Chicago Seminar Essay
by
Paola Bortolin
Sensei
Mattson's seminar in Chicago at the end of March gave all of us the opportunity
to go back to the essentials of Uechi Ryu Karate. Karate-Do, the path of the
empty hand…path of the open hand. Based on this concept, Sensei Mattson, through
his teachings and example, showed us that Karate-Do is essentially a way of
life. Sensei has a great and honorable responsibility to share his wisdom and
enlightenment to guide all of us, the Uechi family, towards that way of life.
Sensei's seminar renewed our knowledge and provided us with real understanding
of the meaning of Karate.
The starting point on which everything else parts from is Sanchin. Sanchin kata
is the soul of Karate Uechi Ryu. The flow of its circular movements should be
used as a guide for all basic movements of the blocks and the Sanchin steps, in
this way allowing us to reinforce the center of equilibrium. Sensei emphasized
not only the physical equilibrium but also the mental one. His concept is one in
which our task is also to put our brains to work and think of creative and
innovative techniques that adapt to different situations but never losing sight
of the basics, the original form.
The purpose of the continuous and rigorous practice, applying variations to the
basics, changing the speed, strength, count and timing of the Sanchin kata, is
to help the body and mind dominate those movements without having to think about
them. It helps develop a natural and instant reaction to any kind of external
stimuli, such as an attack. Through this training, we should reach a state in
which thought is not necessary any longer to commit to an action. During the
practice of Sanchin kata, the body should be relaxed yet tense at the same time.
The flow of energy and strength travels in two steps through the body to the
tips of the fingers, reaching its maximum power at the end of the strike, coming
to this point through a continuous and homogeneous movement of every muscle in
the body involved in such movement. Every movement should be performed as a flow
of the body's natural movements. The involvement of different muscles should be
used in the application of every technique to help deliver a strong and powerful
form that at the same time blends and links every move in unison without
breaking the form.
We performed each kata two and three times, sometimes fast and other times in
slow motion. This resulted to be a wonderful exercise to retrospectively become
aware of our own movements and correct our form. Sensei shared with us the way
of his daily training habits of Sanchin kata. Powerful and not powerful, slow
and then fast, changing the timing of the steps and the nukite strikes. In this
manner, we are allowed to see our limitations and our possibilities. The
potential of opening our minds to new ways of performing the old and becoming
more flexible and adaptable to an ever changing environment.
A similar concept is applied in the practice of Kyu Kumite and Dan kumite: to
maintain the basic Sanchin form for the stance and defense but at the same time
adapting the moves to a more real and aggressive situation. Conciseness of
movements, practicality of the technique and the search for the natural reaction
of the body is the most important concept to take into consideration.
During Seisan bunkai, Sensei again blended the old with the new and challenged
each of us to create a new form of defense for a specific attack. In pairs we
came up with a new defense technique against the aggressor. This is trying to
show us that there is no one way of doing things and our minds should be open to
allow our bodies to react naturally and accordingly.
I believe that the main goal of Sensei's teachings during the Seminar was to
show us the way to find within ourselves a well-rounded human being, with Spirit
(Kokoro), technique (Waza) and body (Thai).
Thank you Sensei and hopefully will see you at the Summer Camp 2004.
Paola Bortolin Chicago Dojo 4/11/04