Apr 02 2012
Everyone had a great time. . . especially the competitors. The Florida FireDragon Fitness Challenge was held in Mount Dora, Florida on Saturday, March 31st and everyone in attendance thought this was going to become an important program for children and adults of all ages.
Permanent link to this article: http://uechi-ryu.com/great-start-for-the-firedragon-fitness-challenge/
Apr 01 2012
Permanent link to this article: http://uechi-ryu.com/what-can-you-do/
Mar 30 2012
George,
Permanent link to this article: http://uechi-ryu.com/core-certification-from-dave-young/
Mar 10 2012
Sadly, it must be announced that another long-time friend of mine is no longer with us. Sihak Henry Cho, a pioneer of Korean Karate on the East Coast, passed away on Thursday, March 8, 2012.
Many of my senior students will remember Henry, who attended all of my tournaments, with many of his formitable fighters.
He will be missed by all of his friends and many students.
Permanent link to this article: http://uechi-ryu.com/s-henry-cho/
Mar 06 2012
At this year’s JLFS Annual Research Conference, the executive board passed a resolution to create National Joe Lewis Day. This initiative gives martial arts schools an opportunity to honor Joe Lewis on his birthday-week, with either a Kick-a-thon or Spar-a-thon fundraiser.
Mr. Lewis’ birthday is March 7th and Joe Lewis Day is set for the following Saturday, March 10th. All proceeds will go to a special fund set up to help and assist Joe Lewis as he continues to be treated and recovers from his brain cancer.
“Joe Lewis Day has been created to help with some of the huge financial burden that such a serious illness can create.” says Jim Graden, a 7th degree master in the JLFS and the person heading up this initiative. Jim continues, “Joe Lewis is the smartest and most giving person I have ever met. Considered by many to be the greatest American martial artist of the 20th century, Joe Lewis Day has been created to help a man who has inspired multiple generations of martial artists and has always given of his knowledge so unselfishly.”
Permanent link to this article: http://uechi-ryu.com/a-worthy-cause-for-a-very-worthy-warrior/
Mar 04 2012
The FireDragon Challenge was conceived by George E. Mattson in 2001 as a way to motivate karate students and teachers to test their physical potential with a challenging set of exercises that measures their martial art potential. Mattson asked Dr. William Glasheen, a scientist and martial art teacher, to design the challenge, using simple-to-perform and understand exercises that could become a widely accepted tool for measuring general fitness goals using popular competitive and individual motivating incentive and measurements.
Permanent link to this article: http://uechi-ryu.com/2012-firedragon-fitness-challenge/
Permanent link to this article: http://uechi-ryu.com/uechi-ryu-world-cup/
Feb 14 2012
Don’t forget Sunday’s WinterFest Webinar – 8PM – 9PM
The purpose for this get-together is to discuss the class schedule for this year’s webinar. We have a great group of senior instructors participating and I want to hear what everyone has to say about how we should schedule the seminars. This may be the first year where we conduct more than one seminar every hour. . . depending on what the participants want. . . So, if you are coming to WinterFest (Friday & Saturday – Feb 24,25) please drop in to say hello and let me know your thoughts on the subject. Oh yes. . . I may find a neat video from the Uechi archives to play during our meeting. Send me an email for the webinar information if you didn’t receive my earlier Newsletter.
George
From WinterFest Presenter, Shihan Darin Yee:
Hi George,
This year, I will be teaching a seminar on Chinese Weaponry. As there will not be enough time for anyone to learn a complete form in any of the weapons, I will explain the nuances of each of the basic weapons and bring some to demonstrate.
I will spend most of my time allotted to talk mostly about the hard weapons which are the easiest to use. I will also teach some of the techniques and bring a few extra weapons for participants to use and actually perform/practice those techniques.
The weapons I will be working with will be the Chinese knife (broadsword as it is referred to by non-Chinese) and the long stick. Anyone who may have their own weapons should bring their own as one of the importances is to be familiar with your own personal weapon.
Although the Chinese stick is made of a flexible worm wood, you may also use a Japanese Bo Staff. It’ll be a little stiff but depending on the amount of people learning the movements, we may need more sticks.
I have been studying Chinese weapons almost as long as I’ve been learning martial arts.
I’ve been training and studying since 1960. There is much our community did not learn from the old traditional ways. Please know I will be willing to work with any student of the martial arts and not only those of at the winter fest for Uechi-Ryu.
Please call Sensei George Mattson if you are not a Uechi-Ryu student and would like to attend my seminar on Chinese Weaponry. I’m sure sensei will work something out with you. Thank you and see you at winter fest.
Darin Yee
Permanent link to this article: http://uechi-ryu.com/winterfest-news/
Feb 12 2012
Friday & Saturday- Event will be held indoors at the “Park” Building (see picture) on corner of Donnelley and 5th Ave.
Click Here for map from Orlando Airport
Schedule:
Thu, , 9AM: – “Warrior Golf Tournament” 18 holes of Championship golf.
I need to know the earliest time you can be at the course to set up our tee times. Early is best for the course.
Tuition, which includes lunch: $100 for one day, $150 for both days.
Friday: 9AM-3PM: All day workout. . . Traditional Uechi-ryu, Okinawan traditional weapon training, Grappling, Sport competition, Realist “mindset” training.
Lunch from 12 – 1PM
3pm-7PM: Sightseeing, free time
7PM- 11PM: Party at “Crazy Gators”
9AM-3PM: All day workout. . . Traditional Uechi-ryu, Okinawan traditional weapon training, Grappling, Sport competition, Realist “mindset” training.
Lunch from 12 – 1PM:
3pm-7PM: Sightseeing, free time
7PM- 11PM: Party at the Cuban restaurant in Mount Dora
Presenters: Posted as they are confirmed: George Mattson,Tim Dando, Patty Dando, Jim Baggett, David Berndt, Darrin Yee, Roy Bedard, Fedele Cacia, John Spencer, Bill Glasheen, George Schriefer, Rick Potrekus, Joe Guidry, Harry Skeffington and special guest, Tom Bentley. Plus, many more scheduled to come. . .
[New] Winterfest Weapon Seminar Bo & Jiffa
Discussion, training and application of the Bo staff (six foot stick) and the Jiffa (hair pin/fastener) which is also known as a Tinaka (small inside hand weapon) as they relate to martial arts training and more specifically to Uechi Ryu training and development. The focus will be on body movement and the development and application of power.
The weapons training complements and supplements good Uechi training by the utilization of the whole body – arms, shoulders, hips, legs, etc.,. Applications of the techniques will demonstrate the interrelationship of weapons and empty hand movements as they relate to the effective execution of Uechi movements. Hopefully, all attendees will leave with a better understanding of the Uechi system and an improved ability to execute their Uechi techniques.
George Schriefer, Tom Bentley and Joe Guidry will be working with the Bo and Jiffa on Friday and Saturday.Rick Potrekus will be with us on Saturday, working with advanced students. I will be teaching a traditional Uechi-ryu class on Friday and Saturday morning from 9-10AM.
FireDragon Challenge Update : (March 21st)The City of Mount Dora will be helping us with this competition this year and we are expecting around 100 kids to participate.
This is going to be a fantastic year. Make your plans early to be part of the action. If you have any questions, please feel free to e-mail me.
Best,
George E. Mattson
The on-line application w/payment now available
Print-out & mail/fax application is available here and now!
Good web resources:
Mount Dora: What you need to know
Points of Interest in Mount Dora:
Permanent link to this article: http://uechi-ryu.com/winterfest-2012-uechi-ryu-in-the-sun/
Feb 07 2012
Hello all
Directly following the AGM on March 3rd we will be hosting the first OURA workout of the year. It will be from 1PM to 3PM with a short break after the fist hour. The first hour will be for all ages and ranks with the second hour being for adult or advanced juniors. It will be held at Patty Young’s Dojo in New Minas. For directions please check her web site at Young’s Uechi Ryu and Fitness.
The AGM will start at 12PM and end about 1PM.
If you know of anyone else that would like to join us please forward this email to them.
See you all there
President OURA ( Okinawan Uechi Ryu Association )
Permanent link to this article: http://uechi-ryu.com/first-oura-workout-of-the-year/
