Please pass this information along to others as you see fit.
Respectfully,

Nestor Folta

Hi George

I would like you to update my phone number in the instructor list The number listed has the wrong area code, the correct area code is "616" and if you could add my email address it is JVandelaar@aol.com

and in resopnse to a posting

------------------------------------------------------------------------

George, are their any instructors near the Detroit Mi. area as of yet?  Are you aware of any other people within this area looking for  instructors?

I would like to continue once again with learning the discipline..  Appreciate your help....

ron moserite

I am about 2 hours from Detroit I think it is the closest if you could forward this to Ron we mite be able to get together.

Just return from James Thompson Uechi-ryu tournament in Kalamazoo about 150 people turned out everyone had a great time no injuries (one bloody nose) most of my student brougnt home at least one trophy and one of my Japanese students place first in Kata and Kumite and it was his first tournament.

I'll tale to you later, have a great day

John

Greetings all,

Here are the final details regarding Ron Klein's visit to Milw.

***************************************************************************

I'm pleased to announce that Ron Klein will be coming to Milwaukee, WI to Marquette University, Saturday April 4th from 12:00 - 4:00 pm to teach Kobudo kata. He will teach Chessenkunbo and Yotoha no Jo katas, synchronous striking and knife defense. From 10:00 am - 12:00 pm he will teach Shinwa Uechi Budo Karate basics and rank kata.

Cost: $30
Preregistration is required as space is limited to 20 participants

Dr. Klein is SOKE of the Shinwakai, Sichidan in Shinwakai uechi Budo Karate (WFKO) and Yafu Kobudo (World Sogobudo Association), Rokudan/Renshi in Uechi Ryu Karate (NAC), Yandan in Ryukokaku Kobudo (in which he is also a jun-Shihan) and was awarded his Shidan from The All Okinawan Karatedo Association. He is a member of the American Society of Law Enforcement Trainers, American Women's Self Defense Association and ISOK."

Contact info:

Seminar will be held at:

Marquette University's Helfaer Rec. Center, Aerobic room
525 N. 16th st.
Milwaukee WI

Sponsored by:

Milwaukee Martial Arts Club
Jerry Becker
1830 E. Hillcrest Ave.
Milwaukee WI 53207
(414) 481-2536 eves
(414) 288-5423 days

Thanks,

Jerry

Dear George:

Thank you very much for the phone call, and well wishes. I am going to be just fine. I was in a multi car accident last week. I totaled my car. I was in the hospital for a little while, but the doctors just wanted to make sure everything was ok.

The only injuries i received were a few cuts, and some bruisers. As Bobby Campbell told me, "I am to mean and ugly to die". I think i was hurt more when i went through a Sanchin test by Jimmy Maloney. I would like to thank you very much for the kind words, and thoughts. They mean a lot to me. I will see you soon.

Take care: Jay Sal

We are all pleased to hear that you are doing well Jay.  GEM

Dear Mattson Sensei,

While not a uechi Ryu deshi, i enjoy examing your site evry so often, I often find the talks interesting and informative. It is also nice to see that the general rule of thumb seems to an open-mindedness that is rare and refreshing in budo. I was also grateful to attend a regional workout (thanks to Bill Glasheen, an old dojo buddy). I would like to thank everyone for thier kindness and forbearance

Yours truly,

Bill Stockey

Many thanks for your kind words about our website Bill. Please visit often and contribute to the forums. Your opinions and comments are valued by all. GEM

This past January 31, The Mid Atlantic Uechi Group met in Mount Airy, Maryland for an afternoon workout followed by a group dinner. This group meets on a quaterly basis and the host dojo site rotates within the region. Rik Lostritto Sensei of the Gaithersburg, Maryland Dojo hosted the event which was attended by 54 people representing nine regional dojos from Philadelphia to Richmond. Special guest John Spencer Sensei (Lostritto's Sensei) from Connecticut joined the group and led the day's training. A lot of time was well spent on individualized and small group Sanchin practice, various pre-arranged kumite and drills. The training session closed with a few minutes of free sparring practice and then on to a great Chinese dinner and social evening. Lostritto Sensei reports that Spencer Sensei was impressed with the enthusiasm and spirit of the group and highly encourages them to continue working together.

 In past regional meetings, special guests have included Frank Gorman Sensei (hosted by Bob Kaiser Sensei of the Washington Karate Academy, Washington DC) and Kanji Uechi Sensei (hosted by Nestor Folta Sensei of Metropolitan Washington DC Uechi-Ryu). The group's next training and social is scheduled for Saturday, April 25th and will be held in Charlottesville, Virginia (UVa). For details about it, contact Arn Abadines (ada2x@virginia.edu) or Ian Jenkins (ihj8k@virginia.edu).

Mid-Atlantic Uechi Group PhotoJanuary 1998 (click on image to see it full size)

Bill Glasheen Sensei demonstrates superempai kata.

Special guest John Spencer Sensei and host Rik Lostritto Sensei.

Dan Kumite instruction.

Kyu Kumite.

From:

JVandelaar <JVandelaar@aol.com>

I received this notice from a Ham radio page

John

At 08:11 AM 3/6/98 -0500, you wrote: I just heard a quick snip on the radio about HDTV (High Definition Television) transmissions causing harmful(!) interference on heart monitor telemetry units in a nearby hospital. Apparently the hospital is going to have to eat the cost of replacing their telemetry equipment so it doesn't get interfered with. Has anyone else heard about this? -Chuck KF4JPE

here's the bit from the Associated Press:

March 6, 1998

HDTV Signal Causes Interference

By The Associated Press

DALLAS (AP) -- High-definition television is being touted as the next breakthrough in home entertainment, with sharper pictures and brighter colors. But its digital signal apparently can make other equipment go haywire, as Baylor University Medical Center discovered. Even though no high-definition television sets are available yet, WFAA-TV in Dallas began broadcasting a new digital signal last Friday. As soon as the transmitter was turned on, nursing stations at Baylor's

A. Webb Roberts Hospital lost signals from the heart monitors for 12 patients who were recovering from heart surgery. Nurses quickly checked on the patients, and a backup system was rigged while engineers figured out the HDTV was to blame. WFAA agreed to suspend its digital broadcasts until the hospital installs 30 wireless heart monitors to avoid future nterference. The cost: $200,000.

`It's their problem, but we feel a large obligation to a ospital,'' said Craig Harper, assistant manager of TV engineering for A.H. Belo Corp., which owns the television station.

Dear Mr. George Mattson,

Sorry it has take me so long to communicate with you regarding the plans for the openning of Shihan Horton's dojo. Shihan started taking students in the latter part of November and has already gotten a substantial number of students. We hope to have the dojo up and running full force by the later part of this year, and we hope to be able to invite you for a visit very soon.

Hope to train with you real soon.

Yours in Karate,

Homer Ordaz

Dear George & Friends.... 

My Dear Friend and student, Jay Salhanick has been in a Car accident....

 Maybe mutual friends in the forum could send Jay Best Wishes and hope for a speedy recovery....

 GODS SPEED TO BETTER HEALTH JAY.......

 Your friend.... Bob Campbell

We all wish Jay a speedy recovery. I'm try to get an update on his condition now. Will let you all know how he is doing. GEM

Sensei Mattson,

I am fortunate to have a copy of the Shohei-Ryu book published this past year. I am curious if you or anyone else has been able to translate the lineage chart that came with it. Just curious.

If you happen to see one, I'd by interested in seeing it. I am no longer at Mike Murphy's dojo in Randolph, as I am now in Wichita, Kansas (quite a change!).

 Gene DeMambro

I don't have one Gene, but I'm sure someone will get back to us. GEM

Please excuse the redundancy if my original message was received, but I don't think it was. In response to the question about the appearance of the "real" Uechi style, here are some of my thoughts.

I am convinced that the art(s) practiced by GM Uechi were different in appearance than the present day manifestations. I think, however, that unless some of our eldest seniors are willing to help provide illumination, we just may not know exactly how much less why changes occured.

Some of the problems complicating our understanding include the following:

1) We have little idea what Uechi Kanbun's lineage really was beyond Sushiwa. This is important because it leaves a void in knowledge of the conceptual underpinnings of his practice. These concepts would have been taught in the form of song like poems and would have provided a more accurate index of the "ideal" in practice than watching any one individual perform.

2) Even if we knew unequivocally what his lineage was, we do not know what he was taught relative to his brothers or his sifu's fund of knowledge. We do know that instruction was (and to some extent remains) highly individual based on multiple considerations, some very subjective.

3) We may miss considerable information even if we had a video of Kanbun sensei due to that being only a snapshot in time of him and perhaps more importantly, to the extent that he employed internal cultivation, circulation, and discharge of energy in the performance of his technique much would be inaccessable to the camera's "eye."

4) Finally, historical, political, and cultural variables are constantly at work to alter the fablic of civililian based martial practices. Styles such as Wing Chun which were developed in southern China and remained there during their formative years (unlike Uechi-Ryu) frequently deviate from their roots for reasons known and lost in the decay (and embellishment) of information that is transmitted orally. Notwithstanding the turbulent political climate in China during Kanbun's tenure and all that it implies to the training he received and gave, almost all of the time frame in which Kanbun sensei taught was characterized by God-awful circumstances. Under those conditions did he teach all he knew? I think doubtful, he probably taught to most what was needed to help them.

I think wider stances, non-linear technique, and curved spine are all consistant with "good" technique in many schools of nan chuan boxing and to that extent what we saw in the historic video may be a finger pointing the way. However, we have a living student of GM Uechi's in the form of Toyama sensei who has shared with us via video recording one of the most awesome displays of chi flow in kata that I have seen......looks like "real" gung-fu to me!

David Elkins

It was posted earlier David, but since you raised some new points in this post, I'll include it as well. GEM

Sensei,

 I have a few interested students for this years Healing Arts Forum. Would you please forward the information of the Location, Time and Cost of this event.

 Thank you,
Evan Pantazi

The new information, including an application form, has been posted to the "Healing Arts" forum. You can find the link to this site at the bottom of the Table of  Contents Frame on the Home Page. GEM

Sensei,

 How are you? I hope that all is going well with you and Susan.

 I just wanted to let you know about an upcoming seminar on Okinawan kobudo. On Sunday, April 5, Chuck Merriman Sensei will be hosting Kiyoshi Nishime Sensei for a seminar on the Yamani-Chinen Ryu style of bojutsu. The seminar will begin at 10:00 AM and will be held at Merriman Sensei's dojo in Niantic, CT.

 Regards,

John Hassell

Good luck with the seminar John. Please give my regards to Chuck. GEM

Dear Sensei Mattson,

I shall be visiting the U.S.A. again briefly in April and will be passing through San Francisco, Philadelphia, then Boston en route to Cambridge, so was wondering about possibly linking up and training with one of the Uechi or Shohei groups there, or even meeting with yourself if Nattick is not far from where I'll be headed. I'd appreciate to hear back from anyone as to if there are classes or a dojo where I could meet up with a Boston teacher, perhaps on the weekend of April 25-26th, as I run the small Uechi Ryu (shohei) club here in Western Australia without regular contact from higher dan teachers. In April last year our visit from Yonamine Sensei and Arthur Moulas Sensei, our Australian chief instructor, was our big highlight. Anyone who can assist may contact me directly by email on either long@museum.wa.gov.au, or jlong40@hotmail.com.

Yours sincerely

John Long

Perth Uechi Ryu club

Thanks for writing John. We have a "Healing Arts" Forum on the Saturday (25th) that you might enjoy. Lots of dojo in the area as well. I'm sure they will contact you directly. Please call when you arrive. GEM

Sensei may I request that you post this message on the site? I am searching for a copy of an article written a good while ago (perhaps in excess of 10 years) comparing sanchin and wing chun's siu leem tao form. There was also as I recall, heated response to the article. I am preparing an article on that subject and would find a copy invaluable. I believe Chris Thomas was the author. Thanks so much.

David Elkins (shugyo@nni.com)

My name is Adam McCauley. I am a current Karate instructor and am interested in purchasing your book. please get back to me in regards to the procedure since I am new at using this computer system of buying over the internet.

Thank you

In Bushido,

Adam McCauley

 Thanks for writing Adam. Its really quite easy to order product through the Uechi website: "http://uechi-ryu.com"

 1.Click on the "Books and Products" section in the table of contents. (left frame of home page)

2. Find the book you wish to order. click on "order product"

3. fill in the information, including your credit card info and "submit"

4. This is a "secure" transaction, meaning that your credit card information is not transmitted through the email process, but goes directly into a secure server on my site. Only I can access this information.

5. If you prefer, you can fax (508-559-8913) the info or call (508-586-3969) or send the order via email. Just list the product you wish. You can call-in your credit card info or fax it, or if you feel comfortable about sending this info via email, you can send it along with the email.

 Don't hesitate if you have any other questions. GEM

 George

 Read my posting on the forum (What I REALLY think) from today. This picture goes with it.

Click on image to see it full size

 Bill Glasheen

George, are their any instructors near the Detroit Mi. area as of yet? Are you aware of any other people within this area looking for instructors?

I would like to continue once again with learning the discipline.. Appreciate your help....

ron moserite

 Any one in the Detroit area?? Please respond. GEM

Sensei, sorry to be a "techno" pain in the rear, but when I tried to participate in Sensei steve's history forum, I received a message "FRONT PAGE ERROR" report to Webmaster. So that's what I'm doing. Thanks

David Elkins

I checked out the forums David. Doesn't seem to be a problem. GEM

Hello Sensei, I'm interested in writing, reviewing, etc. Technical question: I am not able to get into "questions of the week". Message says that "site not supported by this server." Don't understand as I accessed it once and responded to a most interesting question and now would like to see more on the subject. Any thoughts?

David Elkins

I believe the trouble must be from your side. Anyone else having difficulties? GEM

Hi Mr. Mattson!

Rachel asked me to e-mail you and ask for an application to the Uechi-Ryu portion of the New England Open Tournament in May. If she decides to spar, does she need to wear a chest protector? She is 16 and does not wear one to spar at the dojo. Thanks so much,

Donna

We don't wear them in our dojo either, but for safety reasons, all youth divisions freefighting must wear chest protection. In the dojo, you know your partners. In an open tournament, you may end up with a student whose teacher believes it is better to be disqualified than lose a match. Best to err on the side of caution. GEM

hi my name is Amber I am 11 years old I just started Karate and I love it Im going to be in a Karate tournement in April my sensei says that all are welcome to compete so I have been practiceng till I drop everyday I love your website it gives us kid martial artist our own page to check out

Welcome to the Uechi web Amber. I'll post your message to the kid's page. GEM

Dear Sensei Mattson,

This is a response to Mr. Wilson's most recent letter concerning his perception of Sensei Kaend's Sanchin testing/checking methods.

Often lack of experience breeds unintentional responses and misinformed opinions. Nevertheless, opinions and responses can insult. Mr. Wilson stated that he did not intend to insult anyone with regards to hisremarks concerning Sensei Ahti Kaend and his students. He reiterates his deprecatory observation that he has not been impressed with the quality of Shohei-ryu he has seen. Therefore, according to his own logic, Sensei Kaend does not practice quality Shohei-ryu. He denies the intention to commit injury and we should accept that comment on its face. However, Mr. Wilson's letter indicated that he did not approve of Sensei Kaend's testing methods and also implied that neither Sensei Kaend; nor his affiliated instructors; nor his students, were "talented". He did state that Sensei Kaend's students appeared to be "strong & knowledgeable". If "strong and knowledgeable" does not equate to "talented", in Mr. Wilson's rhetoric, then perhaps Mr. Wilson should define his terms more clearly before he posts to any forum.

In a similar vein, none of Sensei Kaend's instructor's or students can recall meeting Mr. Wilson when he visited their dojo. Conditioning, like rhetoric, requires gradual practice. A good teacher knows the limitations of his students and grades training accordingly. Beginners often do not understand how one can comprehend the complexities of a task. Thus, most dojos do not allow beginners to make contact because they do not understand control. As one becomes more experienced, one acquires both respect for his fellow practitioners and adequate control.

One should always exercise caution in applying new knowledge. It is commendable that Mr. Wilson pursues an interest in the esoteric. Proper study of "eastern" concepts of vital points and basic "western" anatomy and physiology reveal an excellent correlation. However, serious practitioners have questioned the basis for his concerns. Thus, while dissections of the calf musculature reveal the tibial nerve, inhalation and exhalation do not influence its physiology. Mr. Wilson should take care to avoid disseminating medical misinformation. Despite his assertion that one cannot strengthen "vital points," development of the calf muscles do a very good job of protecting nerves and softer structures.

Indeed, while the anterior surface of the right ventricle of the heart appears to lie in the vicinity of the Mr. Wilson's "ganka," it is rather well protected, as any boxer knows. Furthermore, despite Mr. Wilson's recollection, Sensei Kaend never strikes at that point, particularly during shime. Some of Sensei Kaend's affiliated instructors will sometimes "check" a student's "pecs" during Sanchin. Perhaps Mr. Wilson's misperception is excusable given his inexperience in this area. Had Mr. Wilson trained with Sensei Kaend he would have discovered through guided practice that the proper practice of Sanchin develops a calm mind ("mushin") as well as a strong spirit and body.

Due to his lack of knowledge in Shohei-ryu and conditioning, Mr. Wilson has the misbelief that striking individuals in those areas he refers to as the "Ganka" and "Soma" is a dangerous practice. That is not so. A properly trained individual will withstand those strikes without any internal or external injuries so long as the Sanchin "check" is adjusted to the rank and level of the student. The 'proof is in the pudding', during the 35 years that Sensei Kaend has been teaching, neither he, nor his affiliated instructors have ever injured a student as a result of a Sanchin "check". We acknowledge that injuries have occurred as a result of Sanchin "checks" but none of those injuries have been caused by any the undersigned.

It is unfortunate that Mr. Wilson did not train with Sensei Kaend or his affiliated instructors. With patience and diligence, he could develop the appropriate level of conditioning, as most of Sensei Kaend's beginning students achieve, and find the level of training in the dojo refreshing and not so frightening.

We request that if Mr Wilson wishes to gain any further knowledge or discuss these matters that he please respond privately to any of the individuals listed below who have e-mail addresses. We will address any of his concerns or questions to the best of our ability.

The West Coast Okikukai association under the leadership of Sensei Kaend invites all Shohei-ryu/Uechi-ryu practitioners, whether visiting or moving to, California, to train with us.

Best regards,

Shidoin Michael J. DeDonato mjdcgb@artnet.net
Sensei Mehran Shahkar
Sensei Steve Goss
Sensei Henry Thom henrythom@juno.com
Sensei John Felipe
Sensei Pabulo Villegas
Sensei Dave Sargent
Sensei Olga Kaend
J. D. Morenski, M.D. doctorx@u.washington.edu

I would like to offer a few thoughts relative to the Chinese/Okinawan issues of lineage and technique. My research has raised many more questions than it has answered which leads me to several tentative conclusions. I think there may not be a "right" answer, particularly in regard to questions relative to technique. This is secondary to the facts that: 1) such things are either evolving or stagnating and dying; 2) that typically in the Chinese arts students were taught not only material quantitatively their sifu felt at any given point in time they were ready for (or were "worthy of" possessing), but qualitatively speaking, versions of that material the sifu felt could realistically be encorporated and used by the individual; and finally, 3) that at least two of Uechi-Ryu's animal inspirations are considered at least in part "internal", and as such when performed by practitioners of varying expertise will appear quite different although the intent underlying the movemen! t will be roughly the same. That is, assuming two practitioners who interpret material similarly (a risky assumption in itself), and have the physical stuff necessary to actualize that shared interpretation, the senior in ability will require less perceptable movement to effect greater power than his/her junior.

The fact that Uechi-Ryu at one time probably "looked" different is much more reasonable to assume when you consider the case of other southern Chinese arts that evolved from parent arts, remained in southern China during their formative years, and presently appear dissimilar in many important respects, i.e., White Crane and Wing Chun. Having said that, I am convinced that the art(s) practiced by and perhaps to a lesser degree taught by Grandmaster Uechi, Kanbun was different in appearance than our present day manifestation. It logically makes sense, and the kata contains copious material that lends it's self to valid interpretation from an internal perspective. By this I mean numerous examples of movement that is best (most powerfully) expressed with jin derived from the feet,waist, and spine rather than merely shoulder and elbow line power, i.e., to name a few: shomen hajike, kakushiken, nukite, and of course, the mawashiuke.

I would very much love to learn the origin of Master Toyama, Seiko's interpretation of kata Sanseiryu, looks like kung-fu to me!

David Elkins

John Spencer Sensei asked me to let you all know that his Dojo has moved to Colchester, Connecticut which is about 15 miles distant from the previous location. He just moved this past week. I have not seen the place yet but he tells me that a new wood floor just went in and it is 1600 square feet. Naturally, the students moved with him and he has signed up enough new students there to already make the investment worthwhile.

He will always appreciate your visits and I am sure you will enjoy it as well.

GOOD LUCK SPENCER SENSEI IN YOUR NEW LOCATION !!

NEW ADDRESS: 199 Old Hartford Road, Colchester, CT
NEW PHONE: (860) 537-2600

Please update your files.

Thanks,

Rik

Hello Sensei. I am finally "on line" and can be reached at shugyo@nni.com. Hope all is well with you and yours. I am very happy to be access your wonderful web site. Would you be so kind as to give my e-mail address to Joe Bellone, I would very much like to talk with him about Chinese martial arts. Thank you. "Rachel" who inquired about spiritual dimensions of the arts would do well to ceck out, "Spiritual Dimensions of the Martial Arts" by Michael Maliszewski, Ph.D., Tuttle, 1996.

Please feel free to pass along the information. I am looking forward to summer camp. If the offer is still good, I'd like to do a seminar on Wing Chun and Uechi-Ryu demonstrating some similarities

(perhaps through the medium of the hojoundo.) I think Uechi-Ryu practitioners would be pleasantly surprised at some of the common ground between the arts. I would use drills to allow participants to "feel" as well as know what they are learning. If that sounds acceptable to you please advise as to the logistics relative to teaching at camp.

Thanks and best regards.

David Elkins

Mattson Sensei,

Just wanted to know where Ron Kleins forum is now. I know you say it is on the political issues web site but am unable to find this. Though I don't practice Uechi/Shohei/Pangainoon I have been interested in all martial arts history since I started in 1973. I have all your books and having talked to Gordi Breyette on the I have ordered the Shohei book. I practice Shotokan, though my first class in karate was with John Bassett in Uechi here in Plattsburgh NY in 1973. I went the Shotokan route instead.

The forums are fascinating and a learning experience. Thank you for all the time you put into this site.  Respectfully Yours,

Scott Lippacher, Plattsburgh Karate Club
Plattsburgh Karate Club

I felt that political issues should be restricted to a separate area. When you enter the Uechi Web, look in the left frame (table of contents) Click on the "Political Issues" site. GEM

Mr. Mattson

Hi my name is Shawn R. Bartley,I study Uechi under the guidence of Rose Dyer.I have heard many things about you and I was very surprised to find you on the net.I could not get your web site to come through though but I am also not very good at these computers,I am house sitting for some friends,and they let me dink around on their computer .Iam trying to find the address for the company that makes the Sherado gi's,if you would happen to have this information,it would be much appreciated if you could pass it on to me.I would get it from rose but she is in Chicago this week.I am twenty eight,I have just recived my brown belt a while back and I have been wanting to get my self a good gi.Well it was great talking to you and hopfully we could meet someday

Have a great day

Shawn R. Bartley

Thanks for writing Shawn. Don't give up on the computer. It just takes patience and practice. If you want a really great gi, try the Anshin. Click on the Banner ad on the top of this page for more information. GEM

Subject:

long absent student

From:

Marcb246@aol.com

To: gmattson@uechi-ryu.com

 this student, long absent from classes {approx. 12 years since last in class}, wishes to know if Mr. Mattsons dojo is still in Boston.

Ed Huff teaches in Boston. I teach in Natick and Newton. GEM

I will have a Cornell Uechi page of my own up within a few days. I'd like to hotlink it to your page, and visa-versa. My class here is a combination of eastern philosophy and martial arts. It is quite popular here, and I hope Uechi karate-ka all over enjoy the page.

 Here it is:

 http://inet.crp.cornell.edu/students/mk77/uechi-ryu/

 Thanks,

Jay N

Mr Mattson,

I know that you are very busy; so, here is a copy of the E-mail relating to the suspended floor:

... In one of the article's I have been reading you stated that you would like to do Sanchin in an airplane.

I was thinking how about making a floor out of 2x4's and suspend it form the ceiling, so it would be no more than 3" off the floor. Then place around it bumpers, to keep the floor from swinging too much. Also, it would aid in the change in direction. This floor does not have to be very big, no more than a sheet of plywood (4x8) ...

Talk to you later.

Take care.

Charles Roberts

I'll post the plan in the "Articles" section Charles. Sorry I lost the email and got behind posting this notice. GEM

George,

Your response to the young student [in the "Whats New" Editorial Section]was different than what I would have answered. The participation in the forum is good, but to train and listen to the opinions of many of the so called sensei's could create problems. Every area is different and only one in every 1000 instructors is someone you would want your student or anyone to train with. Even the teachers of the past when most of the Sensei's were good would not allow this to happen. After several years of training then the student can make a choice based on understanding. I will not even take a student from another school till they have tried to work things out with their instructor or they have not trained in over 90 days. The hardest students to teach are the ones who come from non traditional styles. They have no understanding of many of the principles of traditional

karate in balance and stance. They push their techniques et..... I have a good working relationship with many of the traditional Sensei's and we often work together for greater understanding of the various styles. Even within Uechi Ryu there are many differences of teaching which can create problems let alone non traditional concepts which cause students great distress. Sanchin alone puts us outside of most other styles concepts. Nothing wrong with learning but like the internet you have to be able to tell what is true and what is just a opinion. Just because it is in a book does not make it true. New student do not have enough understanding to know the difference. Shotokan is a traditional style but they rarely if ever speak of Choki Motobu. All our students are required a basic knowledge of the major systems. At blackbelt level a much higher understanding. There are basic's which cross all traditional styles but rarely touch on the many open type groups. The open type groups out number us 1000 to one. The easy path is always popular but the hard path teaches much more. Paths are not always easy in life and karate. Like all teachers we must set our students feet on the path and help them stay there till they learn to avoid easy dead ends and pit falls.

William Hall

A very good day to you Sensei,

I know you are very busy, and I would be very greatfull if you could fullfill a request of mine in any way. I have your book(6th edition) Uechi-Ryu Karate Do and I have gone through it numerous times. Amongst so many great photos, there is always one special photo that attracts my attention. It is on page 305, with the text under it ; Kanei Uechi demonstrating the strength in his opening stance for kata. I would love to have this photo so I could hang it up in my Dojo and for my collection. Maybe you could e-mail it to me or send it by mail and let me know of any costs.

Look forward to your mail,

Thank you and best regards,

Dragan

I'll have to find the negative Dragan. Please give me a couple of weeks. GEM

Sir:

I know you are a busy man. I am a former student of Uechi Ryu and desperately want to return. When there I was happier, healthier and more focused.

The problem is I have had many injuries (including 2severe car accidents) and I fear that the training may cause them to resurface. I do not wish to be slack when I start to train again.

My question is Could I do some excercises to prepare my body for the journey ahead. If so are their any areas that I should focus my training on to best facilitate karate.

Thank you for your time, please feel no rush to respond

 C Gavin

ps The Red Book was exellent

Thanks for your note and compliment. I'm sure you will get lots of good advice from people far more qualified than me. Good luck with your recovery. GEM

I received this email from one of my students, thought I would pass it along

Subj: pervert list

Date: 98-02-18 22:14:46 EST

From: stunroe@cbpu.com (stu)

To: JVandelaar@aol.com (John VandeLaare)

Spoke with my instructor who is the assistant prosecutor here in Branch co, he said he thought the county sheriff would have a list of all sex offenders in the county. Failing that I can get with the various police departments & get them for the different zones. Have you had any luck getting any info on the ones up there? I explained that one of the reasons was to prevent these people from learning martial arts & he thought that was a real good idea. He said people really complained about not having access to this info but now that they do hardly anyone takes advantage of it.

Steve

Sensei,

 I have just returned from Bermuda where Sifu Al Wharton hosted his annual Tournament and Seminar weekend. It was 4 days of enthusiastic and exciting events. The People in and out of the Arts are wonderful people, happy, polite and all respectful...even strangers!

The reason I am writing is to say that Uechi on Bermuda, under the care of Sifu Wharton, was very impressive. The kata were performed with power, efficiency and grace. The children especially astounded me in their proficiency and dedication. One Child (a 12 year old that I am trying to track down, as during judgeing I saw him leave before I could talk with him), did a Seisan that left me in awe. The fighters were direct and courageous. You can be proud of the current status of Uechi and the Character of Sifu and all the Practioners, as it was impeccable.

Evan

Thanks for the compliment Evan. We are all very proud of our Bermuda Uechi family. GEM

From: Harvey Rowe

Subject: FW: Warning! Danger, Will Robinson! Danger!

*WARNING*WARNING*WARNING*

If you receive an Email with the subject line "Badtimes" delete it IMMEDIATELY, WITHOUT READING it. This is the most dangerous Email virus yet. Not only will it completely rewrite your hard drive, but it will scramble any disks that are even close to your computer. It also demagnetizes the strips on all your CREDIT CARDS. It reprograms your ATM access code, screws up the tracking on your VCR and uses subspace field harmonics to scratch any CD's you try to play. It will recalibrate your refrigerators coolness settings so all your ice cream melts and your milk curdles. It will give your ex-boy/girlfriend your new number. This virus will mix antifreeze into your fish tank. It will drink all your soda and leave dirty socks on the coffee table when you are expecting company.

It will hide your car keys when you are late for work and interfere with your car radio reception so that you only hear static while stuck in traffic. When executed "Badtimes" will also give you nightmares about circus midgets.

It will replace your shampoo with Nair and your Nair with Rogaine. It will give you Dutch Elm Disease and brown patch. If the "Badtimes" message is opened in a Windows95 enviromnent, it will leave the toilet seat up and leave your hairdryer plugged in dangerously close to a full bathtub. It will not only remove the forbidden tags from your mattresses and pillows, but it will also refill your skim milk with whole milk.

It is insidious and subtle. It is dangerous and terrifying to behold. It is also a rather interesting shade of mauve. These are just a few signs.

Be afwaid,

be vewy,

vewy afwaid.

O.K., I'm afraid! GEM

From: William Hall <w.l.hall@ix.netcom.com>

Ponderings

1. Before they invented drawing boards, what did they go back to?

2. Does the Little Mermaid wear an algebra?

3. How do I set my laser printer on stun?

4. How is it possible to have a civil war?

5. If all the world is a stage, where is the audience sitting?

6. If love is blind, why is lingerie so popular?

7. If one synchronized swimmer drowns, do the rest have to drown too?

8. If the #2 pencil is the most popular, why is it still #2?

9. If work is so terrific, how come they have to pay you to do it?

10. If you're born again, do you have two belly-buttons?

11. If you ate pasta and antipasta, would you still be hungry?

12. If you try to fail, and succeed, which have you done?

13. Why is it called tourist season if we can't shoot at them?

14. Why is the alphabet in that order? Is it because of that song?

15. What happens when none of your bees wax?

16. If the black box flight recorder is never damaged during a plane crash, why isn't the whole airplane made out of the stuff?

17. Why is there an expiration date on sour cream?

18. If most car accidents occur within five miles of home, why doesn't everyone just move 10 miles away?

Mr. G. Mattson:

If I may, I would like to ask if there is a listing of Uechi-ryu dojo's available so that a student travelling on business might attend some training while away from his/her regular school? If the list already exists at this site, I would appreciate some pointers in its direction.

Perhaps such a listing (if it does not yet exist) would augment this site and allow for further discussion/communication amongst students and instructors, as well as inter-school visits...."cross-pollenization"?

I will be visiting the US in late March for a technical course and will be bringing my gi and other workout wear with me. If there is a Uechi-ryu school near the course site it would be nice to attend a couple of classes during my sojourn.
Thank you in advance for any reply you may provide.

David Austen

A global dojo/instructor database is already an important part of the Uechi Web. You can find the site on the table of content frame of the main page. If you have any trouble, please email me. Also, when you know your schedule, please contact me. Hopefully, you will be in the New England area at some point. GEM

Thank you for your response....I have found the part of the site and I think that Bruce Hirabayashi in Newport News will be the closest for my trip the last week of March. My schedule is March 21 to 28, to Williamsburg, Va via Newport News airport. My Sensei is Rick WIlson here in Edmonton. I am also interested in the summer camp, but it will be a couple of years before I can afford that trip.

Thanks again for taking the time to respond.

David Austen

Dear Sensei:

I'm putting the finishing touches on the Website for the Bap's tournament. I have a page set-up on that site for the Uechi-Ryu Championships using info from the Uechi page in the tournament brochure. I linked that page back to your "tournament page" in the Uechi-ryu website (/worldtny.htm).

Could you please link that page back to Rich's website (for info on hotel, directions, etc.), as well as linking the heading for the New England Open National Karate Tournament on the regional tournament page.

The URL is: http://members.aol.com/neopen

Thanks. Also, you have two errors on your tournament page. The first one is in the first paragraph of the "Open Letter." It should say FOURTH annual tournament. Also, lower down, under the "Rules Summary", it should say "1998." If you have any questions, let me know.

Talk to you soon,

David

Thanks for pointing out the errors on our tournament page. I've just created an all new site for the Uechi-ryu Championships. Check it out and let me know if you spot any more errors. GEM

Semsei Mattson:

I hope this finds everything going great for the year of the tiger.

Please note my new E-mail address: wilsonr@sprint.ca

Would you please adjust the dojo listings the next time you are doing an pdate.

 Thanks

 Rick

From: Harvey Rowe

Subject: FW: Scandals of a cosmic scale (funny)

Turmoil rocked Heaven this morning as allegations arose that God had had an affair with a former worshipper. The scandal began when a 21-year-old woman, known only as Mary, claimed that she had given birth to God's "only son" last week in a barn in the hamlet of Bethlehem. Sources close to Mary claim that she "had loved God for a long time", that she was constantly talking about her relationship with God, and that she was "thrilled to have had his child." 

In a press conference this morning, God issued a vehement denial, saying that "No sexual relationship existed", and that "the facts of this story will come out in time, verily". Independent counsel Kenneth Beelzebub immediately filed a brief with the Justice department to expand his investigation to cover questions of whether any commandments may have been broken, and whether God had illegally funneled laundered money to his illegitimate child through three foreign operatives know only as the "Wise Men". Beelzebub has issued subpoenas to several angels who are rumored to have acted as go-betweens in the affair. Critics have pointed out that these allegations have little to do with the charges that Beelzebub was originally appointed to investigate, that God had created large-scale flooding in order to cover up evidence of a failed land deal.

In recent months, Beelzebub's investigation has already been expanded to cover questions surrounding the large number of locusts that plagued God's political opponents in the last election, as well as to claims that the destruction of the cities of Sodom and Gommorah was to divert attention away from a scandal involving whether the giveaway of a parcel of public land in the Promised County to a Jewish special interest group was quid pro quo for political contributions.

 If these allegations prove to be true, then this could be a huge blow to God's career, much of which has been spent crusading for stricter moral standards and harsher punishments for wrongdoers. Indeed, God recently outlined a "tough-on-crime" plan consisting of the above-mentioned "Ten Commandments" introduced in Congress in a bill by Rep. Moses. Critics of the bill have pointed out that it lacks any provisions for the rehabilitation of criminals, and lawyers for the ACLU are planning to fight the "Name in Vain" Commandment as being an unconstitutional restriction on free speech.

 Sensei Mattson,

I am a student of Ed Huff's at the BAC. I am mostly in New York City for awhile and am looking for an instructor here. I received my Dan rank last May. I would be grateful if you had any names of good teachers??? Thank you.

Lisa

Check out David Finkelstein and his students, many who have dojo in New York. GEM

Sensei,

Here are a few photos of my visit to the monastery on Drum Mountain near Fujou. I can send you copies of any of them at higher resolution (up to 1200 DPI) if you wish.

If you have any questions about them, I will be glad to answer them as best I can.

1) Lunch with Master Zhang Tian-ci and representatives of the Fujian Wushu Association in Fujou

2) Entrance to temple

3-5) Temple photos

6) Guan ying Buddha

7) Stairway to old riverbed

8) Monk's house - It is said that, one day many years age, the river which flowed before the stairway in the previous picture anoyed the monk who lived in this house while he was reading. He yelled at the river so loud that it changed course to a new riverbed.

9) Calligraphy on rocks near monk's house

10) View from restaurant on Drum Mountain