August/September,
2001
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 |
Dear George Sensei,
I am glad to hear of your safe return and that all went well for you. I am really honored to know both you and Susan. You are, to me, what Karate is all about. Becoming a black belt doesn't mean you now can beat everyone up.
. .
I would appreciate it very much if you know anyone who could help me get a folded steel sword. I don't know very much about buying a real Samurai sword and I know I can't afford an old one. I would very much like to have at least 1 real sword in my collection. I could see the difference between the kind of sword I have and a forged steel sword so I know a folded sword would really be awesome. It maybe a sword I will have to save up my money for as I am sure they are not cheap. There is a good deal of work that goes into making one.
I have one small wall in my family room that is my "Japanese" wall and I also have my picture of you and Tomoyose Sensei hanging there. I love that picture of the both of you. I don't know how to express my feelings except that the picture shows the kindness in your eyes and a little of the kind of souls you 2 have. It's a beautiful picture, I shall treasure it always. It doesn't matter what the cost, it's what the contents are that is important to me.
Thank you for any help you can give me in acquiring a folded steel Samurai Sword.
Sincerely,
. . .
If anyone has a forged steel sword they would like to sell, contact me and I will pass the information along. GEM
Dear Sensei,
I'm finally catching my breath from the events of last week - after the horrible events of Tuesday - we had tropical storm Gabrielle make landfall right in our city - and things were a bit, well, confusing for a while. I've not even been to the forums in quite some time.
I see on my calendar that your birthday passed without my even acknowledging it - and I wanted to take the opportunity now to wish you a happy belated birthday - most likely the actual day was spent in a bit of shock like the rest of the nation - but you are in my thoughts and I hope that the coming year will bring you many blessings.
I also want to take the moment to thank you again for all you have done for Uechi-ryu here in America and across the world - your untiring efforts at diplomacy, standards, preservation of history and enrichment opportunities for the growth and development of the martial arts are a true gift for generations to come.
Best wishes for many happy, healthy and prosperous years to come.
with respect and much regard,
L.
Thanks to everyone who sent birthday greetings. I was far from home during my birthday, but my host and his students made me feel as though I was with my family. GEM
hi george, josh cohen here. i just wanted to catch up with you, let you know that i'm now studying under jerry mcdonald at miramar. greg postal is in the class, too.
i'm looking at teaching a couple beginner classes at a community college type school. my teacher's certificate is a couple years old. what's the procedure for getting an updated one?
what's going on in good old boston?
thanks, and say hi to vinny for me.
be well.
c'ya j
Joshua Adam Cohen Voice 760-NEGLECT
2504 Navarra #204 Cell 760-82-COHEN Carlsbad, CA 92009
Fax 760-929-2659
Hi Josh: Good to hear from you. Vinny has been very active at the "Hut" and at Van Canna's T.C. training at Brandeis. Vinny must approve your certification renewal. Please check with him. GEM
Haisai Sensei ! I just wanted to drop a line to say hello and comment on your site. I think it is great!! Really liked the "Learn from your Dog" piece. If I may ever be of service to you please do not hesitate to call.
Hank Irwin www.geocities.com/bushinoji
Sensei Mattson:
I hope that all is well for you and Mrs. Mattson. I look forward to seeing you at the Summer Camp. My son and I will be day-trippers this year so that we can honor sensei Huff upon his elevation to 8th dan.
Alexi, the young student who interviewed you some seven or eight years ago, is now 19 and heading off to Union College in Schenectady, NY. Are there any Uechi-ryu senseis in the Schenectady area whom you would recommend so that he might continue his learning? Any help you can provide will be gratefully appreciated.
Kind Regards,
Rex Nowell
Hi George,
I was just on your website and noticed that you had copied two urban legends onto the front page. While it's true that most Americans should drink more water and less soda for a variety of reasons, the information included in those statements range from unsubstantiated to just plain false. They are simply some chain mail that have been circulating through e-mail and the web for years. I've attached some links that provides more info about them:
http://www.snopes2.com/toxins/water.htm
http://www.snopes2.com/cokelore/acid.htm
Just an FYI so you can see different info about these claims.
Thanks!
Glenn Humphress Lincoln, NE
Dear George and Susan,
best wishes from Germany. I would like to tell you that Alois Zollner, Benita Kopp and Martin Petre from the Regensburg Dojo will visit the summercamp. Benita and Martin want to get through the shodan-test. Unfortunately Alois can`t get through the dantest because he is injured. I`m sorry that I can`t go with them to the camp, but Bruce told me that he will be there. I think next year it will be possible to visit the camp again. I will send you the official announcement soon.
Best wishes Paul
Mr Mattson,
About 20 years ago, I studied at your dojo in Boston (1981). Anyway, I had to move back to Texas and was not able to complete my study. I achieved gokyu before I left. Anyway, I would like to start again. I now live in Colorado Springs and was wondering if Uechi has made it way here yet. Thanks for your time.
Rick Powelson
I'd like to buy some of the Uechi-ryu videos, but I would like to know which one has the complete 8 kata of its style. VidMag 18-A-Basics II,B-BasicsIII, VidMag 19 Master Senaga's Karate, and Uechi-ryu:The Complete System Overview?? Which one would you highly recommend?? Ayumi Gushiken
The Overview video contains the complete system. However, it was created for a student who will use it for review and comparison, not for actually learning the kata. Vidmag 20 also has all the kata demonstrated from different angles and speed. GEM
Dear Sensei Mattson- In a conversation with my instructor, Sensei Ihor Rymaruk, several Uechi-Ryu history questions were brought up which I had promised to ask you about once the opportunity arose. As per our recent conversation, I am enclosing the questions as best as I can recall for Sensei Rymaruk, who also asked that I send you his warmest regards and greetings. Below are the questions which we believe you would have the resources to answer most accurately. Thank you in advance for your time and consideration.
1) Who developed each of the 5 linking katas? - Kanshiwa - Konshu - Seichin - Seiryu - Konchin
2) During what time period (decade) were each of the 5 linking katas created? - Kanshiwa - Konshu - Seichin - Seiryu - Konchin
3) Who developed Hojo Undo?
4) When was Hojo Undo developed?
5) According to one resource*, the closed fist punches were introduced to Uechi-Ryu in the 1950's. If this accurate, who introduced the closed fisted (seiken) punch to Uechi-Ryu?
*American Uechi-Ryu Handbook: Allen Moulton
I don't wish to make this too easy for you. All the answers to your questions have been discussed and posted on Van Canna's forum. GEM
Dear Mr. Mattson, My name is James Burke, I am a 19 year old blackbelt who studied under Mr. Rozumek at his karate center in Pepperell and i wanted to see if i could get some info on the tournament because i wanted to see what i need to do to get in. I'm a little rusty now but i'd like to get back into it so if you could send me some info i would be grateful. Thank you for your time. sincerely yours James M. Burke
Please contact Steve Perry regarding tournament specifics. Good luck! GEM
Does your organization have any dojos in the NYC area? Is your style similar to Shorin Ryu?
Many thanks Gene
Uechi-ryu basics are the same as all major systems. The
tools are different though. Check out our instructor's listing to see if there
is a dojo in your area. You might also post to the "Searching" Forum.
GEM
I like your site and I was wondering how I go about joining it.
Jon West
No secret Jon. . . The forums can be joined by registering. Follow the directions and post often. GEM
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Dear Mr. Mattson,
I would like to ask you a question, and hope that you can help me. The following photos are taken in your Karate Academy.
Can you please tell me which year they were taken?
The year Marlow, the film was released. GEM
Can you also tell me who is on the left side of the above picture (sparing with Bruce Lee)?
That's easy. . . Sensei Jim Maloney! A number of my students had their pictures
taken with Bruce during this visit. I didn't bother to get a picture myself. . .
GEM
Did you notice that the name of your Academy (MATTSON) is reflected on the window (behind Bruce Lee)?
Yes, many people have pointed this out to me over the years. GEM
Waiting for your answer,
Respectfully,
Petar Bogunovic
Dear Mr. Mattson,
My name is Hill Dalde. I have been studying Uechi-ryu karate while living back in NH. I did meet you there several times during tournaments and stuff. Well my wife and I have been living out here now in Salt Lake City, UT for almost 2 years now. I'd like to teach my own style of
martial arts here. Unfortunately, I don't know where I can get those supplies such as, gi,
patches, belts and books. There is no Uechi-ryu karate here in Utah, so I'll be the one to introduce this style and am hoping that I will be successful of opening up my own dojo out here in due time. I am a "Sandan" and I have been teaching privately here. I don't know where to get or order video tapes about katas and kumite, which will help me remember everything right!
. . .
Mr. Mattson, I have a high respect for you and once again, thank you for signing my Uechi-ryu book in 1994. I have photos with you too. I don't think you remember me because you meet hundreds of people every time you go to any tournament, seminars and others. It was an honor for me to meet you along with Master Kamie Uechi and his son when they came to NH in 1994. This is it and I will be hoping to hear from you soon. Thank you in advance for your kind understanding and consideration concerning this matter.
Sincerely, Hill Dalde
I can help you with the videos and books. We have a complete store on the
Uechi-ryu.com site. Simply go to the main page http://uechi-ryu.com and click on the "Store" link.
I don't believe there are any Uechi dojo in your area, so by all means, set up a study group. You can get free space from community centers, YMCAs and other facilities.
Stay in touch and let me know how you are doing. GEM
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Just got your e-mail and thanks a lot. How can I do that to have a study group at the YMCA? You said I might be able to find a free space there. Unfortunately, I don't know anybody that can help me out here. Do you have any suggestions for me? What I've been doing is that I've been teaching my students privately at their homes. Hopefully, later I might be able to afford to open up my own "Dojo" here in Salt Lake City. It is tough when you do not have enough money to rent a space for karate studio and stuff. I only have at least 6 kids that I work with right now. I hope I can increase that number, and eventually have my own official karate school here. I love my style of martial arts in Uechi-ryu, and I'll be happy to introduce "Uechi-ryu" here in Utah. I hope I will be successful in teaching. Well this is it for now, and hope to hear from you again soon.
Sincerely, Hill Dalde
Go to the forums and ask your questions about setting up a club there. Many of the teachers have had experience getting free or inexpensive space for this purpose. However, there are insurance and other considerations you should be aware of before opening up a club. People on the forums will be able to help you. GEM
Sir:
I am a practitioner of a Chinese southern mantis system, and aspiring to become a student of a pak mei master. Years ago, I picked up your most excellent book "Uechi-Ryu Karate-do"' as this karate style had some features too
similar to my system to be mere coincidence. I have heard different things about Uechi's origins over the years, such as it being a
Chinese kempo system from the fukien province, also that it was an amalgamation of different fukien systems studied by Kanbun Uechi. Patrick McCarthy refers to it as "fukien tiger-fist boxing". The only system fitting this description I am familiar with is pak mei (there exist in china, however, numerous subsystems unknown to most, most startlingly different from one another. Many of these systems die out with their last practitioners due to the
Chinese mania for secrecy). Have you ever come to any conclusions to this? .
. Also, my system has a fist-set known as "108 techniques". I understand that this is what "suparempi" means. What are your feelings on the authenticity of the Uechi suparempi kata supposedly rediscovered by some Uechi students? .
Sincerely, Kenny
Hi Kenny: Thanks for your letter and questions. Please do a search on the Forums, for suparempi and other topics relating to your questions. The topic has been discussed quite a bit with lots of speculation and factual information contained in these forums. Our version of Suparempi has been documented on film in VidMag # 6 and Bill Glasheen's "4th Kata" video. VidMag #6 contains an in-depth discussion pertaining to Uechi-ryu and related systems from the Fukien region. GEM
Dear Mattson-Sensei, I have continued to have email contact with Arakawa Tomio Sifu who I am convinced is Terry Dukes who is living in the USA. In subsequent emails Arakawa began including information directly from the Mushindo web site. Then, he sent a photo of himself to me, claiming the other monk was the most senior monk of his Holiness, the Dali Lama. Comparing this photo to those of Dukes in his younger years, there is no doubt in my mind they are the same man. Arakawa Tomio Sifu is obviously an older, overweight Terrence Dukes. I have attached that photo for you to see, as well.
Through cyber-sleuthing I have determined his address and a phone number. I have sought the advice of others about what to do, as it seems he is up to his old tricks. I also have communicated with two of his current
initiates. Same storyline--including a penchant for young women surrounding him seeking spiritual guidance. What do you think? I am a member of the Sabaki and Goju Ryu list serves and have access through friends to the Cyberdojo. We could quickly get this out in the open. What say you? Oh, by the way here are his particulars:
Arakawa Tomio Sifu
Email: tenshinryushin_ji@hotmail.com Address: Cherokee Valley Farm & Stables 555 Wilburn Road Michigan City, Mississippi 38647 Phone: 662-224-3449
Best Regards,
Although this person may be unsavory and involved in cult-like activities,
my sources claim he is not the infamous Terry Dukes. Just because he isn't
Terry, should not prevent our informing people about him and his practices.
GEM
I appreciate the email back. I spoke to my sensei Frank Gorman and he suggested your website as a source for personal items relating to Uechi-Ryu. He told me to say Hi! I appreciate the hard work you are doing for me, and I trust your site, but do you think the ring is gaudy in your opinion? I just need a personal opinion, because this ring is the mark of my graduation to shodon. If you have any other ideas for quality gifts that I can purchase to mark this occasion please feel free to suggest them.
-George
Pictured below is a Godan's ring, with 5 diamonds.
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Susan (my wife) tells me this ring is made to order. Unfortunately, we haven't taken any photos of any. (First time someone asked for a picture of it.) However, Gary Geddes, the designer and person who has them created for him, will be at camp this week. I'll ask him to make sure he has one so I can photograph it.
GEM