Apr 18 2006
New accurate membership directory
Permanent link to this article: http://uechi-ryu.com/new-accurate-iukf-membership-directory/
Apr 03 2006
Hi All,
Please be reminded about getting your passport, 2 passport photos and a
check in the amount of $1,000 to me before April 30. I will ned that to
reserve your seat on this trip. I will process payments to the agent the
first week of May. If I receive your deposit after I’ve given our first
payment to our agent, it may cost you more then I’ve promised.
Please be vigilant about your shots needed for this trip. I know some of
them are give in a series. Could take 6 months to get them all. I would
also advise antibiotic pills from your doctor. If you don’t like the food,
there is no Burger Kings there. (I think I remember a Mickey D there).
Long lines for a horse burger.
I will also need your jacket size as I will be passing out an IUKF jacket to
all attending this trip. Not like I can’t identify our group of caucasian
with the natives but it may identify us as a group to the natives. I’ll
need your size also, Bob Sensei as you will be our beacon in HK.
Remember the purpose of this trip is for the opportunity to working out with
some of the well known kung fu teachers of Southern China. Many of the
people traveling with us, the IUKF members, there will also be students of
sifu Wong. We will make side trips to visit other martial art schools,
museums and Southern Shou-Lin. We might also be coming home by way of
Quan-Jhou airport. If so, we will be in Quan-Jhou the last 3-4 days where
we can shop till we drop. Quan-Jhou is one of the largest cities in
Southern China. Not as inexpensive as in Toi-San but much better quality.
Please consult me before you do any shopping (could prevent any possible
arrests). China is also famous for their canning methods. I will also do
all your money exchange. I can not promise the best exchange rate because
some street hawkers can give you better rates. I can promise you the
authenticity and guarantee for every penny I give you.
Don’t need to bring more then one suit case. Cloths there are the price of
throw aways. They also have laundry service there. If you plan to bring
items home, beware to the spending limits enforced by customs and the price
of another suit case is very inexpensive. Chinese suit cases (burlap bags
tied at the opening) is free.
Our agenda is as follows:
We will depart from our perspective airport and meet in either San Diego or
San Francisco on October1. After everyone has arrived, we will board our
plane to either Japan or directly to Hong Kong. We will arrive in HK on
October 2, sometime in the PM (HK is 12 hours ahead of our time).
While in HK, Sensei Robert Campbell will be our gracious host. He knows HK
like the back of his hand and time with Bob in Hong Kong usually becomes
legendary. We will be in HK for 3 nights and 2 full days.
On the morning of Oct. 5, we will board a small ship to Ging-Yoke, a small
pier-town on the River way. Sifu Wong will meet us there with our
transports and bring us to our hotel in Toi-San. We will be in Toi-San for
1 full week and leave for Quan-Jhou on the 12th. While in Toi-San, we will
work out on a daily bases (optional). We will go on a few daily tours to
Wong Fai Hung’s museum, Southern Shau-Lin Temple, Fout-San where they are
famous for their martial arts supplies, Hoi-Pen, their new up and coming
metropolis (still primitive). I’ll make sure there will be rest days in
between.
Quan-Jhou will be where we will board our airplane home. We will be there
from the 12th to the 15th where we will be tired and glad to head home. By
the way, Quan-Jhou is also where our US embassy is located. I’m sure we can
visit that also if you’ll like. I know a few people there. If needed, I
will get you boarded on your plane home and the next stop will be LA or San
Diego (all the stewardess speak english). I may need to stay a few more
days to attend some personal business. If not, you’ll have to put up me all
the way back to the state also.
All is welcome to come along. If you are not able to attend and already on
my list, please do not hesitate to call or write to let me know (I fully
understand this is a hugh undertaking). We don’t want you on my other
unmentionable list (just joking). If sight seeing is what you are looking
for, I’ll prepare for that and set you up for sightseeing the next time
around (I will be going to China twice a year). If you’ve sent me your
deposit already and want to change your mind and want to cancel or go
another time, you’ll have to let me know by April 30 before I give your name
and deposit to the agent.
OTHERWISE, GET ME ALL THE ITEMS I’VE REQUESTED.
Thank you very much. Looking forward to a great, informative, china
experience for all.
Strength and Honor,
Darin Yee
Permanent link to this article: http://uechi-ryu.com/china-trip-update-4-3-06/
Mar 26 2006
Paul Haydu
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Mar 24 2006
Permanent link to this article: http://uechi-ryu.com/black-belt-test-guide-2nd-edition-e-book/
Mar 02 2006
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Mar 02 2006
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Feb 17 2006
China Trip Review, by Darin Yee:Everyone who journeyed to the “Middle Kingdom” lead by Darin Yee (who is a seasoned visitor there) are now safely home. Our group of constituent adventurers comprised of Uechi-Ryu students from Massachusetts to California. The number of travelers totalled thirteen.
On October 1, 2006, China’s Independence Day, we arrived in Hong Kong. We were met at the airport by our gracious and generous host, Sensei Robert Campbell. Sensei Campbell has been a resident of Hong Kong for over thirty years with knowledge far surpassing that of any travel guide. We were privileged to see much of the real Hong Kong.
Upon checking into our rooms on day one, we witnessed the spectacular Independence Day fireworks display in Hong Kong harbor from the privacy and comfort of our beautiful hotel room. We were 18 stories up and almost at the same height as the fireworks. I cannot think of a better view than from our picture windows.
After the magnificent fireworks display, we gathered and ventured into the heart of Hong Kong for a late night meal. We found a great Mongolian hot pot restaurant where no one departed hungry. We had numerous variations of vegetables and meats. I took great pains to explain the food and everyone ate at their discretion.
Day 2 was a present from Sensei Campbell. We ate a conventional breakfast and met up with Sensei Campbell at 9AM. Many of the group was already up at 6 AM to participate in the Tai Chi exercises in the nearby park. In Hong Kong and China, you need not ask permission to participate. You just jump right in.
When we got back to the hotel, everyone gathered his or her belongings to prepare for our 4-hour boat ride into China the next day. Hong Kong was great and we all thank Sensei Bob Campbell for being the great host that only he could be. I presented him with an IUKF trip jacket as a small token of our thanks.
We arrived at Gong Yet, China late afternoon where we were greeted by Sifu Wong. After we got through customs, we were transported to our hotels by vehicles provided by Sifu Wong. The ride was a little snug but we got through it.
Our hotel was beautiful and spacious, as I had remembered it to be. The Garden Hotel was rated the best hotel in Southern China. Only the best for our guys. I also remembered this hotel to have the greatest food and service as we have learned to accept in our own country.
While in the mainland, our routine was pretty much the same. We had Uechi-Ryu workouts in the morning taught by Darin Yee. These workouts are not as you have known from any other Uechi-Ryu instructor in the States. Darin Yee’s Uechi-Ryu incorporates much of the Chinese influence, which was in Pong Gi Noon not apparent now in most of our Uechi-Ryu.
This system allows our body to help generate much of our power instead of forcing our arms solely to do all the work. This system teaches the benefits of using the soft as well as the hard. Not this macho attitude that strength is everything but the actual art form of Uechi-Ryu from Pong Gi Noon. Darin Yee also taught to our Uechi-Ryu students a beginner’s Choy Li Fut form named Lean Yill Kurn, which teaches us how to use our body to generate speed and power. It is considered the “San Chin” of Choy Li Fut. It is the easiest yet the most important of all Choy Li Fut forms. Just like San Chin kata, if practiced right, everything you need to know about the style is in that form.
A few weeks ago, I was being interviewed by a national Chinese newspaper regarding martial arts. 3 hours later, the interviewer exclaimed “you must be a great master”!
I blinked a few times and replied “no! There is still so much for me to learn. If I were a master, I would have learned all there is for me to know.”
Now I’m thinking about these remarks I’ve made. When will I except these certifications I’ve reveived from China? When will I be a master? When will my thurst for martial art knowledge be satisfied?
When we learn certain moves, I do not fool myself by thinking I’ve mastered them. I know each time I practice that move, I am just a little more in tune to it. How many time must I perform that move to perfect and master it?
After 47 years of learning martial arts, there is so much to practice. As a matter of fact, while on vacation in Mexico, I’ve practice from 6:30AM to 9:30PM that night and did not get to work on every form I’ve learned. I don’t mean to just go through the moves and call it a day. I mean to really try to perfect the movements in conjunction to my body. To feel the moves flow smoothly and naturally. If anything feels out of place, I would do it again and again until it feel right. If I were to master these moves. I want to be able to perform these movements and feel just as smooth and natural each and everytime.
To date I have not been able to do this for every style I’ve learn. Not to my satisfaction. Time of course is of no consequence. I could have practice something the same way for 47 years and if it does not feel natural than I’ve been doing it wrong for 47 years.
In your mind,, what constitude a master? How do we justify this title?
From: “Darin Yee” <darinyee@hotmail.com>
Subject: Gustavo Gondra
Date: Tue, 22 Aug 2006 00:03:40 -0400
Permanent link to this article: http://uechi-ryu.com/darin-yees-corner/
Feb 08 2006
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Feb 03 2006
Mary S. has volunteered to moderate the new "Chow Now" forum and it may be one of our most popular additions. Check it out and bring your favorite receipts and photos of these dishes. Click Here.
Kevin Guse is another highly qualified moderator in the conditioning field. He’s not just a gifted teacher. . . but he is someone who has taken the information he is giving us and used it in one of the toughest sports imaginable. . . Football. Check out his forum and ask him about your training routines. I know he will give you a helping hand. Click Here.
I’m hosting a couple of physical dojo forums. Since becoming involved with building a new dojo, I’ve become very interested in how the big dojo owners designed their dojo and how they conduct business. Although I don’t appreciate some of their "elitism" attitudes, I do respect how they are able to retain students and turn out respectable martial artist. Check out "Building a Successful Dojo" Forum and participate in the discussion. Click Here.
Permanent link to this article: http://uechi-ryu.com/forum-updates/
Feb 03 2006
Greetings to All,
As promised, I now have a firm price for our IUKF trip to China. This price
will be $3,600 for an all inclusive 2 weeks trip from Boston, to China and
back. Your individual price may vary slightly depending on your point of
origins. This price will not include visa, alcoholic beverages, gratuities,
shopping or meals outside of the main group.
Depending on the selected airline, we will all meet in either San Diego, San
Fran or LA from our prospective airports and leave for Hong Kong together.
Bob Campbell will greet us in Hong Kong and will be our host for the next
two days until we leave by boat to China (not a junk). This boat will take
us into Gin Yoke (Chinese pronunciation, spelling may not be what is listed
in our maps)where we will be greeted by Sifu Wong and our transport to our
hotel in Toi San.
We will spend 10 days of working out and trips to other cities every other
day to shop and sight see. Cities like Gwan Jou, Fosan, Hoi Pin, Toi Narm
and others. We will also be invited to visit some of the most well known
martial arts schools in the area and surrounding towns. There are some
night life in the area, but we’ll talk about that when the time comes.
What I need from all interested is your money deposit of $1,000 by the end
of March. I will need your valid passport sent to me with another partial
payment of $1,000 by the end of April. When I get your visas I will invoice
you for them. By the end of June, 2006 I should have received your payments in full so I can reserve your rooms in Hong Kong, and various parts of
China.
Other then the money commitment, I will make up a form and post it on our
IUKF site. Anyone can download and print out this form and send it back to
me. My address will be listed.
This should be a great educational trip as well as a relaxing exchange of
culture. We will not be going up north to see the great wall this trip.
From where we are going to Beijing is an 8 hour plane ride. We can plan
that for our next trip to China.
Permanent link to this article: http://uechi-ryu.com/china-trip-update/
