Uechi-ryu Martial Arts | Karate

December 26, 2006

Black Belt Test Requirements

Q: What are the requirements for IUKF Black Belt testing?
A: IUKF Black Belt testing requirements are as follows:
• Must be an IUKF member in good standing*
• An official IUKF test application must be submitted and approved 30 days prior to testing along with appropriate test fees.
o Testing fee: $150
• Local Black Belt Test administrator must be contacted to arrange test location
o If there is not local test administrator and the student is testing at Summer Camp applications should be sent to the Summer Camp administrator
• A recommendation from the student’s instructor.
• Time in grade minimum must be met.
• Optional guideline: Passing a pretest as determined by the local BBTA.
*Member or member in good standing, includes any person who has fulfilled the requirements for membership, and who neither has voluntarily withdrawn from membership nor has been expelled or suspended from membership after appropriate proceedings consistent with lawful provisions of the constitution and bylaws of the IUKF.

Permanent link to this article: http://uechi-ryu.com/black-belt-test-guide-clarification-part-2/

Dec 26 2006

Black Belt Test Guide Clarifications Part 1

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December 26, 2006

One of the first committees formed by Mr. Skeffington, was to go over the Black Belt Test Guide book, published in 1988 as a soft cover book and updated by the author in 2006 as an e-Book and clarify all the standards and requirements to 2006 recommendations.

In the following section, Mr. Skeffington presents the first phase of this update:

Permanent link to this article: http://uechi-ryu.com/black-belt-test-guide-clarifications-part-1/

Dec 25 2006

New Dojo Grand opening

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George Mattson's Corner

December 25, 2006

Important Announcement:
Open House Date Changes!

Happy Holidays to all. I apologize for not being more active in my communication with everyone. I have been working on getting my new dojo open. Prior to this opening, I had promises I had to keep for doing seminars. It will be tough to travel after I open. I know my upcoming schedule still includes Edmonton, Canada – San Diego – Cuba (kung Fu) – and maybe Argentina to comply with all my commitments.

I will be having Grand Opening ceremonies this January 27^th 2007 for my new dojo. We will begin with a traditional Lion Dance, as all martial art schools are associated. Some of the most famed martial artists in China are known simply for their abilities to teach and perform these rituals. Following the “Lion Dance”, some of my students and friends from Boston will demonstrate a few of our kung fu forms, which I may teach in my dojo after they have learned Uechi-Ryu. I will personally perform a Uechi-Ryu Kata, as it is a tradition for a sifu/sensei to perform prior to the opening of his school.

We will then go into the actual dojo where I will ask Gary Wong, Jose Aja, George Deraney, Herman Yee and maybe even Roddy Dow (if I can find him) to come up and do Sanchin as they were my original classmates in 1969 and the group from Mattson Academy who dominated the entire N.E.K.R.A tournament circuit in the early 1970s until we decided to stop competing within the United States.

I will then, in respect surrender the floor to Sensei George Mattson, the authentic, original founder and greatest promoter of Uechi-Ryu in America to teach the very first class to all my friends and supporters. After this work out, you will be my guess at the café for lunch (sorry we do not have an alcohol license yet).

I extend this invitation to all students of Uechi-Ryu. It matters not if you are a member of the IUKF or not. I consider all students of our style a part of our Uechi-Ryu Family. We need not agree on everything. Diversity is a good thing. If I have your respect, you certainly have mine.

If you need directions, please write me darinyee@hotmail.com . I will be happy to forward you directions to my new dojo. May love and wisdom prevail.

Strength and Honor,

Darin Yee

Permanent link to this article: http://uechi-ryu.com/new-dojo-grand-opening/

Dec 21 2006

Blind Date with Sanchin

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December 21, 2006

Blind date with Sanchin…
By Eva (From Belgium)

Sounds like a crazy idea but actually it is a wonderful experience.Why I would like to share this with you is partly because I feel that there will be a lot of new things to discover. On the other hand because I am interested to know if there are any other people who ever practiced Sanchin in this way?With a few adventurous fellow karateka got the crazy idea to run Sanchin blind.So based on trust that everybody keeps his/her eyes closed we started to do the kata.

First time there was some slight confusion. We all felt uncertainty where reached the point to turn direction. Everybody noticed that ears worked like powerful “radars”.

Most of us ended with a slightly degree difference from our start position.

Permanent link to this article: http://uechi-ryu.com/blind-date-with-sanchin/

Dec 18 2006

Karate & Film making!

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December 18, 2006

Exploring Karate from a Film Maker’s Perspective…

I found this fascinating post by our “Women & the Martial Arts” Forum moderator, Dana Sheets. Hope you enjoy it as well. Click on Dana’s picture to read the topic. GEM

In my graduate experience, (filmmaking) we watched and deconstructed scenes from films, explored film theory, did a few class projects in video, on film, and digital media that by no means explored the great variety of approaches one can take to filmmaking…and then we were set on our own.There are some immutable principles in filmmaking and most of those happen to be relatively mechanical. Light reflects and refracts in such a manner, film travels through the camera in such a way, video is created through a capture process involving chips and sensors and magnetic tape that is written at a certain frame rate or another, microphones work in such a way and here’s how you plug them in…so the mechanics of making an image on film or video are relatively standard – but there are infinite variations in how they are applied.

And there aren’t really PhDs in making movies…there are PhDs in communcations theory…but those folks aren’t usually making movies, they’re studying them. But there are certainly master filmmakers of every genre.

But a filmmaker varies quite a bit in their knowledge from one to another.

Permanent link to this article: http://uechi-ryu.com/karate-film-making/

Dec 16 2006

Chow Now w/Mary

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December 16, 2006

“Chow Now” with Mary!

And you thought our forums were only about the Martial Arts! Our “Chow Now” moderator keeps things lively and interesting, even if you aren’t much of a cook. (Click on Mary’s picture to visit her forum) GEM

Holiday Recipes Planning to do some baking this weekend and trying to come up with healthy eats during the impending holidays. Anyone have any recipes they would like to share? (Okay, I really don’t need them to be that healthy!!!) -Mary S

Chocolate Truffles

3/4 cup heavy cream (whipping cream) 1 box of Baker’s chocolate – semi-sweet (the one that has 8 blocks of chocolate) 2 tbls. of your favourite fortification (i.e. RUM!)

Chocolate for dipping or other coverings – coconut, icing sugar, crushed walnuts.

In a heavy sauce pan add cream and heat until bubbles form on edge (do NOT boil). Add chocolate (it’s easier if you cut it into coarse chunks) Melt down and remove from heat. Stir until mixed completely. Cool at room temp. and add your “fortification”.

Put in the fridge covered with wax paper until mixture is firm.

Scoop out into approximately 1″ balls on wax paper. Dip in chocolate (white or dark) and drizzle more chocolate on top or roll in your desired topping.

Easy, a bit messy and totally delish!!!

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!!
Mary

Permanent link to this article: http://uechi-ryu.com/chow-now-wmary/

Dec 15 2006

The P.R. Corner

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PR Director's Corner

December 15, 2006

Darin Yee has requested an area that deals specifically with his Public Relations responsibilities for IUKF. So – As I am always eager to help out those who work hard for the benefit of Uechi-ryu – Here is the all new P.R. Corner for Darin.

Happy Holidays to all. I apologize for not being more active in my communication with everyone. I have been working on getting my new dojo open. Prior to this opening, I had promises I had to keep for doing seminars. It will be tough to travel after I am opened. I know my upcoming schedule still includes Edmonton, Canada – San Diego – Cuba (kung Fu) – and maybe Argentina to comply with all my commitments.

I will be having Grand Opening ceremonies this January 13^th 2007 for my new dojo. We will begin with a traditional Lion Dance, as all martial arts school is associated. Some of the most famed martial artists in China are known simply for their abilities to teach and perform these rituals. Following the “Lion Dance”, some of my students and friends from Boston will demonstrate a few of our kung fu forms, which I may teach in my dojo after they have learned Uechi-Ryu. I will personally perform a Uechi-Ryu Kata, as it is tradition for a sifu/sensei to perform prior to the opening of him school.

I will then, in respect surrender the floor to Sensei George Mattson, the authentic, original founder and greatest promoter of Uechi-Ryu in American to teach the very first class to all my friends and supporters. After this work out, you will be my guess at the café for lunch (sorry we do not have an alcohol license yet).

If you need directions, please write me darinyee@hotmail.com. I will be happy to forward you directions to my new dojo. May love and wisdom prevail.

Strength and Honor,

Darin Yee

Permanent link to this article: http://uechi-ryu.com/the-p-r-corner/

Dec 13 2006

Training

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December 13, 2006

Training with Dave!
(From his Forum)

Originally posted by MikeKThanks Dave, you did. The way things are going I’ll be needing some protection during training in the next couple of months.Just wondering if you ever do any kind of training without the gear on at all and if so what is it like?

Mike we identify the need for training in 8 different stages. This is needed to allow the student to work through their awkward stage through guided discovery, then into their comfort zone, then we can start building proficiency, then adding the stress inoculation.

Permanent link to this article: http://uechi-ryu.com/training/

Dec 11 2006

I had a “blast” at Dave’s training last week.

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December 11, 2006

SummerFest 2007 – July 27-29th

Be sure to make plans to attend 2007 SummerFest. Now is the time to find those great flight discount rates. Susan is working with the Maritime Academy on prices. Registration information will be available soon.

I had a “blast” at Dave Young’s training last week.

Training with “realism”, practicing within spitting distance of the prisoners and working on drills that replicate actual situations often found within the walls of the prison.

Dave created many of today’s “state of the art” programs now being taught throughout the world by dozens of trainers. He’s not much of a media guy. . . preferring to just “doing it”.

To watch him in action though and you know he is “the man” with the ability, tools and teaching expertise matched by few in the world.

We are indeed lucky to have him as a friend and advisor.

Last week Dave was winding down his very busy seminar schedule for 2006 with a RedMan training course for the Vero Beach prison guards. This particular course was designed specifically for the trainers who will be running programs at the prison on a regular basis.

Watching the program in action, it appeared to be geared as much for the students as the coaches. However Dave pointed out that although the students (those who wore lightweight gear) received lots of practice “drilling” the teachers with kicks, elbows and brutal takedowns, the focus of the training was on the instructors. (Those wearing the “big dog” suits!)

After two days of really serious and heavy training, Dave’s emphasis on safety paid off. No one was injured and everyone came away from the training with a new appreciation for Dave’s instruction and for the built-in protection offered by the RedMan equipment.

Permanent link to this article: http://uechi-ryu.com/i-had-a-blast-at-daves-training-last-week/

Dec 10 2006

Controversial “full contact” blows – No damage!

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December 10, 2006

Controversial "full contact" blows – No damage???

Those of you who have been on this site for awhile, have read the stories of a certain style of karate that teaches its students how to take full contact blows to the throat, solar plexus, stomach and hmmmmmm the groin!

Very interesting subject… as usual… discussing what I call "extreme" training.

Is Jukukai full contact hits to what are considered "very vulnerable/sensitive" areas of the body real or some kind of trickery?

My opinion is that they are real! There just isn’t any way they could safely pull off these feats with trickery.

Now, this isn’t to say that quite a few people haven’t accomplished the feats using trickery. They certainly have. But the videos I’ve seen of Jukukai people performing these feats, I would have to say they are taking/absorbing what we see them taking and absorbing.