January, 2002 Mailbag

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Mr. Mattson,
Hi again! : )

I was setting around here thinking about an idea that I had a couple months back. It was in regards to doing the horse stance on a levitated platform. The attached bite map is my solution to that problem. What is you opinion? It is not up so high that someone would get hurt and it would move slightly. Which would make it harder to do the stance. You would use this in the back yard. If someone want to use the design they can. But they need to make sure that the spring is big enough for their size and the weld is good. Plus "Be careful".

Thank you very much.

Sincerely Charles Roberts 

Dear Mr Mattson

Please find attached a short article which I hope you find interesting, if you do I would be delighted if you would add it to your articles page .

I think you have a great site, and I m always impressed with how nice and refined Uechi people are. I would imagine practitioners of such a devastating style to be knuckleheads but it seems that the average Uechi stylist is either a Dr. or owns their own software company.

wishing you well 

Raymond Wylie 
 =====================================

Happy to oblige Raymond. GEM
 ====================================

The empty force and the real force

There seems to be much interest in what is now termed the "Empty Force". I recently attended a seminar, held by Richard Mooney, which purported to demonstrate these phenomena. I went with a totally open mind, and was therefore not too upset when nothing out of the ordinary occurred, besides which my main reason for going was to see him perform the instant knockouts that I had heard so much about, here I was disappointed. In the Uechi-Ryu system of karate there are a host of nerve attacks, I had hoped to learn more and I did not. When I got home I researched any reference that I could find with regard to the empty force. The best and most informative source was the respected writer Jane Hallander. In a short essay she explained that the term had come about when another respected martial artist Doc Fai Wong had difficulty translating a Chinese term, the closest approximation he could find was the empty force. More interesting to me was the fact that the empty force was never intended as a martial technique and was used as part of a health promoting exercise, a form of chi-kung. I have practiced similar methods and though I can only give my subjective opinion, I feel that they are health promoting and a great antidote to the stress of modern life, and that they probably offer a lot more than that as well.

I must say though, that I did not think that Richard Mooney was a charlatan, I really believe that he believes he can do these things, and here My interest really deepens, and is the main point of this article. How can people accept these things as truth? , How did this mind frame develop?

In olden times it must have been of great assistance for martial artists to be thought of as super human, to have abilities that were mystical or magical. Imagine for a moment if you had never seen a karate man break an object with his hand. How awesome that would appear, also people will often interpret something that they see, to conform to their own understanding. A friend of mine, a tough street fighter, once witnessed somebody at a Uechi-Ryu club being tested in Sanchin, he wrongly assumed that they were taking full powered kicks to the groin, needless to say he did not want to try street fighting with them.

A couple of years ago I worked with a very disagreeable man. He was a bully and a loudmouth who would shout people down. We worked in an office and people were terrified of him. At lunchtime he would go to the local public house and drink large quantities of beer, then return in a bellicose state. Eventually he turned his attention to me. Here I must state that the reason he inspired such terror was his sheer physical size he had the build of an over weight sumo wrestler 6ft 4ins of huge quivering flesh And at least 30stone.


Here trickery prevailed, he knew that I practiced martial arts and for a while goaded me about it, I did not rise to the bait. Then one Friday afternoon when we were in the office alone together and he could contain himself no longer he asked me how good my punch was .I said that my punch would probably kill him, but that if he held a telephone book to his left shoulder I would hit that lightly to show the tremendous power that I had, I then said that this to would be too dangerous and that I would punch from only a few inches away. He waited and then I punched and knocked him back about 4 feet. His face turned white, .I then took the telephone directory of him, for some time he had boasted of his great strength, and I ripped the directory in two and asked him if he could do that. He shook his head. I explained that I had mastered the power of chi. He looked dumbfounded, I held my arm out straight and asked him to bend it with both his arms, try as he might he could not. Finally I said that I could block any punch and to prove this I would teach him a simple Chinese exercise called silk reeling. While facing each other we both held out our arms so that our arms were touching. The object of the game was to try and touch each other's body, and to prevent ourselves being touched we could circle our arms to deflect our opponent. After a few tries he could do it reasonably well, to make it easy for him, so I said, I would blindfold myself. Blindfolded I easily touched him many times but he could not touch me once. After this he never bothered me, and he never threw his weight around again, at least not when I was there.

All of the above things are tricks, easily learned and when presented correctly give the impression of tremendous power, The Real Force, and yet they are only tricks, here is How you do them. 1.Short range punch. This is not really a punch, practice firstly pushing at someone holding a telephone directory, or a punching pad .Get used to how a push feels, like when you push a car. Notice how straight you stand how the power is generated from your feet stepping forward, and how stiff and straight your arm is. Actively try and push your partner over from a still and standing position. The impact of the punch is the heel of your palm. Rest your fingertips against the directory and then snap your palm forward to strike the directory. What you have in effect is two strikes, a quick snappy palm heel and a slow powerful push. When the two are combined the effect is awesome speed and power from a very close position. Also in the scenario above I suckered our friend into believing that this strike wasn't going to be anywhere as near as powerful as my punch. 

2. Ripping a telephone directory in two is an awesome test of strength if done correctly, so I cheated. The trick is to hold the back spine with your two hands and then to break it against your knee while bending it back and forth, it will bend and tear quite easily, once it starts to rip it will tear in half really easily.

3.The unbend able arm. The old aikido favourite. Easy as pie, the elbow joint is on a hook system so that if you stretch your arm out i.e. reach out as though to touch something just out of reach, then your arm will lock, no magic here. It becomes unbend able ………I have seen small week women confound huge men with this one.

4. Silk reeling this was taught to me by a tai chi teacher. It is a form of pushing hands, and surprisingly it is easier to do with your eyes closed than open. So there we are nothing mystical or strange in the least, but I guarantee that if you show these tricks to anybody who has not seen them they will be astounded. As the title indicates this to me is the Real Force. There are many other tricks in the martial Arts that I do not know how to do, if anybody out there knows anymore I would be Really interested to here them. 

Hi George,

I got an email about a Martial ARts supershow coming up in May. The info's at: http://www.masupershow.com/. 

I'm curious to see what this is like, but a tad intimidated by the price. The lineup of people is pretty impressive. Have you ever been to one, or heard anything about events like this.

Thanks,

MFH

This show is sponsored by Century Martial Arts Supply and is heavy competition for John Graden's NAPMA organization's trade show. In the long run, having two major shows will benefit the Martial Arts, but right now there appears to be strong animosity between them. I believe in the future, these organizations will follow the format of other trade shows. . . charging a smaller admission fee to view the exhibits and trade booths, and a surcharge to attend special seminars. Competition will force them to modify and improve their strategies for both their membership requirements and trade show fees, all to the benefit of the general MA community. GEM 

Hi George, I am a student of Joe Shartrand in Pittsfield and I was just going over your instructors list on your web site and noticed that Joe's phone number is wrong. His new number is 413-236-5966. Thanks, Mary Teti

All fixed Mary. Thanks for notifying us. GEM

Sensei Mattson,

I have not been training in Uechi for around 3 years (because of neck injuries which pre-dated karate training). For the past 2 years I've been training in Chen style Tai Chi.

Should you wish to invite an excellent Taiji / Wushu teacher to your camp, his name is Yau-Sun Tong. His martial arts abilities and teachers (lineage) are very impressive, and his command of the English language is very good as well.

For a special camp, investigating the internal ("soft") aspects of Uechi, you might consider inviting Master Feng (over 70yrs old, but very capable & impressive), the current head of the Chen style & Yau-Sun Tong's teacher, to the camp. I don't think he speaks any English, but Yau-Sun Tong would be an excellent interpreter. I believe Master Feng was on a teaching tour of the US this past summer. He would be an amazing guest at any camp.

Cheers, 
John Lovas (formerly Sensei Dave Hunt's student)

Sounds like a great idea John. Thanks for thinking about us. GEM

George,

I just finished watching the second half of your VidMag17. It was excellent. The material on breathing was exactly what I was looking for. Incidentally, (you probably know this, but just in case) there are two forms of meditative breathing. One is belly (or Buddhist) breathing, the other is reverse (or Taoist) breathing. Belly breathing has the belly expand on the inhale, contract on the exhale. Reverse breathing is the reverse. It appears that Uechi breathing is Taoist, not Buddhist, since the TanTien is pushed out on the exhale and allowed to relax (go in) with the small inhale that follows. Isn't that curious?

The material on use of the hip was also very useful. Unless my memory fails me completely, this is new since my retirement in 1986. I seem to remember being taught to keep the lower body absolutely still and was surprised to see Mr. Higa use so much hip in the video that you and Buzz brought back from the China-Okinawa trip. My current workout partner is a W. Mattson product and he too uses the hip the way you demonstrated. Old dog must now learn new trick.

Thanks again. aa

Regarding the cancelled WinterFest:

George,
. . . 
Perhaps you are right about the reasons for low turn out...I hope that doesn't hinder another attempt next winter. I'd still love to see Winterfest take place here in the Tampa bay area. To me it makes sense, since Frank Gorman lives here.

Perhaps you could share with me what is needed for us to help setup next year's WinterFest? It would be enlightening, at least to me, and perhaps we could pull it off. :-) There's probably a hundred things I'd never think about (until it's too late), which you could just rattle off.

Shall I ask around and see if anyone else here is interested in trying? Or would you prefer to try Tallahassee or Orlando again? Whatever, your answer in I hope it includes holding a WinterFest in Florida, next year.

. . .

Rick

Thanks for your support Rick. Hopefully we will be able to make WinterFest a reality for 2003. GEM

to whom it may concern: 

my son is allergic to the latex mouth piece. He has been competing for 6 years and never had a problem with the latex mouth. piece. Last month he had to be rushed to the hospital because he caught an allergic reaction to the latex. What we need to know is there another mouth piece that he can wear that is not made of latex. He has to compete soon and needs to wear a mouth piece. Will appreciate an help you can give us. thank you . Alice 

Alice: I checked with the manufacturer and he assures me the WIPSS mouth guard does not contain any latex. Perhaps someone examined your son's mouth using latex gloves. (I thought this point is important to note, since there are many people who have a bad reaction to latex and may blame it on the mouthguard. GEM

In a survey, 80 percent of women thought their ass was too fat, 15 percent said their ass was too thin and the other five per cent said they didn't care - they would have married him anyway!!" 

Another letter from Charles Roberts:

Mr. Mattson,


It is nice to hear from you. The CD is a keeper! :-) [ Gary Khoury's Japanese CD] I am looking for a spare band around the house and if I find one I will mail it to you. Here is an explanation on how I use it in Sanchin:

I take the Therapeutic Band (about 5 to 6 feet in length) wrap the ends around my hands. Like a jump rope and place it over my head on my back. With enough tension on my arms (example would be like doing Dynamic Sanchin) and then I would do Sanchin. This works great and you could be used in other kata's.

You can fine this Therapeutic Band at any Rehabilitation Supply Company. The cost here runs about six dollars per foot or you can use a elastic cord (I think it is called bun-gee cord). The cost would be lower per foot. Thank you for everything.


Sincerely Charles Roberts

Hi George, My name is Paul Wedge, I study at the Beverly Uechi-ryu dojo under Sensei Bobby Spoon. I will be in the Norfolk/Virginia Beach area next month for an extended period of time (Ive been recalled to active duty w/ the Marines) and would like to continue my training while in the Norfolk/Virginia Beach area. Do you know of a Uechi-ryu dojo in the immediate area? Thanks & Semper Fi!

PS. was unable to send this msg via your website?


Paul D. Wedge

By now you should have heard from a number of teachers I put you in touch with. Enjoy your workouts and good luck with your Marine duty. GEM

Dear, sir:

I would like to inform you that aim instructor of karate (shotokan) my nationality is Sudanese I have being obtained for (4) Dan shotokan sines 1969 , now Ihave been working in libya as instructor of karate , so Had being under training with Japanese expert ;hideki okamoto in Egypt –Cairo – who have (8) dan eight s dan and he is agenda of Africa and the middle east experts. So Ihave had attend many inter national coures in Egypt and sudan under supervision of Japanese experts such as / asai 8dan/ hideki okamoto 8dan/ arkawa 8dan/ sazaki 7dan/tome moros7dan/ and the final of my achievements is player as ahero of the sudan individual kata for the year 2000 11-11/ and the sudan at the group – and the second of the sudan in the As Libyan team, championship 

weight of 65kg . As an instructor Ihave two of my players in Libyan team, championship of Libyan for youngsters since the date of 15/6/2000. So beside of all that above mentioned my intention is that i am need to know what is the new styles in karate as game, and i would be pleased if you allow for me to know every thing which is related to karate. And what if there is a possibility to participate at any courses or championship of karate where as aim fond of this karate as a game. 

Yours.

Gamal s guda
e: mail :gamalkata@yahoo.com 

Thank you for writing and requesting information about our programs. The best place to learn about our Uechi-ryu system, is to visit our website and forums. Go to http://uechi-ryu.com and look around. Our big event is our annual SummerFest, held the 2nd weekend in August on Cape Cod Massachusetts.

Hope you and your students can visit one day. GEM

Sensei Mattson, 

I'm a former Uechi-ryu student. Since joining the military, I've been unable to find satisfactory Uechi instruction. There is a Goju-ryu dojo nearby, though. I was wondering if you could enlighten me on the similarities and differences between the two styles. I need something to bridge the gap until I am out of the military and can pursue Uechi-ryu again. I already intend to start with goju-ryu, but any information you could give me would be greatly appreciated. Thanks. 

Matt Murphy 

Hi Matt:

Like Uechi-ryu, Goju-ryu has many variations. Like Uechi, your instructor is the key to your training.

You will find a big difference in breathing methods and depending on who taught you Uechi, you may find a big difference in speed techniques, balance, timing, etc.

If you approach Goju as a supplement to your Uechi-ryu, you may enjoy it a lot more. Instead of focusing on the differences, work on trying to assimilate the ways in which the systems are similar. That way, when you return to Uechi, the transition won't be that difficult and your Goju experience might actually help your Uechi. Again... it all depends on your teacher.

Keep in touch and good luck. GEM

Hello George, Robert Winess from Florida here. I am not sure if you recognize my name yet. I am one of Roy Bedard & Bill Hall's old students.

Seeing that one of the ways that I keep up with things is by your website I wanted to give you some feedback. O.K. I hope you don't hold this against me. Here's the deal. I am not going to beat around the bush- The website needs some improvements. Here's my issue's:

1. It has become too cluttered. Very hard to navigate the main page. I mean what goes where? 2. It seems to be more of a store than ummmm....an informative website that may happen to sell things. 3. The colors- are not user friendly. Very harsh coloring makes it less than enjoyable to read. People don't want to stay and read if it is cumbersome and ugly.

O.K. I know this is all very trivial but I think the site needs some serious tidying up. I have been "tuning in" for some time and wanted to relay this. Please do not take this wrong way. It is merely constructive criticism for the business end of things. 

A quality website can help further the interests of promoting quality Uechi-Ryu.

Yours truly, 
Robert Winess 

Thanks for the advice Robert. I hope you will like the changes we are making to the site. Hopefully we will be ready to implement them this month. GEM

I'm hoping you can help me. We recently moved from Edmonton to Calgary, Alberta, Canada. Myself and my daughter took classes in Uechi-Ryu Karate with Dave Chow's Renshinkai School of Karate. Now that we are in Calgary, I have been unsuccessful at finding a club that teaches the same style, and was hoping that you could direct me to a local instructor.

I would appreciate any information you might have. Thank you in advance.

Jeff Kenyon

Hi Jeff:

I know their are dojo there. If they are not posted in our "Instructors" listing, best to post your notice in our "Looking for dojo/instructor" Forum. People who post there have had good luck reaching someone living near them.

Good luck and stay in touch. GEM

Hi not sure what street it was but the first time I believe it was on the 3rd floor one large room and a little dressing room then move to another place which i belive was on the 2nd floor and you put a tea room in the area facing the street, believe you bought a bar down stairs. not to sure it was a long time ago. I am in my seventy now and study Tai-chi as you know their is no belt system in that form. Just wanted say hello and see how every thing is going as far as picture have none but I did have nursing home at time I was your student that may ring a bell and you had two cars and neither one work. x X <>x g c X ^X

grant

HMMMM, well you got the part about two cars not working correct anyway Grant! :) Looks like you followed me from Boylston street, to Columbus ave and from there to Brockton, where I built a restaurant and nightclub. (Had to get my practical fighting and bouncer experience somewhere..) I do remember you and am very happy to hear that you are still practicing the martial arts, even though not involved with Uechi-ryu any longer. GEM

Dear George-- 

This is an old, and I do mean old, friend and student of yours who saw you in your Santa Claus suit and couldn't help but get nostalgic and write to wish you and Susan the happiest of holidays. I'm delighted that you, and Uechi-ryu, are doing so well. I still do the kata privately, at home, and I know Uechi has contributed to my longevity. I'll be 75 next month, not bad for a Boston sportswriter. I met Nadine (Claquin) in Paris last June and she wished to be remembered to you. She's doing well, has a 15 year old daughter and living in a closet in Le Marais, one of Paris' more colorful districts. My best to one and all. If you ever get to Florida you'll be my guest at golf if you'll check out my sanchin. 

== Tim Horgan, sandan

So good to hear from you my "old" friend. What a pleasant surprise. 75 isn't so old any more. I say that with a certain amount of first hand knowledge. I play golf (and lose) on a regular basis with an old friend who just turned 81. And of course, I'm not that far behind you. . . "Saw me in a Santa Claus suit. . " Where? He doesn't look ANYTHING like me. I still enjoy my "boyish" good looks and juvenile attitude.
Have a wonderful holiday season and keep your golf clubs on ready-alert. If I have time, I'll give you a call while in Florida next month.
Drop into our forums and say hello to all the rest of your dojo mates. Best, GEM

Hello George and Susan,

I miss seeing you both but understand you continue to benefit from chiropractic care, which pleases me greatly. My office hours are somewhat limited and highly efficient. I just completed two seminars on nutrition related illness. The information is tremendous and I'm looking forward to implementing all I'm learning. I missed the camp this past year. It's my plan to resume this coming year. The children are thriving and very very busy! My energy is definitely being used to the maximum. Love to you and good health in the new year. 
Ann 

Good to hear from you Dr. Ann. We missed you at Camp last year and I'm sure quite a few students will be happy to hear you will be back this year. Perhaps you can hold a seminar on nutrition in addition to your regular sessions. GEM

Sensei Mattson, I know you must get heaps of emails sent to you but I really need some advice. You see I train with 2 senseis and one of them is only 6 years older than me and I really like him and he really likes me. I was just wondering if you thought it would affect my training if I went out with him. Please reply soon Thank you 
From ......

Interesting question .... . Naturally, dating your instructor will affect your training. 

1. If you break off the relationship, you will probably stop training.

2. If you get serious, you may stop training.

You will not want to treat your boyfriend the same way in class as you did before you began a personal relationship with him. Your classmates will also view you differently.

These are things to consider.

Good luck, GEM

Mr. Mattson,

I own your book (the 6th printing in 1993). I studied with NYC Uechi-Ryu for 2 years. I will be visiting Okinawa in June. I would like to know what you would recommend seeing. I have been told I might consider visiting the Uechi family burial plots. I would like to know where they are. Is the dojo in Fatenma still in existence? Is this considered the main dojo? I will only be visiting for 2 days.

Regards,

Tony 

Not much time to enjoy the Island and take advantage of training with the masters. I've put you in touch with Gordi Breyette, who has been very gracious in the past to visitors. GEM

A KOAN FOR YOU

An old Indian Grandfather said to his grandson who came to him with anger at a friend who had done him an injustice........

"Let me tell you a story. I too, at times, have felt a great hate for those that have taken so much, with no sorrow for what they do. But hate wears you down, and does not hurt your enemy. It is like taking poison and wishing your enemy would die. I have struggled with these feelings many times."

He continued......

"It is as if there are two wolves inside me; One is good and does no harm. He lives in harmony with all around him and does not take offense when no offense was intended. He will only fight when it is right to do so, and in the right way. He saves all his energy for the right fight.

But the other wolf, ahhh!

He is full of anger. The littlest thing will set him into a fit of temper. He fights everyone, all the time, for no reason. He cannot think because his anger and hate are so great. It is helpless anger, for his anger will change nothing.

Sometimes it is hard to live with these two wolves inside me, for both of them try to dominate my spirit."

The boy looked intently into his Grandfather's eyes and asked...

"Which one wins, Grandfather?"

The Grandfather smiled and quietly said......

"The one I feed." 

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