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

Dear sensei Mattson,

First of all, thank you for your quick and informative reply.

> I am so pleased that you enjoyed your semnar with Takayasu sensei. > I've heard that he is a very excellent teacher.

I'm just a beginner in Uechi-ryu so probably I can't properly estimate Takayasu sensei's abilities, but what I can tell you is that he seemed to me a wonderful human being. He can take a time for explaining things in a good way to white belts like with a smile in his face, and he teaches much about peace and friendship. Of course he seemed to me a great karate practitioner too.
. . .
Best wishes, Benito
 

Uechi Newsletter Feedback:

Hi George,

I enjoyed your discussion in this month's e-newsletter very much. Your 50 years of experience allow you an overview that most of us have not yet experienced. So it's great to hear your analysis of the integration of traditional MAs into the modern world. This model is practical and workable and a guide for us who wonder at times where we are going and what to emphasize. This takes us beyond the pleasures and daily discipline of working out from day to day. Chotoku Kyan said "Get interested in the pursuit, not the possession. The race, not the goal. Effort is everything."

By "pursuit" he meant: Form, Energy, and Method (Applications and Weapons)

I look forward to your next newsletter, Sensei.

Paul Haydu

Thanks Paul GEM

Mr. Mattson,
I enjoy reading your news letter each month. The news letter for April is very good and timely. I also think that what you are attempting and doing with IUKF is far more than what I have from others. Thank you for sending it to me.

Sincerely Charles Roberts

Tournament News!

Hi, George,

Just to let you know that I am still live and kicking, and can't wait to see everyone again in the Summer Camp.

Attached is a picture of Leo with a couple of trophies he won today. A second place for his combined Seiru and Seisan, and a first place for getting a bloody nose.

Take care---

Henry Thom

www.selfdefense-lessons.com

At first, I thought one of those trophies was yours Henry! See you at camp. And we sure would like to see Leo competing in June at the Uechi Championships! Congratulations to Leo, who obviously is a "chip off the old block! " GEM

 

Sensei,

How are you? I hope fine. I'm trying to coordinate my 10th Annual Martial Arts Tournament in November around my trips to the U.K and Dan grading requirements for some students. I'm having to change the date of the tournament in November from the 21st to possibly the 14th because that time conflicts with the W.K.F championships this year; in which Bermuda is being represented. Will you be available to grade these students either before or after the Tournament?

Best regards to Susan.

Al Wharton

Good to hear from you Al. Please keep us posted regarding your tournament dates so we can make plans to be there. I understand a number of dojo are sending teams. Should be quite an event. GEM

Hello All:

I would like to congratulate Len Testa on running a great kids tournament. The event itself ran with out a hitch. All 120 plus competitors, along with their families, had a great time. I would also like to thank and congratulate all the IUKF referees for providing a fantastic day of judging. All referees preformed brilliantly, there was not one problem that came up all day. You people are the best…….

One of our newest referee's proved he has other talents other then his 35 years of martial art training. Darin Yee gave a great performance singing the national anthem. I have known Darin personally for over 30 years. I had no idea that he could actually sing. He really was good…..

There is just one tournament remaining for this year's series. Master George Mattson's tournament scheduled in June. Please mark your calendars, and get ready for this grand championship event.

Thank you

Jay Sal

SummerFest News & Views

Hey Rory and Kami will be at camp this year!

I am very happy about you and Kami being able to attend SummerFest. I'm sure all your Forum friends will also be pleased about meeting you in person and training with you.

We have many "presenters", so no one has to work too hard. The sessions are one hour in length and presenters can do one in the morning and one in the afternoon. (Or only one if you wish)

If you check out the SummerFest site, ( http://www.uechi-ryu.com/oldsite/fests/summerfest ) and the schedule for last year, you might get some ideas for a seminar that you can present. I'd be happy to go over your ideas and let you know what I feel will be the most interesting to the group.

Best, George

Sorry this took so long, George. Life is crazy and fun (mostly) right now.

I have a couple of 'canned' classes.

'Everything there is to know about joint locks' takes about an hour. Same with everything about takedowns. 'Infighting striking' might be useful, or 'entries'. I'm working on a class for a seminar in Seattle in May about bridging the gap between MA training and reality, a heavy lecture on assumptions, strategic vs tactical training and the twilight zone stuff of violence. I could also intro some Sosuishitsu kata. Whatever sounds good to you.

I'm looking forward to meeting everyone and really seeing Uechi. A lot of the discussion on the board goes way over my head (I've even read one of your books... one of my best training drills ever was from completely misunderstanding something you wrote) because my knowledge base is so poor.

Rory

 Subject: 2004 Summerfest

George,

Can you tell me when you will have the 2004 Summerfest applications on line?

Thanks, Jen Elliott

I don't normally get around to that before April, when I do my annual brochure for our tournament and Fest.

If you subscribe to my monthly Yahoo bulletin (found on the home page uechi-ryu.com) you will be notified.

Thanks for asking...

George Mattson

PS: I'm doing the mailing now. If anyone wants information, please email me. GEM

Nice Letters from Nice People

-----Original Message----- From: Mohr.RW@forces.gc.ca To: gmattson@uechi-ryu.com Sent: Thu, 4 Mar 2004 21:25:41 -0500 Subject: The Hidden Benefits of Karate

Good Day George;

I just finished reading the essay written by Kelsey Morgan on the Uechi Ryu.COM website. A very articulate and dedicated young woman I must say. She will do her Junior Black Belt honour I believe.

It did make me reflect on my own 11 year old daughter and her recent experiences as a result of training in Uechi Ryu. Elisabeth began her training approximately 2 years ago with Dave Hunt in Halifax NS. She was very active prior to joining karate in dance, mainly classical ballet and modern jazz from the age of 4.

Very early on her instructors recognized a real talent in her for dance. She progressed through the junior levels with relative ease and was selected at age 9 for enrollment in their exclusive Intensive Training Program, an invitation only group of qualified and dedicated pupils who have been identified as possessing superior talent and potential for dance as a career. A program with a goal to prepare students for audition for the prestigious dance conservatories.

However, in her last two years building up to that invitation, her mother and I noticed that she seemed more and more to be simply going through the paces in her dance studies, not really taking any joy in it anymore. This also was noticed by her dance instructors, who were understandably concerned and believed that she was no longer being challenged enough in the junior program. It was their hope that once she commenced the intensive training program she would regain interest in dancing.

Unfortunately, the problem was not so simple. You see, it wasn't the challenge of dance she was missing, it was the simple joy of dancing. She loved to dance, but not in the regimented format that was demanded of her more and more as she progressed. Also, she revealed to us that the "intensive training" program was simply not intense enough for her physically. She wanted more, but separate from dance, which she never wished to pursue as a career in any case. She certainly had grace, enough to excel in dance, but increasingly we were convinced her grace was not that of a swan, but rather a tiger.

She had always showed an interest in the martial arts, probably through listening to myself speaking of my experiences training as a teen in Shaolin and later in my 20's in Yang Style Tai Chi. Also her older cousin was training in Uechi Ryu. I suggested to her after one tearful evening discussing her dance prospects that perhaps she might wish to explore a different path, the one of karate. She immediately lit up like the sun.

She and I spent the next week researching and visiting various schools of martial art styles. We eventually found ourselves at her cousin's dojo, Dave Hunt's Uechi Ryu Karate. I was immediately impressed at the fact he and his wife Joanne taught the young kids themselves rather than delegate their early foundational development to a senior student. I also found the style to be vary unique. Its Chinese heritage was immediately evident to me as it incorporated many of the same postures I knew from Yang Style.

She commenced training and it was soon evident to us that she indeed was missing this in her life. She has taken to her karate studies in such a way as we never saw her take to her dance studies, especially in those last few years. The physicality of it appeals to her (she IS a jock at heart, no doubt), she relishes sparring, one of the few girls in her class that actually do (especially against the boys, who unfortunately don't really know what to make of her). Equally important to us as parents are the real benefits we have observed karate instill in her these past few years.

You see, Elisabeth was diagnosed with a form of dyslexia at the age of 7. Basically she has a learning disorder which can impede the processing of information from short term memory into long term memory. It also affects the way information is registered and converted through reading, listening into written text. She has been seeing a pathologist for the past 4 years who has assisted her tremendously in learning to work with her differences, however nothing prepared us for the dramatic change that awaited us. You see, shortly after commencing training in karate we noted a marked improvement in her scholastic results. This trend continues to this day. While her sessions with the pathologist set her on a steady curve of improvement, there was a significant spike in her rate of improvement and achievement which we can only attribute to her increased skills in concentration and focus gained from study in the katas. At this time she is scoring 100% in grammar exams and high 90's in mathematics. Her teachers have informed us she is one of their top students in grade 5.

She has already expressed her desire to progress as far as she can in Uechi Ryu, eventually to teach others so they can also gain from karate's many benefits, some obvious, many not. As her father I am simply thrilled that she instictively seemed to know just what she needed to complete herself. Also, as the father of a young, pretty 11 year old who has all the signs of growing up to be a VERY pretty young woman, you can imagine how much pleasure it gives me to know she is developing a sense of pride, confidence and self esteem that can only help to make her teen years less traumatic. If Kelsey Morgan is any example than my faith is justified.

Thank you for you patience in reading this longer than intended email.

Sincerely;

Richard Mohr Lower Sackville, NS

Hi Richard:

I'm always so pleased to hear of these experiences. Thank you for sharing it with me.

Uechi-ryu has helped many people over the years. But a sensitive and caring instructor must be part of the equation!

Please give my best regards to Elisabeth and let her know that I am very happy that she has discovered Uechi-ryu and plans to become a black belt one day.

Stay in touch.

Best,
George Mattson
 

Dear Mr. Mattson,

I was happy to read you have received Award of Service. Congratulation! So great that your effort rewarded in this way. You really deserve it not only for what you have done for the karate but also because of your kindness. Because you care and never leave anybody without answer. I ask God to bless you! Best Regards

Smets Eva

Thanks Eva. And thanks for volunteering to rebuild the IUKF site. Don Brown was working on it before he became too ill to work. You did a wonderful job on the site. GEM
 

 Subject: Family Tree

Hi Sensei Mattson

I am making a family tree from Uechi to Boucher. If you have a chance to fill in any of the blanks, input or fix mistakes I may have I would be very thank full. Also we are planning to visit your Dojo some time hope to see you there. Jim said to let him know when we are going he will help make to arrangements to meet you. I am looking forward to having you sign my book. Thank you again for any help.

Uechi student
Dalen


From Uechi to Boucher Karate Family Tree

Shusiwai ------------------- China

Kanbun Uechi---- Okinawa ------- Kanie Uechi---------------Okinawa --------- --- Rukyu Tomoyose-- Okinawa

George Mattson-------U.S.A. Massachusetts

Walter Mattson---U.S.A. Massachusetts Charlie Earl------ U.S.A. RI.

Jim Robertson-----------U.S.A. Fort Kent Maine

Dalen Boucher Ashley Boucher Derrick Boucher Alex Boucher

Hi Dalen:

Thanks for writing and good luck with your family tree. Seems like a lot of Bouchers on the list... :)

Looking forward to seeing you one day soon. (Perhaps at SummerFest??)

Please say hello to all your fellow students, family and Jim Sensei.

Best, George Mattson

Dear George:

. . .
I also forgot to mention that at Christmas I found a little gem to tuck in Dave's stocking...a hard cover edition of your first book The Way of Karate! I found it in a downtown used book store and it was in mint condition for $15! Canadian! I couldn't believe my luck! Dave was very pleased to have the book for his collection. We'll have to get it signed next time we meet, please. Out of curiosity, how many hard covers were produced? Dave has always had your soft cover version, but this was a special treat to see.

Hope you are both well...and enjoy Florida!
Thanks again,

Joanne & David Hunt

Hi Joanne:

The only very collectible "Way of Karate" is the first printing. Tuttle produced a few hardcover with a special grass matting cover that was very unique but very expensive. They converted to a more conventional cover soon after. I believe the first printing was around 10,000 copies, but those few with a special cover probably number less than 100. No one at Tuttle even remember this.

I was shipped most of these first books, so remember them fondly. I was very disappointed to see the other cover when we reordered. I gave most of those first books away and didn't even keep one myself.

Because so many hardcovers were printed... something like 28 printings, they are not hard to get. However... those first ones...

The more valuable book is "Uechi-ryu Karate Do". Used, softcovers were going on Amazon for over $400!

When I announced that it would not be reprinted, the price rose fast. I kept 2 cases and am selling them for $100 on Amazon and my website. Only a few hundred hardcovers were printed and those are very valuable. So far, none have shown up anywhere.

Best to you both...

George

Questions

HELLO SIR,

I WAS CURIOUS, IS UECHI RYU ORIGINALLY FOUNDED IN OKINAWA, JAPAN? DO THEY STILL HAVE A SCHOOL THERE? DO THEY TAKE STUDENTS THAT COME FROM ANYWHERE? THE REASON I ASK, IS BECAUSE I BELIEVE I I SAW A CLIP OF UECHI RYU ON A DISCOVERY CHANNEL SPECIAL, AND I AM ACTIVE DUTY AIR FORCE AND AM PLANNING TO PCS TO KADENA AIR FORCE BASE IN OKINAWA. PLEASE REPLY WITH SOME GUIDANCE.
                        Fred Mathis

Hopefully by now you will have heard from our friend on Okinawa, Gordi "Breyette, who will give you all the information you requested. Keep in touch. GEM
 

Looking for a Dojo!

Dear sir may i ask advice?

Hello Mr. Mattson,

My name is Russ . . . .. I am currently reading complete shotokan karate, by Robin Reilly. I saw you  mentioned in the book.

I am 37 and overweight, with various joint problems. I have been interested in the martial arts forever, but my parents never really had the money. I am considering joining an organization. I feel i could benefit from the discipline and for improving my long term health. As i was flipping through the yellow pages I noticed there is a school of uechi-ryu in Brockton. (is that your assoc?) where i have lived all my life.

I also noticed that there are a few shotokan organizations here in Brockton. I found your web site, looking for further info about uechi-ryu. I guess what i am getting at if you please forgive the jabber. what is the difference between the 2. what would you suggest? I spoke briefly with eye of the tiger and they said anyone can study despite limitations. i think i believe that, but i also feel maybe they were not being sincere. maybe it's just me. any info and advice would be greatly appreciated. thank > you for your time sir. take care, russ

Hi Russ:

All styles of karate can be excellent or terrible.... it all depends on the teacher. I'm not familiar with any of the dojo in Brockton, other than Len Testa's dojo. Len has a small dojo, but gives lots of personal attention to all of his students. I highly recommend you give him a call.
Best,
George Mattson
ps. Let me know how you are doing.
 =======================
Brockton Uechi-ryu Karate Academy 55 Oak Street Extension Brockton, MA 02301 MAP 508-583-2122 BUKA Located in West Brockton off of Route 27 on the Brockton-Stoughton Line Home Page: http://BUKAWEB.home.comcast.net

Hi Mr. Mattson,

1st I would like to thank you for replying. I have emailed Mr. Testa, and am waiting for a reply. So you do think i can do it despite my limitations physically? I would really like to try, although my wife is afraid of injury. You have given me some hope in pursuing something I have wanted to do since the age of 10. Thanks again, It means alot.
Russ

Hi Russ:
Len sent me a copy of the letter he sent to you. I hope you begin training and will keep us posted regarding your progress. Karate is good for everyone. . . all ages, all physical condition. . . I hope to see you in class once day soon. GEM

Hello I've just joined Uechi-Ryu egroup on Yahoo. It takes me some time before I get familiarized with such a thing. Could you write me where sre any uechi-ryu dojos near Poland? I train shorin-ryu but I would like very much to start Uechi-ryu trainings. Meybe you know about any semminar which will be held close to Poland? Last year sensei Shimoji came to Poland and my friends liked his way of karate very very much.

Regards Blazej Zalesinski

Hi George,

. . .

We've started working on the architecture and content for a website for Cold Mountain. The guys who did my music site (which has now won 6 major awards for design) are doing it. I'll let you know when it's finished (we're taking our time with the process so that we get it just right).

Love to you and Susan,

David

Always good to hear from you David. We are all looking forward to you 8th dan ceremony in a few months. I find it difficult to believe that you are getting a dojo website... seems to me it wasn't too long ago you wouldn't have a computer in your home! :) GEM

See you next month
GEM

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