February, 2003 Mailbag

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Hi, my name is Dan Lafontaine (Studios-Unis Federation's Publisher). I want to know if we can post our tournament dates on your website or if you can spread the news out to your people. This would give a great opportunity for martial artists from Uechi-ryu Karate to show their great talents, at our prestiguous tournament. Thanks again and I wish you and your organization a great and healthy New Year 2003. Here's some info on our tournament :

Rated World Krane AAAAA & WKA AAA, this tournament is classified as one of America's best and well organized karate tournament. This year's tournament will reach a respectable 1700 competitors from more than 15 countries. The Quebec Open is renowned for its Saturday Night Event, under Canada's best sound & light show...many oustanding martial artists in the World gives us, spectators (6000 people +)the show of their lives. Mark this tournament as a priority in your calendar, if you miss it...you might just regret it. When: 2nd & 3rd of May 2003 Where: PEPS, Laval University Quebec City, CANADA For more info, please contact Shihan Clermont Poulin at: clermont.poulin@sympatico.ca phone: 1-418-569-1940 or 1-418-626-5997

If you need more information on our martial arts (Nick Cerio Kenpo), please visit our website : http://www.studiosunis.com 

Best wishes.

Dan

Left to right: Phil Koeppel (United States Karate Association, USA), George E. Mattson (Uechi-ryu Karate, USA), Masami Tsuruoka (Chito-ryu Karate, Canada), Robert A. Trias (Shorei-ryu Karate, USA), Edmund K. Parker (American Kenpo Karate, USA), Anthony Mirakian (Okinawan Goju-ryu Karate, USA). The 1st World Karate Championships - July 28, 1963 (Chicago, IL) Picture sent to me by Petar Bogunovic - Pedja

Welch's Okinawan Karate-Do

Presents

The Principles of Okinawan Karate-do (Instructed by: Major Bill Hayes, USMC (Ret.), Shinshi, Shobayashi-ryu Karate-do)

Where: Welch's Okinawan Karate-Do 5410 Queens Chapel Rd. W. Hyattsville, MD 20782

When: Saturday, March 15, 2003 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM

Price: $65.00 (includes continental breakfast & lunch) (Pre-registration is essential for the lunch) (Visa and MasterCard are welcome for payment) 

Please join us for a day of insightful training into the essence of the Okinawan arts with "Old Student" Bill Hayes. Improve your understanding of theory, movement and application. Learn the vital role martial arts nutrition plays in personal effectiveness. Ask the questions which have "always been on your mind".


This is an ALL BELT and STYLES Seminar.

For more Information, please call:

Renshi Unlimited, Inc. P.O. Box 29342 Washington, DC 20017-0342 301-559-3400 or 301-559-3401 (fax) Email: renshiunlimited@erols.com 

Dear Mr. Mattson 

My name is Chykunow Alexander. I was born 1967 year. I have been doing karate for more than 15 year's. Only last four year's I was found of Uechi-Ryu karate. In our region this kind of karate is not spread enough, there for I'd be great full to you to given me qualification. I look forward to your reply. 
Your faithfully 
Alexander. 

John The Greek and the Wigan Bouncer.


I have practised martial arts for many years and have tried everything that was available to me, from Tai Chi to Bando. During this time I have inevitably met highly skilled technicians with specialised skills. I am a great fan of the book "secret fighting arts of the world" by John.f.gilbey were he details the experts that he knew. This is what I shall attempt to do also. Some of the masters, for I shall call them that, defy classification. Their method and approach is just so singular and different to anything that is practised elsewhere. One man that I recollect was the Wigan Bouncer. He used to regularly attend a Goju-Ryu club of which I was a member. He was employed of an evening, in a rough nightclub in the northern town of Wigan. A tremendous fighter, he commanded the respect of everyone in the club although he had never won, or even competed in a tournament and had not even started Karate until he was 28 years of age, then, approaching 40, he was awesome. He was a heavily built man with a huge barrel chest and hands like shovels; the interesting thing about his method of fighting was that he hardly ever threw a punch. The only punches that he used were the hammer fist or the one knuckle punch the rest of the time he would use open hand strikes, his favourite was the ridge hand, I once asked him why, and he then proceeded to demonstrate for me by hitting a heavy bag and sending it bouncing to the ceiling. The ridge hand had focus, he explained. He always trained with his best friend, a bodybuilder, and together before and after the class, they would work on techniques using boxers hook and jab pads or, more often than not trying the moves out on each other. They were always light, gentle even, but they knew exactly what they were trying to accomplish and would spend ages refining or experimenting with different moves. Then after a few weeks the moves would appear in their punch pad routines or disappear entirely. There was nothing in his routine that could ever be described as flashy; everything was simple in conception and practise. A palm heel to the solar plexus followed by a ridge hand to the neck or side of the head then a vicious elbow jab, and a foot sweep to finish. These were the type of moves that he thrived on, he had numerous combinations of two or three open hand strikes followed by an elbow strike or head butt, then finished with a simple trip or foot sweep. Continuous sparring with karate men of all grades and styles also refined his technique. The club at that time had a kick boxing section, and the kick boxers, like the rest of us afforded him tremendous respect for his skills and abilities. Here he learned how to combat the weakness of his style. He could not move anywhere nearly as fluidly or as quickly as the kickboxers, and did not try to, but his hands made continuous circling moves horizontally and vertically these he would punctuate with quick grabs and pulls to control overpower or throw his opponent. He would push and pull his opponents guard away in a very aggressive and intimidating manner, all the while lumbering around like a huge hungry bear, and throwing his fearsome open handed strikes, or low level kicks to ankles and knees, the groin he saved for fast slapping attacks. One cold November in the Pub, after training, I asked him how he had come to develop such a distinctive fighting style. It was like nothing I have ever seen before, he replied that he had been a municipal bus driver and of a night he had to sometimes deal with drunken men getting on to his bus, very often they were alcoholics and he told me that sometimes they would head butt the steel door rail when they got on, they were so lost to their addiction. He knew that a punch would never work on these unfortunate souls, but he assured me that his method had never failed. The Sensei at that club had a passion for knives and was an enthusiastic collector of samurai swords This rubbed off on many of the members, and one of the Sensei's friends would come down and sell knives. There were all sorts of collectible blades unheard of in England at that time, Gerbers, Randalls etc. The Wigan Bouncer proved as individualistic as ever, in his choice of knives by purchasing two German Paratrooper's knives. Thick sturdy bladed, and with deep green handles and scabbards. He would hold them in the ice pick grip and use them in much the same way as he spared, although he only ever shadow boxed with them. 

He afforded me the greatest respect one day, by stealing one of my moves and incorporating it into his repertoire. The move was a variation on a low cross kick. One night during sparring practise he threw me a sly wink as he proceeded to use the kick on some unfortunate kick boxer.

Was an entirely different kettle of fish. I trained with him some years later and in a different club. The club practised hapkido and one of the instructor's friends was a high grade in another Goju Ryu club, he used to come down to train with us, eventually he persuaded some of his contemporaries to train also. On a Saturday morning there would be a whole group of people from different styles and systems all training together. This was how I met John, for convenience everybody called him John the Greek, nobody could pronounce his surname ( it had lots of "ous" in it) and for another he was extremely Greek. Small, swarthy, and with a large black moustache. Ordinarily, I would not mention John in the same sentence as the " Wigan Bouncer" I trained with John for over a year and he was never very good, he could not punch powerfully, or kick hard or spar well. He was a very pleasant person and well liked. The club closed and a few years afterward I bumped into one of the Goju guys that I used to train with on the Saturday morning. In the local hostelry, over a few pints of best mild, we talked and reminisced over the good old days and some of the people we had known. John's name came up and I said that he had not been very talented, to which my companion almost choked on his beer. He related this story to me. John and his wife operated a Social Security Hotel; all the clients were receiving some form of state benefit, though this proved a lucrative concern, it was not without its hazards. John had taken up Karate so that he could deal with some of the more troublesome clientele. Many of his patrons would go out drinking and return late, after the hotel had shut its doors. Trouble would ensue when they tried to gain access and they would become abusive and violent. I raised my eyebrows at this, how could John a small untalented karateka deal with this? My friend then related that John had one good technique, which he could do lightening fast. He would hold his hands up to cover his face when the fight started, protecting himself as best as he could, letting the blows rain into his arms rather like a boxer, then, when his attacker paused or there was a lull, or opening, he would spin around very quickly and elbow the man either on the chin or the side of the head. He could deliver this blow from either side and lighting fast. My companion said that very often an ambulance would need to be called and they would take his opponent off on a stretcher. What works on the street, sometimes cannot be used in the dojo. That is one; last ditch technique, to keep in your toolbox. Some years later while training at my Gym, I tried to punch a heavy leather punch bag. It was so hard that I nearly broke my hand, I remembered John and set to with elbow strikes, and had it swinging like a hammock in a gale. I noticed that when you use a circular elbow strike if you miss your target but keep turning then you will automatically come into the correct distance for a perfect back elbow. 

Raymond Wylie 

Suki 
by David Nishimoto davepamn@relia.net www.listensoftware.com

Suki means fighting openings or gaps. When too many suki possibilities exist the fighter becomes increasingly more vulnerable. To reduce the number of sukis or gaps, the fighter needs to practice covering these gaps. These gaps exist because of dead energy spaces. The fighter is not extending their mind to feel the openings. For example, while the front hand moves into a striking posture the neutral hand covers vital areas, such as the solar plexus or groin or face from potential counter strikes. As the lead hand withdraws the neutral hand comes on guard. This shifting between the lead and rear hand ensures no space is unoccuppied or sensed. Even as the lead hand rolls back to neutralize a grab or strike - the neutral hand covers the mid section and groin in one motion. As the lead hand emptys the lower hand fills with energy warding off a potential attack to the side. The energy should move back and forth creating a full energy extension into the either the hands or feet; or the energy should empty from the neutral limb until needed.

One of the best methods for tighten up opening is to perform embu blindfolded. The fighter learns to trust their energy intrepretations and intent exchanged between the two fighters. The mind relaxes and the motion flows intuitively between strong and weak forces. Practice should be done slowly and with focus. Eventually the speed of the practice can increase and the responses are absolutely amazing. One can measureable see the improvement. In time, one will discover their defensive capabilities will dramatic increase in capability. Even, complex sequences can be easily discern and reacted to without thought. In essence, the fighter will maintain a constant extension of their energy, thus, the fighter will learn to shift their energy from advance to retreat or vice versa.

Additionally, the Tai Chi form teaches the practitioner to remove suki within the expression of the form. The practitioner learns to shift the energy between the hands maintaining a constant flow of energy. Realizing how the form eliminates suki takes a little bit of thought, but after thinking about the flow and working to maintain the constant flow of energy it becomes obvious how the form removes suki. 

Hi George, I am sure you have already heard, but I wanted to let you personally. We in Connecticut are hosting the Koshukai 2003. Shinjo Sensei and others will be here for a week of teaching and working out. We have a Web page: koshukai2003 that gives info on the event. It will updated often. All ranks, and all Uechi practioners are welcome on a first come first serve basis. It will be at UConn and we have rooms reserved at the new hotel. I hope all is well with you and Susan.

Best regards,

Jim Koch

Hi George, 

I'm sending photos of our last tournament. A lot of them weren't, to process to good .We did well as we have two Queensland State Champs. The tournament was held on the Sunshine Coast at Maroochdorye High School.It was a hot day and humid. We had 13 students involved on the day as well I was refereeing as I am a level 3 ISKA referee.We competed against a lot of different styles on the day.I will start of with our youngest.David Brennan 7yrs old events were Point Sparing (4th place)Full Contact(above waist)1st place and Full Contact (all except head )3rd place (he is a 9th kyu);Robert Clifford 9yrs(10th kyu) Point Sparing 5th place,Full Contact 2nd place;Matty Simmons 9yrs (8th kyu) Point Sparing 4th place,Full Contact (all except head) 3rd place;Jonathon Cause 11yrs (8th kyu) 5 the place in Kata,5th in point sparing,4th in full contact(above waist);Joe Sewell 13yrs (6th kyu)3rd place in Kata,4th place point sparing;Kurt Bunyard 13yrs (9th kyu)5th in Kata. Mitchell Hargrees 14yrs (8th kyu)2nd point sparing,2nd full contact (above waist);Jesse Ranger 13yrs (junior black)1st Kata ,2nd full contact.Also we had Daniel King (brown belt);Andrew Spek (junior black)and Colin Gavagan (black belt)entered all did well. 

At this tournament the events we entered in were as follows; Forms/Kata;Point Sparing;Full Contact which is all contact above waist and no punchers to face are aloud ;Full Contact which is contact to the body eg;leg kicks and head contact with punchers. My Dojo's are in Queensland on the Sunshine Coast at Landsborough and Caboolture. Well that's about all for now George hopefully I'll get better photos next time for we are going to try and hold a tournament next year. As we do about 7 a year at other styles and we compete fairly well against other styles .Have a great Xmas and New Year,


Ray Gardiner
Australia

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