October, 2001 Mailbag

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MailBag Feedback Forum archives.[please do not post to this archive forum]

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



  O Great Spirit, a tragedy of ungodly proportions has struck America at the hands of merciless, unholy beings. I pray and give my condolences to the families and friends of those great souls who are heaven bound, from New York, The Pentagon, and Pennsylvania. Their strength and spirit was tested, a test which they all passed with flying colors. O Great Spirit, give us, and the leaders of our America, the iron of their spirit so we will have their strength and guidance to bring this terrible  event to a Godly and righteous conclusion. May the warm sunshine of a new day give us hope and encouragement for the future. This I ask, in your name, amen.

   Kodokan, Okinawa Goju Ryu Karate Do,
   Kimo Wall

 

Estimados amigos

informamos a ustedes de la formacion de la UNION ARGENTINA DE KARATE UECHI.

Nuestra pagina web es : 

www.geocities.com/uechikarate

Alli podra informarse en detalle.

Sensei Carlos Ciriza 

Renshi Rokudan 

finally i found a date that there is no ravens game or oriels or marathon! oct27th saturday @12:oo -2:00 WITH ABOUT 30 MIN DEMO FOLLOWING at the university of Maryland gym located on Pratt st in Baltimore off 395 off martin luther king blvd 10th floor of the university parking garage the entire 10th floor it can`t be missed anyone can park on the 9th and walk to the 10th or to save the fee park on the street and take the elevator up to the 9th floor and stairs to the10th 

sheldon dunn info call me @410 288-9028 e-mail masterrenshi@aol.com shelly

Dear Sensei Mattson 
Due to the recent events interrupting everyone's travel and lives, we are unable to schedule the officials seminars that we were planning prior to the tournament. Rather than have less than a first class event I have decided to reschedule the tournament for the spring. I am also planning to have at least two seminars before the event the first of which I will have in November. 
sincerely yours, 
Stephen Perry

George,

I'm developing a mailing list to send out announcements once my novel launches in July. (Also to invite people to readings when I have one in their home city.) Would you please send me your address so I can send you one, as well as any of my other friends from our extended family?

Thanks, Jay Nussbaum

P.S. After your last note, I had to ask Bobby, "Who's Tia? Did George and Susan have another child?" He told me it was your dog!

Jay: Please send me your schedule of appearances and I'll post it. Good luck. GEM


Dear M.Mattson,

As member of swiss uechi-ryu karate club (Geneva), I would like to order your book and know about your publications. Are there any translations in french? Thank you.

Mansour. 

Sorry, but no translations of my book. Interested in a project? :) GEM

Dear friends, 
I am Razikov Bahtiyor, president of the  Federation of Karate of the Samarkand area, regional representative of International college of Martial arts, would like to adjust contacts to international organizations specializing in the field of martial arts. Our young organization has been existing since 1996, and for such short term it has already gathered 5000 sportsmen. 

Also our organization has opened 25 branches for this period, thus giving an opportunity to go in for this kind of sport for many people. The sportsmen of our organization actively participate in various championships, which are held in many cities of the world: Championships of the World of Karate in USA (1995,2000), Asia (1997), Brazil (1998), Macao (1998), Germany (2000) and many others; Training seminars were held by instructors as H. Nishiama (the President of ITKF- 9 dan), H.Nakadzava (President of SKIF-9 dan), and also Chak Norris (President of BFAF). Participating in many competitions, our sportsmen have shown good results and have achieved the high awards. 

There are owners of a rank of the champions of the World, Asia etc. among them. We shall agree to cooperate with you, taking part in seminars, joint trainings, competitions for exchange of experience with pleasure, hoping, that it will promote not only to develop Martial arts, but also to strengthen the friendly relations between our countries. With best regards, The president of Federation of Karate of the Samarkand area, Mr. Bahtiyor Razikov 

Dear Mr. Razikov:

Thank you for your kind letter and information concerning your Federation of Karate.

If you have the opportunity, please drop in to our Forums (you can link to them from http://uechi-ryu.com ) and participate in our many discussion groups, including the one on Karate competition. We also sponsor a forum hosted by Scott Sonnon, who specializes in Russian martial arts.

All of our events, seminars and tournaments are posted on the main page and in these forums. Looking forward to working with you.

Best, GEM

Not too long after they came out I ordered copies of VidMag 17: Basics 1 and VidMag 19: Basics 3 (I don't think Basics 2 was available at that time for some reason). Now I notice that Basics 3 is listed as VidMag 18B and VidMag 19 is now Master Senaga's Karate. My question is whether the Basics 3 video I purchased a few years ago as VidMag 19 is the same as the Basics 3 video currently listed as VidMag 18B? Thanks in advance!

Glenn Humphress Lincoln, NE 


I messed up with this series and ended up publishing a whole 18 series. The original VidMag 19 is now 18A or B. (Forgot the sequence) 

Best, GEM

Dear Mr. Mattson, I write to ask your advice on re-joining Uechi-Ryu. I studied under Howard Flynn in Burlington, VT in the early '70's (when I was in my late teens), and then a bit with Bobby Boyd around 1978. I reached 1st degree brown (Howard was a reticent promoter, I was told, but that is immaterial now). Since that time I have been out of practice as I moved from one place to another during graduate school and beyond. Now I am back in the area permanently as a newly-tenured professor of biology at Harvard ( I study insects and plants) and am thinking about getting back in shape. It was exciting then, with Howard, Andy Pond and Spring Schoelkopf (sp?) in the dojo, and I learned later in the 80's of Howard's passing. All spoke often and warmly of you. I have just ordered your books over the phone from G&S Consulting, and was told of your Sat class In Newton (perhaps I could stop by) and a dojo near the fleet center that might be most convenient for me (I work in Cambridge obviously, and live in Medford). Al Huff was the name I was given, though I cannot seem to find a number or precise address. I will certainly appreciate any information you may be able to offer, and remain, cordially yours, Brian 

Hi Brian:

Congratulations on your new position at Harvard. 

If you have time, please drop in to my Saturday morning class at the "Hut" in Newton. The 9-10am session is for people, like yourself, who may need a little help getting back to class. We have a number of Brown and Black belts who attend that class.

You may stay for the advanced session from 10 - 11:30 am. Just step aside if anything gets too physical for you or if you are unsure of the kata or drill. We have lots of teachers in this class who will be happy to help you out.

Ed Huff teaches in downtown Boston near the Fleet Center. I don't have his dojo number, but he can be reached at: 617-696-8046. Of course, you are invited to participate in our forums, which can be accessed through links on the Uechi-ryu.com home page. 

Hope to see you Saturday.
GEM

Dear Sensei, Greetings from Bangladesh. We are one and only Goju Ryu Karate Federation in Bangladesh. We are promoting the teachings of Chojun Miyagi all around Bangladesh. We have over 1,000 members dotted all around Bangladesh. I am also the student of Sensei Stanko Kumer President and Chief instructor JKF Goju Kai Germany and Vice President of JKF Goju Kai Europe. I am very interested in Unchi Ryu, as I understand that Unchi Ryu Karate and Goju Karate started from the main source of Okinawa Karate......Fuchow China. I would like to know about you, how and why you learned this very Classical and Unique Martial Art. People usually go for popular style of Karate. In your case you are a exception. I will be eagerly waiting to hear from you.

Thanking in advance for your kind cooperation. Imran Rahman. National Karate Coach. & Chief Instructor Goju Ryu Karate Do Bangladesh. 
 ======================================

More from Imran:

Respected Sir, 

Thank you very much for your mail. I down loaded your article from your web page. You have wrote it very correctly. If you allow me , I would like to ask you, What is Traditional Karate? And how old is the Tradition of Karate? As I understand The form of Karate that we practice today has its roots in Okinawa....and that is not so old as Chinese Martial Arts. In my small understanding I want to know what really is traditional Karate.... and how old is it? 

Another thing Sensei I would like to know, in your style of Karate you practice some similar Kata's as we do like Kata Sanchin, Shisochin, Sanseru, I hard that you all practice the Kata in its Original version. For my understanding I would like to learn the Katas....how can I learn from you "The Grand master" of your style. Or if you have any branch in India, I can contact the instructor there and learn from him? as right now I cannot go to the US. Thanking you. Waiting in anticipation.

Sincerely Your's. Imran. 

Traditional or Classical karate simply refers to a style of karate with roots on Okinawa or China. I suspect that the Japanese and Koreans would also consider their systems as traditional.

Although Goju and Uechi-ryu are known as Okinawan styles, they in fact, have origins in China.

I suggest that you contact our IUKF representative in India, M.SRINIVASULU. I've cc'ed this letter to him. GEM

Sensei

Would please send me E/Fax or post details of next years Summer Camp 2002(as soon as you have details)

I do hope that you, your family and all of students are well.

Kind Regards to you all.

Jim Walker, 
Uechi-Ryu Karate, Liverpool England.

Watch to Uechi-ryu.com website for information Jim. Hope you can make it to our camp. GEM

To all our martial art friends:

Please note that the location and address has changed for the Okinawan Kobudou Training Days and for the Kobudou-Karate Cross Training Days:

Woodland Self Defense School of Karate 1038 Beamer ST., Suite H. Woodland, CA 95696 Instructor phone # (707) 428-7266

School phone number if you get hung up in directions: (530) 661-3188 This is not a general number, call on that day only if you have questions. Otherwise call Shihan Bolz at the 707 area code #.

Our aopologies to any and all those who did not get contacted and showed up at the old site in Placerville. The above location is solid, please don't worry, but you can always call ahead to make sure if you are driving a long distance.

Hope to see you there! Bring your favorite snacks and drinks!

Shihan Mary Bolz International Okinawa Kobudou Assn. Pwang Gai Noon Ryu Karate Do Seibu Juku c/o The IconoClass 701 Howe Ave., Suite # H-59 Sacramento, CA 95825 (707) 428-7266 

Mr. Mattson,

I was curious to see what Mr. Van Canna look like? I used your search engine and must say it Sucks! Almost every title was not able to complete the connection?

The page cannot be displayed 


Jim 

Van, like many people, prefer not to have their photographs displayed on the web. You can visit and workout with him any Monday or Wednesday though and see him in person. Regarding the search engine, many former links were lost in a recent server attack, where many files were destroyed. Of course, the search engine still remains very helpful in finding information. GEM

Sensei, If you can, please add me to your school list. Hingham Karate Hingham Community Center 70 South Street Hingham, Ma. 02043 Fred Channell Uechika@msn.com 781-749-9786

Thank You Fred Channell 

My pleasure Fred. Done! GEM

Hi Mr. Mattson, 
This is Steve Periman From Cortez Co. I am one of Rose Dyres students that you tested for black belt. I have wanted to tell you that I really enjoyed your videos that I bought on line. I am going to buy some more soon. they were really informative and I enjoyed your teaching on them. I also wanted to tell you that I have really learned much from this style of Karate. 

I enjoy working out with Frank, Angela, and Lynda at the school that is here now in Cortez. I hope that one day soon that we can bring you back out here so I can learn more from you. 

Thanks for the kind letter Steve. I enjoyed working with your group and am looking forward to a return visit. Enjoy the videos. GEM

Hi there. Sorry I didn't make it camp this year; couldn't for a variety of reasons. Still practicing my sanchin (and Larry's UF) but have to admit to not having been to a class for a _long_ time. ;-)

I'm trying to hunt up a current number for Robbie Buckland; I spoke to him a few months ago and know he's living in Rhode Island now, but the number I have for him is in Pittsfield and I gather he's not there much. If you can, please put me in touch with him, or if you hear from him ask him to call me again.

I still have a stock of those big dragon and tiger wall hanging things; Rob has quite a few of them, too, which apparently a few dojos back there have bought from him. I'm wondering if there's some kind of arrangement I can make with you vis a vis your online store, as I have to liquidate a lot of my belongings in the next while and would like to see these go to people who would appreciate their symbolism (and beauty). I've also got a few very beautiful Turkish carpets that I'd like to put on the market (hint, hint) although these aren't suitable for an Oriental Arts online store..........

Best regards

Mike Cleven 

Good to hear from you Mike. Send me pictures of items you wish to sell and I'll post on our Forum Emporium. GEM

Hello, this is David Benson. I have many things to say and I will try to keep them short. First off I absolutely LOVED summer camp. Although I was a gokyu and thus unable to attend Tomoyose Sensei's class, just merely seeing him do parts of kata showed the incredible power that he has. Also watching you do Sanchin was just amazing. Not to mention Jim Maloney doing Sanseiryu which was excellent. My only comment is that I wish that Summer camp be 4-5 days rather than 3. However I realize that most peoples schedules would probably interfere and attendance would be less. Secondly, I know it sounds strange but once or twice a week I will get a physical/mental "feeling" about a technique or kata. Anyway, today I got that feeling about Sanchin (which is my favorite kata) before I say anymore I want you to know that the "feeling" doesn't mean changing the moves in the kata, just the way I perform it. Anyway I did Sanchin and eventually I went through it slowly trying to get my Sanchin to match the feeling I had about it. And when I finally matched the 2 sanchins (the feeling one, and the one I was doing) It felt great, I wasn't even close to being out of breath even when doing TC, and I was focusing without even feeling it and the steps although they felt weak to me when I asked my dad to test the stepping, he said it was focused. It also flows more now. 

But the best part is that I have finally achieved a true active meditation state (I had it earlier but not as much) I don't even remember doing the kata until I'm done, unless I want to loo! k at the moves. Finally, I was looking around the forums and found a glitch in the site. when you go to the forum site and go to the very bottom and click on "Visit the Forum Archives! Click here: Forum Archives" and then search for something, it says the search result site doesn't exist. Sincerely, David 

Thanks for the very nice letter David. Seems like you are picking up many of your father's ability and sensitivity. I'll look into that link problem. Hope we didn't lose it when the site was attacked recently. GEM

thank you for the weekend 

great time, great people lots of talent 


regards chris swan 

Because of my computer problems, I didn't have an opportunity to post the many letters received from happy campers. This year's camp was really special and everyone who attended were especially fortunate. GEM

Dear Mr. Mattson,

The summer camp was excellent. I was one of the students promoted to shodan. It was an honor to be able to test in the presence of Mr. Tomoyose. It will always be one of my greatest memories.

I am a student of Mr. Perry's and have just moved to the Las Vegas area. I am very interested in continuing my uechi training and am looking for other practitioners locally. If you know of any people would you please forward their names. 

Thank you

Luke R. Watson

Hi, Thanks for the camp. Meeting Tomoyose was a pleasure.

Super person with poise, strength, positive energy and a sense of humor. What a treat to be in his company. When children flock to a person like they did to him.... it is clear that he is something special...... children can still sense kindness at its roots.

The weather you ordered up was without peer. I look forward to the big reunion next year.

Al san. 

Sensei,

That was a fantastic camp - I wish I could've come for the whole thing. It was great to see Sensei Tomoyose. I had expected him to be very "formal," but he's actually just like you. I found his Seisan kata extremely interesting.

I am going to be playing in the US Chess Open from August 4-12, so I am unfortunately missing the next two Saturdays (August 4th and 11th).

Thank you, Tim Suzman ---

Thanks for the notification. I wish you success and hope everyone enjoys themselves. I wish i could be there. I enjoyed your web site. Please visit my web site sometime at, kimowall.com With respectful hands, Kimo Wall ---

Hi Mr. Mattson,

Have been scheduled for training from my work place (department of corrections), during the camp so I am quite disappointed. The lineup of events sounds tremendous. If I could duck this training, I would, but it is mandatory.

I hope that next year, you will keep me in mind as I would really enjoy something that diverse and intense.

Also, I am looking to purchase a Gi with the Uechi gangi embroidered on it. If you have any leads on that, I would be interested in following up.

Thanks much. 
Respectfully, 
Mike McMahon

Please check the Kodora brand for the best uniforms and prices around. I understand they will also do custom embroidery if requested. GEM

Hi Sensei Mattson;

Congratulations on the confirmation that Tomoyose Sensei will be at your camp. Even though he is somewhat retired from teaching Uechi-Ryu, I'm sure his presence there will energize the camp. On a personal level, I hope you and he can get back to where you were in the past.

As usual, Sensei Mott energized Edmonton in June. His skills and perspective are amazing. I find myself looking at him with awe and wondering if I will ever be able to attain his level. Maybe another 20 years of hard work. His influence on the Edmonton Uechi community is immeasurable and the fact that he continually makes the annual visit here speaks loudly for his dedication to the art. In my opinion, he is probably the most underrated instructor in North America.

Talk to you soon,

Doug Smith 

Hi. I've studied shohei ryu karate for a bit over two years now, but I don't really understand the differences between it and uechi ryu. I think I should be able to understand this, and I would be thrilled if you could e-mail me a letter of explanation, or tell me where I could find such information. Thank you very much for you time.

paul_kios
Paul:

There really isn't any difference. I've worked out with Shohei-ryu teachers recently and they do the same Uechi-ryu as I do. 

The name change is more a result of a split within the administrative body on Okinawa than a system change.

Hope this helps. GEM

I have a friend that I work with that studied Uechi-ryu in Okinawa while in the air force. Do you know of any schools in the Chicago area that teach this art? 

Sincerely, 

Chris 

Check out our "Instructor Listing". David Kahn should be able to help your friend. GEM

 

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

 

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