August,
2002
Mailbag
| Note: In the course of a month I get
literally thousands of e-mail. I don't normally place correspondence in the
"Mailbag" that are either labeled "personal" or contain information of
a personal nature. As I read and answer mail, if I find a letter that I find interesting,
amusing, topical or educational, it gets filed in my "mailbag" for future use in
this feature. I try to edit out any personal information like addresses or telephone
numbers, unless the writer specifically requests that I publish it. I welcome all e-mail and will answer everyone in as timely a manner as possible. Don't be surprised if you find (or don't find) your message in this section. However, if you are concerned about your letter finding its way into the "Mailbag", simply include in the header or at the beginning of message "personal" and I will honor your request. GEM |
Dear Sensei Mattson,
Thank you many, many times for writing Uechi-ryu Karate Do. I've really needed and used this book very often over 17 years of of-and-on involvement in a dojo. Sensei John Spenser sold me your book in the Fall of 1985.
And since then, 3 months ago, my wife arranged for a second copy to be sent. This copy signed by yourself. Thank you for that very personal gesture.
But the poor first copy! it's really showing it's age, held together with lots of scotch tape and a very large rubberband.
But mainly your thoughtful and instructive book has both trained and inspired me all this time. So, thank you, sensei. You've been guiding and teaching me for many years.
Have you been working on another book?
Hope to meet you some day. I'm 60 years old now and been a brown for nine years. Since making that rank in '93 I've been working out alone or with occasional beginning wolrkout parnters.
And I continue to teach my wife, Carolyn, Uechi-ryu. Be well.
Regards,
J.B. Whitehead
Dear George,
Just to let you know that I received the books and videos for $225. Thank you.
Also, my wife Margaret Colgan also received the book 'Uechi-ryu 2000'. There is still an outstanding amount of $10 owed to you which I wll send on in the next few weeks. We will be looking to buy more material and also thanks for your newsletter of July 21st 2002. Everything we have received is extremely interesting and well researched.
I would like to know if you have a video on hand and body conditioning? If so could you let me know the total cost of same.
Thank you for all your help.
Sincerely,
Raymond & Margaret Colgan
and more from Raymond and Margaret. . .
Dear George,
Just a small letter with some money which I owed you and there is a few dollars extra just to say thanks. We have received all your videos and books with great interest and will be looking for more in the near future.
Yours,
Margaret and Raymond Colgan
Ireland
George & Susan:
On behalf of the crazy Chicago Group, We'd like to thank you both for all your effort in bringing together another spectacular Summer Camp.
We all learned a great deal, made new friends, hung out with old friends, and worked hard sharing ideas and training with everyone we came into contact with.
We thank you both for the opportunity to share and learn and look forward to next year.
Be well,
David, Big Pete (and Valerie), Lil' Pete (and Annette), Mitch and BJ
Hi George:
If its ok with you,,, could we schedule the two Referee training clinics for your tournament on, Saturday Morning - (9am - Noon) - Location to be announced... on dates - 2/22/03 & 4/26/03,,, These dates are close enough to you tournament so people will remember, and be ready for it...
Yes,,,,, I know these dates are a long way off,,, However, I always plan this well in advance, so people can also make plans to attend... They will have plenty of notice.... Also in the mean time,, I can continue testing people to add them to the ranks of Certified Officials for your event... By the time the tournament rolls around,, we should have 40-50 officials... That's my goal.....
Please let me know of you agree....
Thanks - Jay Sal...
Sound good to me Jay. Lets plan on it! GEM
Dear Mr. Matson,
I thank you for replying to my e-mail. I wish I had tried to contact you sooner! I have already heard from several of my friends that the camp was AWESOME this year. It will defiantly be part of our family's summer next year. I will see Mike tonight and will pass on your words of praise, we feel truly blessed to have Mike as our Sensei.
Sincerely,
Kathy Gubernat
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Hi Sensei Mattson,
I have seen the image of the Uechi Black Belt Ring several times but can't get any further information, i.e., price, etc. I can be reached at my home email (captmmc@AOL.com). It is a very interesting looking product. If you have time, please email me with more information or explain how I can access information online.
Thanks, Mike McMahon
Hi Michael:
Been getting quite a few letters since taking the price off the gold jewelry. Because the price of gold is going up so fast and since all rings are made to order, we can not list prices any more. If interested, we can get you a quote. Just let us know ring size and the number of diamonds you wish included in the ring.
Best, George Mattson
Hi George,
Have you ever thought of writing a book about using martial arts training to improve your golf game? I'd like to publish that book.
I . . . spent several months finishing writing a martial arts dictionary that I'd been accumulating for about twenty years and working on a couple other books. Now I'm out of retirement and enjoying the challenge again, but still editing the dictionary, which will most likely be self-published.
I'm starting up a martial arts publishing program at Lyons Press, where I've been working for a couple of months. I'm also acquiring and editing a broad range of sports, outdoors, business, fiction, and miscellaneous titles. I'd appreciate your referring potential martial arts authors to me. And, of course, if you wanted to do something with Lyons, I'd be happy to hear about it.
George
George Donahue
Senior Acquisitions Editor,
The Lyons Press (An imprint of The Globe-Pequot Press)
PO Box 480, 246 Goose Lane, Guilford, CT 06437-0480
e-mail: gdonahue@lyonspress.com
Hi George:
A golf book, eh? Well, I guess you are assuming that my golf game deserves writing about.
At this point, it would probably be a very humorous book along the lines of "They call it golf because all the other four letter words were taken!" Actually, karate has helped my game a great deal. Once I stopped taking conventional lessons and began to use my karate skills to help out, my game has improved immensely.
Good to hear from you George. We've about given up on you on the "forums". Now that you are back in action, maybe you can drop in once in awhile to at least say hello.
Good luck with your new position. The martial arts dictionary sounds like a good idea.
We just completed SummerFest 2002. Nearly 400 students and teachers showed up over the three days. Hopefully we will be able to get you to attend one year. We work hard and party equally hard most of the night. Three days is about all we can stand.
Best,
George
Author: David Nishimoto Email: davepamn@relia.net
Prerequisite: Standing Meditation Requirements
So, as a Martial Artist that has practiced standing meditation, one hour a day, for a year; your ready to advance to the next level. In last year, a rare form of discipline has evolved, as a part of your new found martial art discipline. You now possess the ability to clear your mind of distractions, at will. You are centered and powerful. Much more powerful than you'll ever know. You have gained a deeper understanding of focus and Zen. As a great Martial Artist you realize the mind extends through out the body moving chi energy through your body. You realize chi movement is controlled by the mind. The mind can move chi. Chi is the battery. Jing is the electrical current or kinetic force. You can feel chi, but not necessary Jing. A sense of balance and softness has been strongly integrated into your frame. You understand the mind controls how the mind and body root to the earth. You've learned to use redirection and rooting to repel external forces. You may be starting to understand the basics of jing. This largely depends on your chi levels, understanding of chi and its application, and your natural capabilities. A strong feeling of spirituality has emerged, as deeper levels of concentration and focus have been obtained, and you have greater control over your emotions and mental state. Your mind is centered. You are at one with yourself. These are the basic requirements, you must have, before working on the next level.
The next level is called warming the chi. Return to a standing position, let your arms form a circle, like your holding a large pot, legs are slightly bent, palms facing towards the body, and fingers from both hands face each other, with a six inch gap. Focus chi energy up from your center along the spine, down the arms, and into the palm of the hands. You may feel a energy current and resulting vibrations, as the energy starts to flow. Be sensitive and thoughtful about what your doing. Don't force the affect or try to hard. Your breathing should be deep and relaxed. Image each breath brings an oxygen rich resource to your body. Remember the energy flow is determined by your singularity of mental focus. Concentrate with real intent. The energy will radiate from the both palms creating a sensation of warmth. Also, visualize energy flowing down to the bottom of your feet, and spiraling deep into the earth. As the chi warms, it is like being suspended in warm water. Let the energy flow continuously, warming and relaxing your body. As the chi warms your body, it will start to feel more relaxed. This is very healthy for your mind, spirit, and body. Its important to keep your mind clear, open and focused. The relaxation represents the balance between positive and negative. As you relax you may feel an excitement pertaining to your mastery and control of your energy. Obtainment of energy flow and control is a great achievement. Appreciate and value what you have and what you have accomplished. This is a very satisfying, state of being. It should take about ten minutes to create the necessary energy flow to feel a warm sensation; focus on warming the chi, and you will find it easy to maintaining your standing meditation of the hour, without pain. If your arms start to hurt drop them down into the standing bear posture. If your feet feel like they are falling a sleep, move the weight from side to side. Its important to remain comfort, safe, and focused. It is important to generate this energy balance in every aspect of your martial art training and life. This experience will definitely change your conceptualization of power. You will start to understand what the master knew throughout the ages. As you do so, the correct path will emerge for you to follow. Good Luck in your mastery.
Continue this practice for the remainder of the year, and I will provide additional instruction.
Dear Mr. Mattson,
Just settling down over here in the Berkshires and I wanted to scratch off a quick message to say thanks to you and Susan. I had such a good time at camp this year. I particularly enjoyed meeting Mr. Hiru Uechi and our several chats, and my observing the public camaraderie displayed by the seniors, and once again, the unending willingness of everyone, that I met, to share what they knew, to work together, and to then share and work together some more. Thank you so very much.
Craig Cross
Thanks for your very kind message Craig. The camp really was a "blast", wasn't it. . ..
Take care of yourself. See you soon.
Best, George
Dear Mr. Mattson,
My name is Manny Tabones and I currently live in New York City. I am very interested in studying Uechi Ryu but i am having problems finding a dojo here. I tried to contact two of the senseis listed but I have yet to receive any reply.
Please let me know if there are any dojos still teaching Uechi-Ryu here. I do remember seeing one of the schools a long time ago.
Thank you for your assistance in this matter!
Sincerely, Manny Tabones
I've enclosed David Finkelstein's email address. He is
familiar with all the dojo in New York City. GEM
Mr. Mattson, I would like to recommend Lynette Bunno a Uechi instructor from Gladstone MI. to your Instructor / Dojo list. Her Phone number is 1 (906) 428 - 1118.
I've included Lynette's to our "Instructor"
list. GEM
Dear George Mattson,
I studied Uechi Ryu with David Mott in Toronto many years ago. David gave me my Uechi-Ruy black belt in 1988.
I have been living in Taiwan for the last 14 years and I am moving soon to Shanghai.
I am looking for David's e-mail address to get back in touch with him. Could you kindly give me the e-mail address where it would be best for me to contact him ?
Thanking you in advance for your reply,
Best Regards,
Laurent Solomon
Hi: Just returned from Summer Camp where David Mott and hundreds of other Uechi practitioners participated in our annual reunion.
David, unfortunately, doesn't believe in e-mail and doesn't even own a computer. I communicate with him through one of his students, who prints out messages and gives them to Dave at class.
I'll forward your message to him.
Best, George Mattson
PS. watch my website for pictures of the camp. http://uechi-ryu.com
Hello Sensei Mattson,
I have heard much about you.
Do you know of anyone teaching Uechi-ryu karate in Minneapolis Minnesota?
Please let me know. There seems only Korean karate here.
Regards,
David
Hopefully someone will be able to help you out David. GEM
Dear George Hi ! The Summer Camp this year are very exiting and good success ! ! ! The best
wishes to sensei Carlos Ciriza. However he is a good teacher and very quiet . Good luck Sensei Mattson too ! Ever friendly from Patagonia Argentine, Mario and all members of our Dojo Uechi-Kan
Sincerely your ,
Mario Abel Molaroni
After many unsuccessful attempts to access and register in this forum, as invited by Datu Halford Jones with my antiquated computer clone, I finally arrived. I was able to read some of the postings in the forum. Very interesting and informative at best. I have met Datu Jones at one of our Sikaran Tournaments in New Hampshire last year and was very pleased with his support and participations and has gained my respect. I have been teaching Sikaran in the States since 1952 upon returning from a tour in Korea aboard the battleship USS NEW JERSEY BB-62.
Congratulations are in order to all of you who have being doing your best to educate the mass the distinction between the many forms of martial arts that exists today and many that are being developed every day.
My participating in this forum depense on 1) I do not wish to discredit nor legitimize anyone's rank or position. 2) I believe, as instructors, students must be our foremost concern and responsibility and office politics have no place in martial arts descipline. 3)If the instructor is qualified to teach, he must be encouraged to do so. I will not judge any one. The true test of the instructor's ability to teach, is the fruit of his labor......his students are the living testimony to his skill as a teacher and role model. I survived 8 encounters and confrontations in the streets in various parts of the world with many broken bones and scars to show for it. I have confidence and very grateful for the knowledge many have shared with me without which I would not be here to share my feelings and thoughts with you. I have nothing to prove and quite frankly, my only desire is to continue to be the best teacher I can be and to enjoy the confidence and trust of my students, many of whom are grandfathers, and grandmothers, and have been with me for over 40 some odd years and are still going strong. I founded "THE LAGAREJOS' SIKARAN INTERNATIONAL". To better understant who we are, I invite everyone to visit our website <www.sikaran.com/gm> and link on to our "CODE OF CONDUCT". We do our utmost to live our CODE and fervently apply it in our WAY OF LIFE.
We, as Martial Artists and Teachers can better serve our positive agendas by consentrating all our efforts in becoming the best we can be thus bringing credit to our teachers and mentors who have made sacrifices by sharing their knowledge with us and honor them further by sharing them with our students. We are holding a benefit Tournament for the local chapter of "THE MAKE-A-WISH FOUNDATION" in Laconia, New Hampshire on 8/3/02. The particulars of the Tournament is in our website. I hope some of you will join me there. Until then, with much respect....
Yours truly,
Louis T. Lagarejos - Grandmaster LAGAREJOS' SIKARAN INTERNATIONAL
I noticed a reference to Varmannie in one of the discussions on your forum. It might be of interest to know that there is a rather long article on one of the early instructors of Varmannie in an issue of the New Yorker Magazine circa 1952-3. I am pretty sure it was prior to 1954.
If you check the Reader's Guide to Periodical Literature for that period, I think you may find the subject heading.
There is very little published about this rare form of martial arts. I visited the studio mentioned in the New Yorker article shortly after it was published. I regret that I did not pay closer attention at the time since this art is close to being completely lost. Indeed, it may be lost with only its name surviving.
Sincererly,
Richard Riehle
Can anyone help us out? GEM
-----Original Message-----
From: William Perron
Sent: Monday, July 29, 2002 9:32 PM
To: gmattson@uechi-ryu.com
Subject: TRUTH (Relating to Randi's million dollar challenge. GEM)
The truth is that it is going to be impossible for anyone to claim the million that is supposed to be offered but is in reality just a publicity stunt. If Randi ever gave the money away he would lose the interest that he gets from it. Do you really think that is going to happen ? Of course Randi
doesn't tell others that he uses the interest to run his foundation but his secretary Linda will confirm this if you just ask her.
Bill Perron
I don't agree Bill. Please notify me of a challenge and I'll get it tested for the million.
Best, George
The fact that you disagree is your free choice but that doesn't change anything, Randi needs the interest to run his so-called foundation. He was a lousy magician who never had an original idea. He has had two idols in his life, Dunninger who he copied his idea of a cash offer from, and Houdini, whose career was starting to wane when he got the idea to debunk spiritualism and remake a career for himself. Problem with Houdini was that he wasn't above using falsified methods to achieve his goal of self glorification. Neither is Randi, remember the Gauquelin scandal that Randi was involved in ?
Respectfully,
Bill
Hello George;
Many years ago I came up to your dojo in South Boston when fine tuning for my Shodan test. I was with the South County group from RI.
Anyway, I am looking for a description and/ or photos (as in the original books you penned) of the final katas... san serui in particular (pardon the spelling, please).
1. Does this new book have them (i.e. Uechil-ryu 2000)?
2. Or is there a site or file which I can access or can be sent?
Thanks for any help you can render,
Jim Bedell Shodan
Hi Jim:
Al Moulton's Uechi-ryu2000 book covers all the kata, including Sanseiryu. GEM
I studied under Allan Dollar for several years. I have moved to the Portland area and are looking to continue my studies. If you know of any facilities in the area please let me know.
Thank-you
Mikel Farrell
Please check the "Instructor's" listing. GEM
Dear Mr. Mattson,
I know a teacher of Uechi-Ryu who is not on this list and he would like to be listed. His name is Andreas Haberzettl he is a 5. Dan in Uechi-Ryu (Kenyukai) . His address : Hochbergstr.28 97688 Bad Kissingen GERMANY phone : 049/971/3692 e-mail: wambliluta@aol.com It would be nice if you will list him.
Thank you!
Sabine Baumbach
OK. He is now on our list. GEM
