October,
2004 Mailbag| Note: In the course of a month I get literally thousands of e-mail. I don't normally place correspondence in the "Mailbag" that are either labeled "personal" or contain information of a personal nature. As I read and answer mail, if I find a letter that I find interesting, amusing, topical or educational, it gets filed in my "mailbag" for future use in this feature. I try to edit out any personal information like addresses or telephone numbers, unless the writer specifically requests that I publish it. I welcome all e-mail and will answer everyone in as timely a manner as possible. Don't be surprised if you find (or don't find) your message in this section. However, if you are concerned about your letter finding its way into the "Mailbag", simply include in the header or at the beginning of message "personal" and I will honor your request. GEM Dojo Updates
and other nice news! Subject: Your Book Mr. Mattson, My Sensei Tsukasa Higa let me borrow your book Uechiryu karate Do to read, it was one of the best books on the martial arts I have ever read. I studied this art only for a short time many years ago while stationed on Okinawa. Im happy to say that Im back on the road to learning Uechiryu again. Thank you for all your effort and dedication to bring this very special discipline to America. Sincerely, Mike Shelby Hi Mike: Thanks for your very kind letter. I'm very happy to hear that you are studying Uechi-ryu again. Where are you working out? Drop in to our forums and join the many different discussions. Stay in touch... Happy New Year.. Best, George Mattson Hi Mr. Mattson, It is an honor to hear from you! And you are very welcome! Myself and a few other student's workout in Brown Mills, New Jersey. I train on Tues. and Thursday night's. Also occasionally on Saturday. It is a modest dojo- a basement converted into a dojo. Sensei Higa has a large Torii gate in front of his house, just like a Shinto Shrine in Okinawa. Iam very happy to be training there. It was good karma finding Sensei Higa.I will drop into the forums and stay in touch. Thank you for responding to my e-mail! Happy New Year! God Bless You and Your Family! No matter where I go, George, people want me to teach. Several people at work have already requested me to open a dojo, so.... In a few weeks I will be conducting the grand opening of the
Good luck with your new dojo Al. Please let us know when classes are beginning and how to contact you. GEM Sensei Mattson: Please add my new school to the list. Mail _ PO Box 645 Townsend MA 01469 Tel/fax 978-597-0524 talk to you soon, John Page Hello Mr. Mattson, Just to get back to you with my new dojo's details: I am at 106 route 13 Brookline, NH 03033 and I offer classes everyday except for Thursday and Saturday for now I a teaching 4 year olds to the adults. My school phone number is 603-672-8933. I am hoping to be at the hut this coming Saturday. So I will see you then. Talk to you soon Dear Sensei Mattson:
My name is Lenora Farrington and I’m a Shodan w/Bruce and Jim. I don’t know if you’ll remember me but you were at my black belt test. (That would be the one were Bruce e-mailed you that the test was at 1 o’clock but he meant 11 so you missed much of it but if it helps I was the only lady testing.)
At any rate they plan to re-open Oct 1 as you’ve probably heard and I’ve promised to put together a marketing campaign for them. If it’s not too inconvenient it would be very helpful if you would take the time to write a paragraph or two saying glowing wonderful things about them so I can quote you heavily in the promotional materials. Please let me know if that would be possible and thanks very much for your time.
Lenora Farrington Marketing Coordinator MASS MoCA 413.664.4481 x8111 I would like to take this opportunity to congratulate Bruce and Jim Witherells on their grand re-opening of their Uechi Karate Dojo. I have know Bruce for many years and Jim since he was a "toddler". Bruce seems to remain youthful and as strong as ever, while Jim grew up and became one of Uechi-ryu's most honored and highly recognized martial artist in the world, as a teacher, a competitor and person. Jim won the Uechi-ryu World Karate Championships and has placed high in ever event he entered during his long career. Both Jim and Bruce are fabulous teachers and should be very successful in their new dojo. I am very pleased to hear about their plans and wish them the very best. As part of the original group of Uechi teachers who joined the International Uechi-ryu Karate Federation, I count heavily on them to help build and develop the organization and lend their name and support to our many activities and events. Again, good luck my friends. I look forward to seeing you soon and working out with you in your new and spectacular dojo. Best, George Mattson Hello to all sensei, I hope this e-mail will find you and your family are in best health & sprits. I inform you about our 10 years anniversary event on Sep.4th this year. We Okikukai Kanto(Tokyo) branch & Shonan Fujisawa Dojo was established in 1995. We will hold special seminor, Karate tournament & party on Sep.4th. From Okinawa, Kosuke Yonamine sensei, Tsutomu Nakahodo sensei, Shigeru Takamiyagi sensei, and other senseis of Okikukai will come to Tokyo. If you are OK, please send your message to me & all the students by e-mail. Best regards Keisuke Fujimoto Vice chairman of Okikukai Kanto(Tokyo) branch Head instructor of Okikukai Shonan Fujisawa Dojo Our official web site http://www.okikukai.jp Dear Keisuke Fujimoto, Sensei: On behalf of myself and the International Uechi-ryu Karate Federation, I would like to congratulate you and your members on achieving your 10th year anniversary. I wish it were possible to attend your celebration party, to help you celebrate this occasion along with Yonamine, Nakahodo and Takamiyagi senseis. Sincerely, George E. Mattson Hello George Mattson sensei, Thank you verry much for your kind message to our 10th aniversary. All of my students & instructors will be gald to read your mesanage. I hope to meet you in the nearest future in US or Tokyo. Best regards Keisuke Fujimoto Searching for a Dojo or Person Dear George, My former wife, Lorraine Bruen/Binder, received her black belt with you in the 70's. I believe she still lives in Newton. In any case, I now live in Santa Rosa, CA, and am in my 50's. I am looking for a good martial arts school for a friend's son and I wonder if there are any Uechi-Ryu dojos in my area. By visiting your downtown Boston dojo once or twice, and knowing Lorraine, I came to a very high regard for you and your form of karate. So if there were any teachers in your lineage out here, it would be great. Best Regards, Carl Binder. (Information sent) Hello Mr. Mattson. Hello Mr. Mattson, My name is Jack Scarborough, & I live in Victoria, TX. Studied Uechi Ryu Karate in Kadena Circle with Mr. Seiyu Shijo while living there with my sister & brother-in-law, who was in the Army in 1963-64. There were several other people studying there that I can remember. One was a Filipino gentleman named Johnny (don't recall his last name off hand.), along a couple of Marines. One was a sort of red headed named Bill I believe, and the other a Black gentleman. I recall Kiyohide as a boy, Sayho Shijo, Sensei Shijo's brother, also Minoru Miyagi, a good person & excellent student, also a gentleman who's first name was Saki something, among many others who's names I do not recall at this time. I met a gentleman in Austin, TX., where I lived for many years, that was returning to Okinawa to study & train more extensively. He played harmonica, & I seem to recall that he had an Okinawan girlfriend. My reason for writing you is to find out if you may have an address for Kiyohide Shijo, or/and any of these other people, if you know who I am speaking of in this note. Any & all assistance very much appreciated in advance, Mr. Mattson. Sincerely, Jack Scarborough Thanks for contacting us Jack. You were very fortunate to have worked out with some very famous and talented Uechi teachers. I'm sure someone reading this will be in touch with the information you want. GEM Dear George: I'd like to find out if you have any information as to the whereabouts of my former Uechi-ryu & Shorin-ryu sensei, Michael Bragg. Michael taught in Sacramento in the late 70s. He enlisted in the Army as a means to get to Okinawa and study more Uechi-ryu karate at the source. He did and I understand that he made nidan there shortly after arriving. I believe that he may have gone career; I know that he was in Germany for a while in the mid-80s and that he got married to someone who was also in the Army. After that, I have no information. Would you be able to help? I'd love to find out where his path has taken him and what he's doing now. Yours truly, John Hedtke Author/Consultant If anyone can help John, please contact me. GEM Nice Letters. . . I went to the Hut workout on Saturday. It was great
to be back. They made me feel like a long lost realtive. Everyone enjoyed seeing you again Art and working
out with you. Hope you can make it back soon. GEM SummerFest News!
News from our Friends Subject: RE: Good to hear from you. (Ernie Lieb) Hi Ernie: Stay in touch. Dear George: Glad you received my letter. Upon my return from Germany, I shall send you the V.H.S. tape, with your tournament on it. But you will need to send me the address you want it mailed to. . . . My style George is very traditional. It is 75% Japanese heritage. With the other 25% being Chinese and Korean techniques. Somewhat strange, as I studied longer in Korea then in Japan. We are very strict. By the way it was Al Hortons influence upon me, when it came to Katas. I always liked the thery of Uchi-Ryu. Few Katas, but do them right. Several weeks ago I had lunch with several of my Black Belts who joined Tae Kwon Do after I left Korea. They asked me, how many forms I require for my Black Belts. I told them 5 A.K.S. Tiger forms. Plus 5 advanced Cat forms. They laughed as they said. "Well our Black Belts know 53 forms." I then broke out a chuckle of my own. As I said to them. They must be all in the genius category. As no-one can do 53 forms correctly. They then shut up. The rest of the lunch was deadly quiet. So you see, your style had a great amount of influence upon me. Even to this day. My organization is smal, but very strong. We are like a clan. I have 14 Master level Instructors. They are 6th Dans and 7th Dans. They all average over 30+ years with me. I believe that is called loyalty. As I am a very demanding Sensei. But I also give them my 110% loyalty in return. Yes. let us keep in touch. I shall forward this to your fellow stylist, Al Horton. I think he will be pleased to hear we are communicating. Best wishes,
Mayumi, Nestor Koichi, Naomi Marika and I are maintaining status quo. Mayumi is still with ANA. Nestor and Naomi (now 9 years old) attend a special elementary school with Japanese immersion instruction one-half day and instruction in English the other half. I'm with the Dept of Energy in DC and teaching Karate at 2 locations with Fairfax County Parks Authority. The Karate school has become stable and we plan on expansion to a 3rd location in March 2005. Little by little our student body grows. Attached is a recent summer photo of the Folta's. We miss you! VR, Master Folta,
Dear George, I am just back from China. I have put some forms on this website: www.yongchunbaihe.com/yongchunbaihe which I am sure you will find interesting. Also I think everything there is in the same state as when you first were in Okinawa - but with a lot more chinese intruige and chaos and 300 years of lineage thrown in to the cooking pot!! Feel free to steal any of the footage for your links section on your site. Hope the summer camp went well. Next year may be.....but then I also have to go back to china to polish off the double knife form! Can I get your home address please to send you something. Best Wishes to your family, Martin Watts Tournament News and Comments! Mass Challenge: To Mr. Mattson, I would like to ask you a question about competition scores. At the Cass Challenge my wife and I noticed that the judges were not having 1 or 2 competitors perform their kata and pre-arranged kumite before they started scoring them. For the last couple of years by attending the tournaments, we notice they always did that previously at all the other series. Have the rules changed? My son has participated in the last two series and has had a great positive experience competing and socializing with the other competitors. My wife and I do not, and would not interfere with the referees and/or the judges decisions. We understand their voluntary position and respect them for it. We noticed not because our son had to perform first, but some other competitors we thought were unfairly judged because of the non decision to judge the talent level. Again, my entire family looks forward to and really enjoys the tournaments and will be attending all of them. We think overall you and your organization do a great job, I just wanted to bring this matter to your attention. Thank you for your time Best Regards Jay Salhanick and the team will be critiquing the officiating at this, our first event of the series and will be reviewing the rules and the overall performances at the Mass Challenge. The team voted on the rules which are posted on the IUKF tournament site and although some of us may not agree with one or two of these rules, we know how important it is to judge all competitors using one set of rules. I've officiated at hundreds of events over the years and can tell you that it is often a thankless as well as a difficult job. We enjoy reading the kind letters and appreciate any suggestions helping us do a better job. Looking forward to seeing you at our next event. George Mattson Dear Sensei Mattson, I hope my e-mail finds you strong and happy. I'm writing you from St.Petersburg Florida. My home now for over 35 years. I've been a Uechi practioner now since the mid 70's, but have been out of formal training for a while due to injuries. My reason for contacting you is to find out if you can send me a program of upcoming Uechi tournaments, or any other kind of Martial Art tournament in the upcoming months for the Tampa/St.Petersburg area. Tbankyou so much for your consideration. Be well, Hi George, Sounds as if you had a very successful and informative summer camp. Sorry I missed it. Thought I'd give you an update on what's been going on in the Wild 'n Wooly West. I held a sparring training session on July 31 in Morro Bay, CA. It was attended by IUKF, Okikukai, Kenyukai, and a representative of James Thompson's organization (in the person of Don Uttentreither). About 35 people attended. The seminar was a two-part affair. The sparring section was preceded by a lecture/discussion of the medical aspects of the practice of martial arts. Don did a talk on the consequences and benefits of MA practice relative to core strengthening, tendon, ligament and joint protection, and conditioning exercises. Following that one of my students, Dr. Wil McLeod, a board certified emergency physician, covered all aspects of the body's organ systems and discussed how the practice of MA affects all of these. He followed with an "eyeball" assessment of potential students, who may be at risk, and what kind of questions to ask potential and existing students. I sponsored the above as a public service to practitioners at no cost as I believe it is the responsibility of anyone who teaches MA to have an understanding of basic anatomy and physiology and the effects of what they are teaching have on their students. It was very infomative, very well received, and participants included the groups listed above as well as representatives from Aikido and Shorin-ryu. For the sparring portion, I developed a program that went from "a to z", starting with simple stance placement, footwork, closing the gap, one-strike techniques (how to deliver a technique properly); moving on to combinations, evasive maneuvers, countering, controlling distance, cutting angles, and "sport" sparring strategies. Everything was rigidly structured and consisted of "touch" techniques. The training lasted about three hours. This portion of the training was well-received as well and I saw an improvement in the attendees. Observers mentioned they noticed a considerable improvement among some of the participants. All in all I feel it was very successful, and I will folow it up with a more advanced session covering actual ring strategies, but, as you well know, the basics are the most important. Hope all is well with you and you are having a chance to catch your breath. I'm off to visit Olga for her 65th birthday party this Saturday. All the best, Steve (Goss) Congratulations Steve. Looks like you and the gang in California are working together nicely. Keep us informed as to your next scheduled session. GEM Uechi-ryu Store Product Reviews Hi George, Thanks for making the tape of Sensei Senaga
available I find him just as you said he is wonderful to watch, inspirational
and a great example of Uechi Karate. I'm surprised I haven't known
of him before. I'll be watching this one for a while to come. More from Joe. . . Hi George, Thanks for your generous help, Joe Lopez Hello Mattson Sensei, I was delighted to hear of David Mott's test at the next summer camp. I was also glad to read your piece on him in the Online Magazine. You mention there that it's unfortunate that more people don't know about David. I would like to suggest that one small thing that might help bring his videos into wider appreciation is a change in how they are presented in the video list in the online store. Both David's videos are listed under "Qi gong for the Uechi Practitioner", and on the page devoted to his two videos, the Body Mechanics video is illustrated with a picture of David demonstrating a Qi gong posture from the other video. Students could easily imagine that both videos are concerned with Qi gong. As vital as Qi gong work is to David's art, it is only a part of what he has to offer as a Uechi ryu teacher. Qi gong is not of interest to many martial arts practitioners, so they are very likely not to look any further into to David's teaching. What I think is really missing is the acknowledgment that David actually represents a balance of soft and hard. I think he might be perceived by some as just a soft, qi gong guy. Just a suggestion! Respectfully, Ken Read Good point regarding advertising David's two fantasic videos/dvds. I'll try to update the listing, but meanwhile. . . I hope this mention will inspire many of you to purchase his two courses. GEM
Point - Counter Point!
Hi George, There are so many points of view on Uechi breathing I have read about on the net, I tend to go by what you teach. I have heard what you said Master Kanei has said about it. I see Master Gushi seems to do it differntly at different times. But I have never heard what Master Kanbun had to say about the breathing. Would you tell me what you have heard Kanbun said about Sanchin breathing? Sorry to ask again about this I know you probably have been through this many times. I'm try to get to the original teaching on this. I'm wishing you well, Joe Lopez
I don't think Kanbun thought a great deal about it. If a teacher trains a student correctly, the subject never comes up. I got involved with the controversy because so many methods of breathing exist in Western sports that are different than what I do. In my original interviews with Kanei Uechi, he said his father made a point out of sticking to "natural" breathing, with no emphasis on breathing out with movement. Breathing was supposed to happen all the time and "separate" from action. Although this can be interpreted differently, I took it to mean that you do not become a slave to any breathing method, but on being in good condition where you don't faint with effort needed to defend oneself. Very complex subject when looked at through western eyes, but very easy when you practice the way Kanbun and son performed. Best, George E. Mattson IUKF "Happenings"! Hi Paul, Hi Ray, Hi George, Yesterday the San Diego Uechi group had the pleasure of working out in Los Alamitos, with Joe Graziano (left) and some of his students. Joe is an outstanding teacher, and we all had a great workout. We are hoping to have you visit us in March, and we'll discuss it towards the Fall. Hopefully your calendar will permit time for you to relax and do a few workouts in Del Mar. Best regards, General Questions! Hello, Mr. Mattson. This is Ben Truksa, the caller from Lincoln, Nebraska. I mentioned that I was looking for a company apparently called Resources Unlimited through which Takashi Kinjo has videos available. This was noted in the August 2000 mailbag, so quite awhile ago, but hopefully you might be able to produce some contact information about this company, if you have the time. I certainly appreciate it. Thanks, Dear Sensei Mattson, Good question Brian, and one that keeps popping up in IUKF discussions. For the record, IUKF does not involve itself with Junior Ranks. Junior ranks are entirely up to the individual dojo. IUKF follows the accepted International standards for minimum adult ranks standards where individual Regions have not created their own standards. (Which must meet or exceed those minimum standards) GEM Hi Sensei Mattson, I hope you and your family are keeping well. Firstly allow me to thank you for attempting to sell my copy of the Kihon. Although unsuccessful I appreciated your effort and assistance. I read with intrigue one of your responses to a email in the September mail bag ie the reference made to Superempi and Simon Lailey. I would dearly like to see this kata. Is it possible to obtain a copy or be put in contact with Mr Lailey? I remain open minded as to whether there was/is an 4th Kata.
Whyalla South Australia Lots has already been written about superempi and its relationship to Uechi-ryu. I suggest you visit our forums and do a search for "superempi". You will be shown a number of threads on the subject. We have two fine video/dvds in our store. GEM Hi George, It's been a while since we've been in touch; I hope everything is well with you. Funny you should write about what you did on the website. I'm starting a children's class here in my hometown in October. Since I've never taught small children before, I was wondering whether you had any advice. Also, I remember a student of yours who was focusing on small kids--Steve Diorio, I think?--and wondered whether you thought it would benefit my class for me to contact him to pick his brain too? If so, have you got his email address? Otherwise, we're all fine. Heading to Mom's for the Jewish holiday tonight, and off for D.C. for work on Monday night. So busy as always. Please send my regards to Susan. Warmest regards, Jay Hi Jay: Good to hear from you. Pleased to learn that you will be teaching children's class and that you are looking for information to help you do a good job. Steve certainly has the experience and talent to help you. You might also check with Nancy Gottlieb as well. She helped us with the Junior SummerFest this year and did a fantastic job working with a large group of children who had no martial art background or experience. Hopefully she will have time to give you a few pointers. I've included both Steve and Nancy's email address in the header of this message. IUKF has begun a series of On-line conferences for IUKF members, headed by Bill Glasheen. I'll suggest that he set-up a program focusing on the subject of teaching children. Good luck with your program. Stay in touch. Regards, George E. Mattson
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Hope all
is going as smoothly as can be expected with your move to Florida.