Uechi-Ryu.com

A few excerpts on Kata from one translation of Master Uechi’s book_Old Kyhon_ as sent to me by Carlos Ciriza:


From the book:

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Van

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Van

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Van

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Van

It's me again!! ( I know, I can hear the mutterings and oaths from here!)

But it sounds like he is trying to give an explanation of Sen:

http://karatejutsu.blogspot.com/2006/05/making-sense-of-sen.html

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Jim Prouty
New England Budo Center

Thank you Van , and thanks Carlos

very clear message .

Old Kyohn

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Van

muy buen material,
este libro en ingles es una gran ayuda.

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チャールズ

Yes, Carlos, this english translation it is a great help _ thank you.

People will realize that it is Master kanei Uechi 'speaking' _

Regards,

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Van

From master Kanei Uechi’s blue book

~~~


And Tim Larkin sees it this way

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Van

Tim Larkin scribed:


It also causes you to possibly pull your punches or kicks!! Because you have that little voice in the back of your brain doubting what you are doing is correct.

I've seen several well trained MA practitioners get caught in this syndrome....especially with a lack of makiwara or bag work.

::Live or death:: Where is the quandary??

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Jim Prouty
New England Budo Center

Quote:
Some of the explanations of Kata are new but the way Kata is defined as a model this idea should already be understood. The basics have to stay the same. The traditions have to stay the same. etc. etc. etc.

Van, doesn't this post pretty well describe what most of us, as teachers of traditional Uechi-ryu, maybe better described as American style, , give our students every day? Using what has been passed on to us as students and then expanding, adding our own individual agenda, example: our own little "secret" fighting teniques, other things that,,,work,,,. To me, this is a good teacher, teach Uechi, follow the book, and then go on from there. I'm not sure where this quote came from, maybe from one of GEM sensei's books, but it impressed me enough that I made up a copy, framed it and put on the dojo wall. Maybe someone knows the origin and the exact quote:
"As imperfect as I am, I strive to make my students perfect." That may not be exact but the point is, unselfishly, a good teacher is successful if he/she gives all they have to the student. The student in turn becomes a better teacher. Maybe I have drifted away from the original thought behind your post. Hope you get my point.
Bill B.

Bill,

Thank for the post and I agree with you 100% _

I am also following with interest the Three year sanchin discussion on Bill’s forum but keeping my posts there at a minimum lest I be accused once again of ‘high-jacking threads’ _ it seems that if you have a different opinion and express it passionately, then you are a ‘highjacker’ _

For example, I know you love sanchin [so do I_ not one day goes by that I don’t practice it intensely as you have seen me do at the Shinkookai]

And as to sanchin kata _ we don’t want to get away from the focus of the importance of sanchin, and disparage Max on his three years practice belief_ he is doing what works for him best and I applaud him.

It is a very important kata [exercise…as some believe it is _rather than a kata_ ask around] _

The benefits of its practice are legion [yet there has been a downside indicated as you will read in a moment] _

It is like a foundation to a house, physical and mental ‘centering’ iron shirt and power mechanics for delivery on target without having to use hips gyrations, rather launching a strike by subtle body torque as we see a ‘Rabesa’ do in such ‘terminal ways’ _ and there is more.

Question is…

Is it truly necessary to have to practice sanchin for three years before moving on to bigger/better things [if you believe the other two main kata are bigger and better as a goal of your training] or can ‘bigger / better things be developed at once due to training evolution?


These are reasonable questions and reasonable thoughts expressed by reasonable and intelligent new students.



Why would Kanbun’s son change his father’s training method? Why did he not insist on a three year sanchin practice for all students?

Are we harming our beginner students by even showing them more advanced kata?

Rabesa will tell you that in the days of the Columbus ave dojo, George would shut the dojo door while the more senior people were practicing Sanseiryu_

I am sure George had a good reason for it but many people still wonder why it was done_maybe he will explain on line.


So the question is _ Are the Uechi masters of today [in Okinawa or the world] worse off or better off _ and why_ for not having trained sanchin exclusively for three years before learning another Uechi move? If worse off_ tell us how you measure that_

Max is of course not implying any of this..he just trains according to his own beliefs which must be respected.




Now here is something worth looking at_




 incorrect practice of Sanchin <

What is this? So many seniors like to make this statement but don’t like to explain on line what it means and what the correct way…is

So from a medical viewpoint _ what do we eliminate from Sanchin that might hurt us as above?

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Van

Life expectancy is growing and science is certainly improving our understanding of everything we do. I have worked production lines for 30 years...Ergonomics has greatly changed what I do and how I do it. New line workers will likely have better health because of better understanding of movement. It is astounding the little quirks in repetitive movement that can destroy your body...Sanchin I am positive can do the same. I have changed some aspects of my sanchin from by an Orthopedic surgen when I took level 1National Coaching certification (not sport specific). He certainly didn`t understand the kata but he knows body structure and Sport Medicine is his feild. Another example is herbal medications, some herbs can treat a problem but eventually destroy the liver...At one time that was not likely an issue as life expectancy was short anyway.
Science proved beyond a dought that the Earth is not flat, science can certainly improve all our training methods. What the Okinawans that trained themselves to an early grave were NOT wrong...However, it is wrong to ignore a lesson learned.

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Léo

Van I believe that students can be taught more advanced katas at any time in their training. They can learn the kata physically, go through the moves until they have it all "down.' But,,if I can push someone over in the middle of their kata, or move into an attack and they have nothing in the way of strength, what good is it? I guess I don't understand the reasoning. We both know there are no short cuts, it takes time to develope strength, conditioning, balance and speed. Do you agree that when we sit on a promotion board we are looking for these qualities? How are they developed if not through the work of, for lack of a better description, sanchin? I admit ignorance when it comes to the health factor you mention. You know my story, I honestly believe that I am still here mostly because of my training and my physical and mental strength given to me by sanchin. Knowing and respecting you so well, I trust what you say. I just don't understand. AND, as I stated on Bill's site, I feel at this point that you have found something to add rather than replace. Though it is late for me, I still seek more understanding. I am in Florida enjoying the warmth and golf. You can be sure, when I get back, Art and I will be up to see you and the "troops."
Respectfully,
Bill