it instilled and has lasted a life time

love always .... andy salassi 

 Hello, 

How is it going? Just wanted to drop you a line... if you elect to email me, mail me at chi_esds@email.com take you. 

Also, I changed the name of my studio. It is now Pedro Bennett's School of Self Defense. Thank you 

Oh, I am also open for seminars at various studios, gyms, and school. I am not that expensive. However, the people have really enjoyed the seminars. 

Currently my rate is within in a twenty mile radius starts at $300 - 500 

take care... 

Pedro 

QUICK UPDATE:



1. PDR program expands to Italy. Blauer Tactical PDR Coach, Dr. Eric Cobb has moved to Italy. If you live in the area, drop us an email and we’ll get you in touch.

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3. Interested in the PDR/Blauer classes in Northern California? Check out:
Creative Fighting Arts 2324 Grand Canal Blvd. Ste. 11 Stockton CA. 95207 Ph: 209-956-5519 Featuring Classes in: Karate/Kick Boxing/Martial Arts Conditioning/Self Defense

The PDR based program is available Wednesday nights. Call for info. Also, if you have kids, please check out the kids Karate Class.

4. We just finished another very successful PDR weekend. New updates will be forthcoming on our websites with a complete listing of active PDR coaches. 
Take care,
Jesse @ Blauer Tactical Systems

Saturday, March 10th, 2001 From 11:30 Am to 2:30 PM Bob Galeone, a Uechi Ryu and Aikido long-time practitioner and teacher will teach a 3 hour seminar on Saturday, March 10, 2001 from 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Galeone Sensei will focus on the grappling techniques in Uechi Ryu technique. The areas he will focus on will be: sensing - tactile connections; techniques out of the Sanchin turn; the circular wauke block with the spear hand - nukite; and variations of some of the different tiger techniques within our system. 

The fee is $20 per participant to help offset the cost of putting on this program and to help pay for fresh fruit and juices after the session. Spectators will be welcomed for a $10 contribution. 

Pass the word, this seminar is open for students from other schools and systems. 

Sensei Bob Galeone, has been a student of the martial arts for almost 40 years. Mr. Galeone began his training in Uechi Ryu in 1963 and was promoted to Godan, fifth degree black belt, by Sensei James Thompson in 1987. During this time, Mr. Galeone began study of Aikido in 1970, and was promoted to Godan, in 1996 under Mitsugi Saotome. After many years of running his own dojo in Uechi Ryu and Aikido, Mr. Galeone is currently concentrating his training on Gao Style Ba Gua and Hsing I. At the same time he is applying his training and instructor status of Doce Pares Escrima/kali to integrate various systems of martial arts in developing an understanding of their roots and application of technique. 

A former bodyguard and weapons specialist, Mr. Galeone is currently a firearms and use of force instructor for the Washington DC Metropolitan Police Department. 

Paul Cote, another seasoned martial artist will also visit the dojo and conduct another guest instructor seminar Saturday, April 7th 2001. Dr. Cote's seminar agenda follows below. The goal of this second seminar is to give the participants a good overview of the basics in Chinese Internal Boxing so they will be able to see how such basics are common to all martial arts. 

In June we will have a third seminar featuring both instructors who will bring their two seminars together for students to work on the inter-related components of both. Details will be posted at www.wkadojo.com 

Fundamentals of Chinese Internal Martial Arts: Hsing-I Ch'uan and Pa Kua Ch'uan Paul J. Cote 

11:30-11:40 Brief Orientation, Introductory Comments 
11:40-12:10 Basic Posture and Action 
12:10-12:40 Hsing-I Chuan: Splitting Form and Two-Person Applications 
12:40-12-45 Break/Questions 
12:45-01:40 Linear Pa Kua Chuan: 3 Example Forms and Two-Person Applications 
01:40-01:45 Break/Questions 
01:45-02:25 Pa Kua Circle Walking, Single Palm Change, and Demo Applications 
02:25-02:30 Closing and Quiet Standing Adjourn/Questions 

Please pass the word. 

I look forward to see you. 

Bob Kaiser Chief Instructor Washington Karate Academy PO Box 9660 Washington DC 20016 (202) 537-6124 

To Whom it May Concern:

We are publishing a book on the Kung Fu Wing Chun Grandmaster, Ip Man written by his son, Grandmaster Ip Ching and Master Ron Heimberger. If this is something that you think that you or your customers will be interested in, please email me at sales@cedarfort.com or bwbishop35@hotmail.com. Thank you for your time.

"This book paints a portrait of the famous Wing Chun Master, Ip Man. This portrait, woven from stories about Ip Man shared by his son, provides a set of 15 principles as a guide to mastery. While there are broad lessons to be learned from this portrait remember to savor the details. Many of the great figures of history are shrouded in the mists of aggrandizement, but here the details, the fine strokes of the portrait have remained to show the humble seeker something about the life of a master."

Sincerely, 

Brandon Bishop Sales Cedar Fort, Inc. tel 1-800-759-2665 fax 1-800-388-3727 

Dear Sensei Mattson

Thank you for the information . . .,

Just to let you know a little bit about myself, I am 29 Y/O and I live in a small town called Paisley, just ten miles west of Glasgow, Scotland (Gt Britain). I am a Shotokan practitioner (12 years) but I am interested in the evolution and history of all karate styles. To say that I am interested in Uechi karate would be the understatement of the millennium, I have fallen hook, line and sinker for this beautiful, dynamic style of karate. Watching Kanei Sensei, Seiko Toyama Sensei, Seiyu, Kiyohide and Narahiro Shinjo Sensei, yourself and Alan Dollar Sensei, Tsutomu Nakahodo Sensei to name only a few is inspirational to say the least. I am really desperate to get my hands on the Wakayama tape for historical reasons and I will be posting some questions to Glasheen Sensei once I have seen it.

I have amassed quite a collection of books, videos and magazine articles from various sources about Uechi-Ryu, as well as being a regular visitor to your on-line magazine and a member of Patrick McCarthys International Ryu Kyu Research Society. All of this only whetted my appetite for more and I contacted Sensei Dave Scott in Liverpool, England about training with him. Unfortunately Sensei Scott is quite some drive from where I live so he put me in touch with his friend Sensei Harry Cook (a well known karate historian and instructor) who lives a bit closer. This was in February this year, but the more I trained with Sensei Cook the more I wanted to make the long drive to Liverpool and train with Sensei Scott. Just to let you know that I phoned Sensei Scott tonight but unfortunately he is busy until next week. He put me in contact with Sensei Steve McNally of the Liverpool dojo and as I find myself with Thursday and Friday off work this week I will give you three guesses where I am going (and the first two do not count).

I would like to thank you Sensei Mattson, your videos, books and articles (particularly my own personnel favorite in Bugeisha: The Evolution of Traditional Karate) are never far from hand when I am researching karate in general. I will give you a quick e-mail later on in the week to let you know how I get on. (it is my surprise 30th birthday party on Friday night so I better make it back on time for that)

Thank you for your time

John Cairney 

HI, Came across you whilst surfing the net on my steam driven computer. I guess the last owner was noah. You will not remeber me, used to train with H Benfield in liverpool had a small group in Prescot then,a lots happened since then,getting old and sort of clapped out, although last heard Harry is still at it,still do a bit on my own though just for the exercise,to busy rebuilding my life since the wife died,but your teachings have helped me to over come many obstacles,still remember those day,s back in 75.. best wishs and god bless, Bob Mercer.

Hi Bob:

Good to hear from you again after such a long time. I do indeed remember you. . .

Stay in touch. Drop into the Forums and say hello to the gang.

Best, George

Why Caddies Are No Longer Used at Most Golf Courses 

Golfer: "I've played so poorly all day; I think I'm going to go drown in that lake." Caddy: "I don't think you could keep your head down that long." 

Golfer: "I'd move Heaven and Earth to be able to break 100 on this course." Caddy: "Try Heaven," advised the caddy. "You've already moved most of the Earth." 

Golfer: "This is the worst golf course I've ever played on!" Caddy: "This isn't the golf course, sir! We left that an hour ago." 

Golfer: "Well, Caddy - how do you like my game?" Caddy: "Very good, Sir! But personally I prefer golf." 

Golfer: "Well, I have never played this badly before!" Caddy: "I didn't realize you had played before, Sir." 

Golfer: "Caddy, do you think my game is improving?" Caddy: "Oh yes, Sir! You are coming much closer to the ball than you used to." 

Golfer: "Please stop checking your watch all the time, Caddy. It's distracting!" Caddy: "This isn't a watch, Sir; it's a compass!" 

Golfer: "Caddy, do you think it is a sin to play golf on Sunday?" Caddy: "The way you play, Sir, it's a sin any day of the week!" 

Golfer: "This golf is a funny game." Caddy: "It's not supposed to be." 

Judge in the courtroom: "Do you understand the nature of an oath?" Boy on the stand: "Do I? I'm your Caddy, remember!" 

Golfer: "That can't be my ball, caddy. It looks far too old." Caddy: "It's a long time since we started, Sir." 

Golfer: "Do you think I can get there with a 5-iron?" Caddy: "Eventually." 

Golfer: "You've got to be the worst caddy in the world!" Caddy: "I doubt it. That would be too much of a coincidence." 

A friend sent a list of Things You Probably Didn't Learn In School... 

1. The first couple to be shown in bed together on prime time television were Fred and Wilma Flintstone. 

2. Coca Cola was originally green. 

3. Every day more money is printed for monopoly than the US Treasury. 

4. Men can read smaller print than women, women can hear better than men. 

5. Barbie's measurements if she were life size: 39-23-33 

6. Cost of raising a medium sized dog to the age of 11: $6,400. 

7. Average number of people airborne over the US during any given hour: 61,000. 

8. The world's youngest parents were 8 & 9 and lived in China in 1910. 

9. The youngest Pope was 11 years old. 

10. First novel ever written on a typewriter: Tom Sawyer 

11. 111,111,111 x 111,111,111 = 12,345,678,987,654,321 (Very interesting indeed!) 

12. The San Francisco Cable cars are the only mobile national monuments. 

13. Each king in a deck of playing cards represents a great king from history: Spades - King David, Clubs - Alexander the Great, Hearts - Charlemagne, Diamonds - Julius Caesar. 

14. Only two people signed the Declaration of Independence on 4 JUL, John Hancock and Charles Thomson. Most of the rest signed on 2 AUG, but the last signature wasn't added until 5 years later. 

15. The term "whole 9 yards" came from W.W.II fighter pilots in the South Pacific. When arming their airplanes on the ground, the 50-caliber machine gun ammo belts measured exactly 27 feet. If the pilots fired all their ammo at a target, it got the "whole 9 yards." 

16. The Interstate system was designed so that one mile in every five must be straight. These straight sections are usable as airstrips in times of war or other emergencies. The Intestate's official name is "The National Defense Highway System." 

17. The cruise liner Queen Elizabeth II moves only 6" for each gallon of fuel that it burns. 

18. The nursery rhyme Ring Around the Rosey is a rhyme about the bubonic plague. Infected people with the plague would get red circular sores (Ring around the Rosey...). These sores would smell very bad so people would hide flowers on their bodies in an attempt to mask the smell ("pocket full of posies..."). People who died from the plague would be burned to reduce the spread of the disease ("ashes, ashes, we all fall down"). 

19. Q: What occurs more often in December than any other month? A: Conception. 

20. Q: What separates "60 Minutes" on CBS from every other TV show? A: No theme song. 

21. Q: Half of all Americans live within 50 miles of what? A: Their birthplace. 

22. Q: What do bullet proof vests, fire escapes, windshield wipers, and laser printers all have in common? A: All invented by women. 

23. Q: What is the only food that doesn't spoil? A: Honey. 

24. Q: There are more collect calls made on this day than any other. A: Father's Day. 

25. Q: What trivia fact about Mel Blanc (the voice of Bugs Bunny) is most ironic? A: He was allergic to carrots 

Copyright 2001 Eastern Arts & Humanities Center, Inc. All rights reserved.