May, 2003 Mailbag

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Good afternoon, Sensei Mattson,

My name is Wally Bradbury and i am a student of Censei Alan Kessler, located in Billerica,mass. My son and i just recently joined his dojo (FEb '03 ) and as of last week i have attained my first stripe. I find that i have fallen in love with the art of uechi-ryu and am eager to become a student dedicated to really learning all that i can. Also, i have been exploring your most excellent website and am really interested in attending the summer fest in August 2003 to further my growth.

However, i am also interested in enrolling in different tournaments/competitions as a gauge of my progress and as a result of this had a few questions that i hope you wouldn't mind answering. 

my first question is, what would be the minimum rank for entering tournaments for sparring, performing kata's,etc ? my second question is, is their a tournament that i could enroll in to test my skills ?

and finally, what advice could you give me that would help prepare me mentally and physcially for competing ?

I do appreciate any help and advice that you could give me and i look forward to talking to you. thank you in advance for your time.


Sincerely,


Wally Bradbury 

Hi Wally:

Congratulations on becoming a Uechi student and fan of the art.

May I suggest that you and your son attend the Uechi-ryu world Championships, to be held at the Plymouth Sports Dome in Plymouth MA on Sat, May 31st.

I'll send you an email with the on-line brochure. If you send me your snail mail address I'll mail a brochure and applications for both the tournament and SummerFest.

The tournament and camp are excellent ways to test your martial arts and most importantly, an opportunity to meet and train with fellow Uechi practitioners from around the world.

I suggest you just enter the Kata division this first year. Work on your best kata until you can perform it flawlessly, with both spirit and power. Be sure not to race through the kata. . . It should be performed in varying tempo. . . some techniques faster than others. As you progress you will more fully understand this concept. For now, just try to feel where the moves should be fast and where some might be done to emphasize balance and timing.

I know you will do fine.

Also.... a great way to get your son excited about Uechi ryu. There will be a couple hundred competitors. Hope you can join us.

Please say hello to your instructor and invite others from your dojo to attend.

Stay in touch and good luck with your training.

Best, George Mattson

Subject: Karate for a youngster

Hi George. My name is Cindy Cheung. I live in the San Francisco Bay Area. I originally studied Uechi-ryu under Forest Sanborn, and then a little under Walter Mattson before I moved to California. I was a Ni-Dan before I left the Boston area.

Eventually, I would like to enroll my kids in some type of martial arts. I wasn't sure how old they should be before enrolling, and where to enroll them. (I was enrolled when I was 8.5yrs old, but I was a big kid when I was young.) I was hoping you might be able to give some guidance on the ideal age of a child when enrolling. Also, can you recommend a dojo around the Palo Alto, Menlo Park, CA area?

I would like my kids to gain confidence and some discipline from studying the arts. Thanks in advance for your help. Cindy

-- Regards,

Cindy 

Hi Cynthia:

Please excuse me if this is a repeated reply. I have been having computer problems and some of my newer responses were lost...

Today many Uechi teachers accept kids as young as 4 or 5 years old. Obviously, these children are not learning much about the marital arts, but the teachers use the martial arts in order to teach concentration, discipline and physical skills such as balance, coordination, timing and many other abilities.

I am constantly amazed at how effective these teachers are working with children. Naturally, not all teachers possess these skills and many dojo should not be working with children.

As a person with some Uechi-ryu background and lots of common sense, I'm sure you will be in a good position to check out different schools and pick one that is best for your child.

When working with children, it has been my experience that the teacher is more important than the style. 

Stay in touch.

Best, George Mattson 

Analysis by David Nishimoto davepamn@relia.net

Pushing hands is the most important exercise after mediation. It express the practitioners intrinsic knowledge of energy management and application. In essence pushing hands provides an expressive method for sharing the benefits of mediation with another person. The person pushing is centered, rooted, and relaxed. This soft pliable yet rubbery characteristic expresses itself as a wave like flow of energy. The legs are the power house and the hands and arms are the bumpers. The yielding practitioner listens and yields to the flow of energy. By maintain a soft uninterrupted flow the practitioner joins with the energy, yields, and neutralizes it. I call this principle, "opening the door". Just a door pivots around a hinge point when pressure is applied, so can the body pivot around the hips. This process of push, yield, and neutralize help each partner to not fight against force but blend with it. 

Single Hand: Each partner brings their opposite hand together and pressing against the back of the other persons hand. As one partner press the other one yields and opens the door. The goal is the listen to the other person balance, energy, and rootedness. In advanced levels discharge can occur if the other practitioner is not rooted. 

Double Hand: The double hand technique is same as the single hand technique with the exception that the unrestrained free hand is reinforcing against the partners arm at the elbow as he is pushing. So, control of the elbow is added to the pushing hand exercise. Yield still requires the pivoting at the hips and so a pattern immerges. The pattern is similar to rolling a bowling ball around in a counter clockwise circle. The legs provide the power to move the ball as the arms guide its direction. 

Double arm small circle: One partner arms are on top and the other's on the bottom. Each keeps their arms rounded as if holding a large ball with palms facing their body. The partner with the arms on the bottom, follow the following cycle - press forward, roll back bringing the hands up and towards the face, and then down. The partner with their arms on top, follow the following cycle - rollback, push down, raise the palms to face height, and press forward. 

Each of these exercises should be practiced stationary and then while walking between every two cycles.

16 Aspects of Energy Development 

1. Focus on your breathing techniques. Slow down your breathing rythm and breath deeply and slowly. Relaxation and focus will naturally slow down your breathing rythm. 

2. Your bodies Energy is alive. Feel, move, and transform this energy at will. Energy follows the flow of blood in your veins. Focus on connecting an channeling this energy. 

3. Body alignment and posture put the spline, hips, and shoulders into maximum support. With proper body alignment it is possible to stand for long periods of time. 

4. Work to dissolve energy blockages. While standing pain is the result of energy blockage. Work on relaxing and moving the energy through areas of the body that are experiencing blockage. Common areas of blockage are the shoulders, hips, and legs. 

5. Move energy along the secondary meridans. Simply put move energy along the upper back, through the shoulders, and out the finger tips; also, through the hips, down the legs, into the toes. 

6. Bending and stretching opens major energy centers. 

7. Opening and closing tissues 

8. Manipulating energy outside the body. Fa Jin is the product of willful discharge or accumulation. Sensing with the surface of the skin, warming the chi, and contraction and expansion become area to focus on.


9. Making energy spirals and circling inside the body. Spin the energy at the center up the spine, down the shoulders, and out the finger tips; likewise, through the hips, down the legs, and out the toes. The spiraling visualization helps in the discharge of energy. 

10. Absorb and project energy 

11. Control the energies of the spine. 

12. Control the left and right energy channels. The balance between yin and yang. 

13. Control the central energy channel (Heart level) 

14. Control the lower energy channel (Below the navel) 

15. Control the upper energy channel (Forehead) 

16. Work to create one unified energy. 

Sincerely David Nishimoto 

Hello Sensei Mattson. I am writing you in the interest of finding a uechi ryu dojo in the area of Houston, Texas where I have recently moved to from Alberta, Canada. I have been a student at the Willow River Karate School in Edmonton, Alberta, under Sensei John Aldridge since December 2000. He suggested I contact you to see if you might know of a school in Houston I could contact to continue my karate. If not, is there someone else you could suggest I contact in order to continue my karate training? Thank you and I look forward to your reply.

Sincerely, Nyla Linklater

Hi George, I'm a student of Ken Schiff's and am planning on attending the tournament. I just had a couple of questions. 

1. The VIP tickets. Will one ticket allow you into the adult and junior areas? 2. Are there any VIP tickets still available? 3. For the adult entrance fee, is the kata the 2nd division? 4. What is the schedule for events? My son and I are both competing and I'd like to know if I can watch him.

Thank you for your time and I look forward to seeing you at the tournament.

Judy Cooney 

Good question sJudy. The VIP tickets will allow you into all areas. Regular admission will restrict you to the perimeter of the competition areas. Competitors may go anywhere, but are restricted to special competitor areas in each arena. Lots of VIP tickets still available. For the adult entrance fee, the competitor may elect to enter any competition. If you wish to enter two competitions, you elect which one. According to Jay Salhanick, we will be running the Junior tournament first, followed by the adult division. Lastly will be the Awards ceremony. You will be able to watch your son compete. GEM

Mr. Mattson,

I am sending you a Tool that I made out of a 29" pipe (3/4" PVC Schedule 40), two End caps, and Fun Noodle (Pool Toy). I hope you like it.

Sincerely Charles

Hi George, I just read in your April mailbag about your loss of emails from a virus. Real sorry about that....it happened to me, and it's a colossal waste of time. I am re-sending the photos emailed to you recently, in case you lost them.

Work outs are going very well here, and you'll be happy to see the changes we've made since your visit.

Best, Paul

I really enjoyed myself Paul. and thanks to everyone who chipped in for the case of vintage wine. I'll save a couple of bottles for Camp! :) GEM

	click on image to see full size!

Hi George,

Greetings from California.

Mehran and I are trying to figure a way to get to the Summer Camp this year. I believe your site indicated the dates are 8/8 through 8/10.

We're planning to hit the streets tomorrow to start our panhandling program in an effort to get the funds together.......

What is the cost for the camp? If we are able to make it I believe we will have overnight accomodations in Cape Cod, so we won't be needing to stay nights at the camp.

Thanks, Steve 

Sorry to be late with this reply. I've been very busy.... Please check the camp website for information regarding prices. If you won't be staying at the Maritime Academy, just sign up for the "daytripper" program. http://www.uechi-ryu.com/oldsite/camp2000/

I'm really happy to hear that you guys will be coming. I promise you will have a ball!

Best, George

Mr. Mattson:

We are a small publisher that has just released a suspense novel entitled The Joint Venture, by Gilbert Visconti. Martial arts play a key role in the book, because two of its characters have been schooled in karate - and call upon their skills to survive. The author has tried to be true to the spirit of karate, and we hope that you agree.

What we would like to do is obtain the name and address of a karate authority who might be willing to read our book and give us a review that we could use. We plan to send the author on a promotional tour to Wash. DC, Philadelphia, Newark, NYC, Boston, Cleveland, Detroit, Chicago, Milwaukee and San Francisco, and we hope that he will be able to address karate clubs in and around those cities. Could you help us arrange those meetings? Any help you can give us will be greatly appreciated. 

Incidentally, the author's daughter was a brown belt in ishinryu karate when she was at Cornell Univ., and the author learned a lot about karate from her.

Nathaniel Kenton Managing Editor, Voyageur Publishing Co. 

Anyone interested in helping Mr. Visconti? GEM

Hi Vladimir:

The tournament seems to be going well. I'm having special medals made for what is turning out to be 4 events. The medals are beautiful and should be well received.

 Subject: Your First Tournament


Hello Sensei, 

Hope everything is going well. I have a question that someone from Russia asked me: When was your first tournament held? How many competitors were there and were they from US only? Also, what was the name of the tournament?

I think I remember you saying that it was the first karate tournament in all of the USA.... That's why I want to have my facts before answering any questions. 

Appreciate your response. Thanks. 

Regards, Vladimir Fookson 

My first tournament, eh?

1960. Held at the Bavarian Haufbraw in Boston.

competitors: About 30, all from my school.... since I had the only school around.

We sent 50 competitors to Chicago later that year for the First World Championships. To my knowledge, mine was the first held in the USA.

Best, George -

Hello all:

Hope this not finds you all working out hard and strong. The Uechi Ryu referee certification program has been developing great. We have at this point certified 38 new Uechi Ryu tournament referee's. We have held two fantastic children's Uechi Ryu / Shohei Ryu tournaments. The third tournament will be hosted by promoter George Mattson. Scheduled for May 31st, Plymouth, Ma. The attendance and support has been nothing less then GREAT. 

I am sending this notice out early so those that decide to become Certified Uechi Ryu Tournament Referee's & Judgers, will have time to study the rules, for the written test section of the certification process. There is a 57 question test. One must get 50 correct, to pass. This test was designed to produce the best and brightest Uechi Ryu / Shohei Ryu has to become tournament officials. 

YES,, the test is hard,,, but in return, the competitors know they are being judged by the very best in Uechi Ryu & Shohei Ryu.....

This program has become so popular that we have already expanded this program to Florida. I have received a number of emails from people that have taken the referee test last summer at the camp. This summer all those that have taken the test can finish up the program. Along with anyone else that would like to join the program for the first time, and become an official Uechi Ryu Referee. All those that have, or will be completing the program. Will be receiving their official certification diplomas at this years summer camp. Presented by Master George Mattson.

If you will be completing, or you would like to join and become an official Uechi Ryu referee, please just contact me. I will provide you will all the information needed to join. Please remember, you do not have to be a black belt to join the program and become a certified official. In addition you: Do not have to be a member of the IUKF to become a certified Uechi Ryu Referee. 

This program is open to all Uechi Ryu and Shohei Ryu practitioners of all ranks, and all groups. Minimum age of 18. 

Their will be two training sessions offered at this years summer camp. If you would like to complete the program, or join it for the first time. You need to contact Jay Salhanick, and I will reserve a slot for you in the seminar. I will also provide you a full copy of the tournament rule's that need to be studied for the written test.

The two schedule sessions for the referee certification at the summer camp are: August 8th & 9th - Friday & Saturday 10am - Noon. Taught by Allan Azoff 5th dan, & Jay Salhanick 6th dan.

Please contact me with any question's. Hope to see you all their.

Thank you - Jay Salhanick 

The Uechi Ryu Karate Academy announces a seminar with one of the most renowned figures of Uechi Ryu Karate-Do
Mr. James Thompson, 8th Dan
Saturday, June 7, 2003
Schedule:
Morning session: 9:30-11:30
Lunch Break: 11:30-1 PM
Afternoon session 1-4:30 PM
Topics include Sanchin, Kata, and important applications
Seminar fee: $40 for all sessions
All Adult Students are urged to attend this important event.
If you are an instructor, please forward to your students
Location
Uechi Ryu Karate Academy
3834 Ridge Pike, Collegeville, PA 19426
Phone 610-454-1230
Email: Stephen.drehobl@verizon.net
Please rsvp, directions to the dojo are available

Greetings, the Connecticut Kenyukai Association looks forward to your participation in this June's Koshukai-2003, to be held at the University of Connecticut. The Uechi-ryu event is hosted by Master John Spencer with honored guests Kiyohide and Narahiro Shinjo. If you haven't signed up please do so quickly:

Dates: Monday June 22 - Saturday June 21. 

1. Registrants received by May 1, 2003 receive a free Koshukai2003 Souvenir T-shirt. 2. The special hotel rates of $60.00/double + tax at the official Koshukai 2003 Hotel (Nathan Hale Inn - 860-427-7888) expire on May 23, after which the rate is $129/single + tax. 

Please review detailed registration and event information at our website: www.Koshukai2003.Com 

Sincerely 

John Griffin Shihan-Godan Uechi Karate Academy 1841 Broad Street Hartford, Ct., 06114 (860) 241-9155 

Dear Sensei Mattson:

Please forgive me for troubling you with this email. 

I was one of the Rad Smith's original uechi students at the University of Virginia in 1974-75. I remember that you visited the class. I have a distinct memory of you correcting my stance. 

I learned only last week, to my great shock and sadness, that Rad passed away in 1998. Although I spent only about a year with him, he and his art made an indelible impression which has lasted for almost 30 years....

I am now re-beginning my study of the martial arts, at age 49. I have been unable to locate a uechi ryu dojo in my area, Rockland County, (just north of New York City and northern New Jersey). Can you suggest a teacher in my geographic area? Rockland County New York would be the best area. Bergen County New Jersey as well is accessible. 

Thank you very much. 

Michael A. Koplen (University of Virginia, Class of 1975)

Dear Senseis in Newton Dojo

How are you, Sir ? I started to work in Waseda University as research associate. Also I keep on training Karate in Uehara's Dojo. I talked to Uehara's students about precious experiences in Newton Dojo. Everyone have been interested in my talks. Thank you for teaching me.

By the way, I got new e-mail address from university. Please send e-mail to this new address when you need. 

Sincerely

Hiroaki Uechi

Dear Hanshi:

 I was delighted to receive your monthly newsletter. Thank you George for including me on your mailing list. I am truly impressed by your message and the variety of your initiatives. Your urging to be open minded and accommodating while at the same time genuinely proud to be practitioners of a uniquely pure martial art, was exactly right. 

I regret that I have had to step away from my Uechi on account of the demands of my day job and the rigors of full work-outs on an aging body. The risk of breaking or dislocating (still more) fingers & toes from sparring and the too-slow healing time was not conducive to presiding on the Court of Appeal. I have told Sensei Hunt that if he were to open a masters class for senior (in age) black belts , restricted to cardio, and kata I would be the first to sign up ! Perhaps he'll be open to that suggestion one day. 

For the time being I have gone back to running and yoga, which is fine but sure doesn't have the same thrill as karate. Your stories about Jim Maloney ( a friend of mine from NS days ) and Bob Campbell, whom I've never met but another fellow Dave always praised, and what they and others have done in bringing new insight to the old styles, to me speaks well of the vitality and continuing relevance of Uechi-ryu. Please give Jim my best regards. 

Continued success, 

Jamie

Dear Mr.Mattson!


My name is Eva Smets.I'm 43 years old.Started to train in an Uechi Ryu Dojo 3 month ago. Searching for information about this stile of karate I fond a strory written by Jaqueline S.Blackburn.I was at the point to give up to train but this story made me understand that it's never late to practise karate. In this 3 month I have learen to performing Sanchin,Kanshiwa, Kanshu and I'm experiencing Seichin Katas right now. I also fond some video clips where you are giving demonstration.I gather everything what can help me to find my way in the world of Uechi Ryu Karate.

With my respect : 
Smets 
 ==============================

Hi Mr.Mattson!

Thanks to inform me about SummerFest. I would love to be there and my dream to meet you but I' m afraid I be not able to join at this time.

You know I'm living in Belgium but originally I'm a Hungarian. Summer is the only time of the year I 'm going to visit my country, family and friends. My mother is in her old age so we try to spend as much time together as possible.

Mr. Mattson! Do you know that I'm the same person who purchased - with your help-the CD from Gary Khoury not so long ago. Since then happened a lot to me. Your name seems to be a legend in the karate world. When I told in the DOJO that you helped me out behavior of the people turned 360degree.Many of young people dreams to meet you once in there life so as I. At the very first time I sent a mail to you had no idea who you really are so, I feel very honored to receive help from you. Hope to meet you once in my life.

Arigato Gozamaishita.
Smets Eva 

Thanks for the kind remarks Eva. My wife Susan keeps me humble. :) GEM

 Subject: I have a Question about weapons.

Hello my name is Chris Silk and I'm an Assistant at Khoury's Karate Academy in Tewksbury, MA. I'm really looking forward to this years Uechi-Ryu Championship and I have a few question about the weapons division. Can we use nunchakus and when will we be called to perform our weapons kata? Thank you for your time and help.

Chris

Hi Chris:

I've forwarded your question to Jay Salhanick. You didn't mention whether you will be competing in the adult or Junior divisions.

If you are talking about the adult division, there are only two categories, under black belt and black belt. All weapon categories may be demonstrated, including nunchakus.

Weapons division for adults will be held after kata & pre-arranged kumite, but before the adult kumite.

Best, George Mattson 

Hello Chris:

Nunchakus are totally acceptable in the tournament. The only concern is, please make sure either the rope, cord, or chain, that connects the two parts, is in "perfect" condition. We do not want to have them brake apart while you are preforming. I have seen this happen more then once. The head official will be checking the weapon for safety.

The normal progression for competing is. We will start with the two person sets, then go into the weapons divisions, then into Kata, and finish with fighting. However,,, The coordination team has the option to change, or modify the schedule as we feel it is necessary for the best flow of the tournament. Therefore, I also "Strongly" suggest that all competition are their on time, at the start of the entire event. If the competitor misses their division, for "ANY" reason. Does not matter why,,, they will not be allowed to enter the division once it has started, or to compete in another division. Those are the rules. Please be on time.

Take care, and good luck..

Jay Salhanick

dear george 

thank u for answering and for taking care of my order , in you're hands i'm sure everything will go smooth i heard alot about you and its an honor for me to talk to you my name is shai hai im 20 years old from israel and training chinese pangainoon style of kung fu for about 10 years now under the titluage of sifu mr.moshe gorelik a former top student of sifu mr.richard ratzkoff(from usa nh) wiche is a good freind of mine for the last 3 years i was also in charge as a teacher/instarctur in some kung fu clubs of sifu moshe gorelik teaching many students of different ages and skills. for the last 7 years sifu moshe gorelik has been teaching a very spaicel martail art that he has founded and devaloped by himself called isai-israeli art of integrity based also on pangainoon and on the netural movement of the humen body(like walking for exm) i belive u will found isai website very intersting i will be very happy if u could take look at the website hope to hear from u soon with much respact 
shai hai 
http://www.isai.info 
 ================================
Dear Mr. Mattson,

My student Shai have sent me your reply to his message. Thank you very much for your letter. It's very pleasant for me.

I have studied Pangei Noon under Sifu Richard Ratzkoff from Boston, USA. I understand you know him. With the same roots our work and all arrangement look different.

Some 16 years ago we, Richard and me, bought your book 'Uechiryu Karate Do' and I consider it as an excellent book endeed. 

As a general secretary of Wushu (Kung Fu) Federation of Israel I was lucky to meet some leading Wushu masters and also to see and to read some materials about MA from many parts of the world, not only from Japan or China. I never saw something even resembling ISAI. It is very strange because the movements of ISAI are most natural ones for humans and the theoretical concept of the art is very simple. The fractal model of ISAI can be also applied (and I apply it) for therapy.

Can I publish you letter in our site? Or may be you could write about your impression in our guest book? Thank you in advance. 

Finally I would like to express my support to your fight in Iraq. God bless you and your country, we are all on your side. 

With very best regards,

Moshe

Dear Mr. Gorelk:

Thanks for your kind response.

I have heard of Mr. Ratzkoff, but can not remember much about him. Since I was the only person teaching Uechi-ryu in America during the 60s, I'm sure he must have been a student at one time.

As I mentioned to Mr. Shai, I viewed your website and found what you are doing most interesting, unique and creative. One of the problems many Uechi practitioners have, is their inability to take the basics and translate these movements into ones that can be used in the real world. I would say that your "sets" approach the problem in a workable manner. 

You may publish my letters in any way that may be helpful to you. 

Stay in touch,

Best, George Mattson

Dear George, 


I am looking for any Uechi Dojo in the Boston Area that might have noon time or so classes, or morning? 

I am a shodan, having studied at Gavendas dojo for several years, great teacher, poor business skills. 

I am 46, and enjoy the style because after an achilles tendon rupture and Back Surgery, there is still a lot I can do. 

I do business with Fred and Harry Channell also. (chemical sales) 


Also, anyone who might do private lessons once a week? 

I live in Danvers,Mass. 

Thank you 

Tom

I wish to contact Jacqueline S. Blackburn (Okinawan Uechi Ryu Academy Halifax). Do you have contact information for her?

Ms. Dana L. Stamos 

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