Long time getting settled in. . .

Susan, Tia and I have finally gotten back to a routine, somewhat like we enjoyed in New England. The difference is we sweep leaves instead of shoveling snow and I drive with the top down 12 months of the year! :)

Tia has recovered 100% from her injuries and is even (with our careful supervision) playing with other dogs again.

Just when everything seemed to be going well, Chong Moulton calls this morning to tell me Allen died (I'm assuming yesterday) from a massive heart attack. His recent communications with the Uechi community dwelled on the possibility of his dying and he cherished every new day as a gift. Guess we can all learn from Allen's example.

I was going to drop the monthly "Mailbag" and this "Whatsnew" column, but after a number a very kind e-mail from friends who look forward to keeping up with Uechi news through these segments, I've decided to keep them going as long as possible. Right now I'm spending lots of time working on IUKF projects, along with our hard working Board of Directors. We should be publishing some updates on progress soon. I especially want to thank Board President, Paul Haydu and Board members David Berndt, Darrin Yee and Harry Skeffington for their hard work with their committees and programs.

Later. . . GEM

September 4, 2004: A Great Weekend!

Summerfest 2004
By Robert Hunt

I knew it was going to be a great weekend.

A white ceiling of hazy clouds floated across the Cape Cod sky like a friendly wraith holding the July sun at bay. The breeze off the cool Atlantic ruffled my hair and dried the salty sweat on my skin as fast as my pores could expel it. I strode across the green grass field at the heart of the Massachusetts Maritime Academy and stopped to watch a small legion of diehards in dirty white karate pajamas (rapidly assuming the camouflage colors of earth and grass) kick and punch, jump, run, scramble and shout to the cadence of someone who was doing what karate teachers have felt the urge to do for centuries – conjure up diabolical exercises to make students ask themselves the eternal karate question, “What am I doing here?”

I knew it was going to be a great weekend.

A large white canvas canopy stood in the middle of the field and a variety of teachers/students talked and demonstrated and watched and listened and existed underneath it, lending to the canopy the happy feel of an open sided circus tent. Over in a corner of the field, a couple of twenty-first century ancient warriors whipped bo’s around their heads in mock battle. Someone was shouting somewhere.

It was Friday morning, July 30, 2004. I forgot all about last night’s red-eye from Phoenix and the 4 hours of sleep I snatched in a cozy Comfort Inn in Providence, Rhode Island. Excitement filled the air. The smell of the Atlantic filled my senses. Sea birds greeted me overhead. People punched and kicked all around me. It was karate Disneyland. It was as if I were coming home, as John Denver once sang, to a place I’d never been before.

I knew it was going to be a great weekend.

George Mattson strode my way with a large, lanky stride, a smile across his face and his hand outstretched. Although I had heard his name mentioned off and on for 40 years, I had never met the man, but it took about ten words to make me feel like a long awaited brother. That’s the effect his gentle manner has on you and that’s the same gentle manner that permeates his organization. I’ve been to tons of karate events in the past 40 years and there is generally enough ego around to sink a small ocean liner.

Out of every hundred or so people you’ll find a half dozen masters, a pile of grandmasters, twenty great-grandmasters, a few Shihans, a couple of Saiko Shihans and at least one know-it-all jerk you can’t get rid of. But this camp was not like that, at least not among the people I met. Everyone was a commoner the same as I, regardless of how many decades of karate had turned their black belts white, with no mention of rank or position, except in regard to the popular instructor Dave Moss, who was promoted Saturday night.

And who could pick a better place, for goodness sake, than Cape Cod Bay?
When I first considered attending this event I pictured myself wandering aimlessly down some lonesome beach, experiencing nothingness, or something equally Zen-ish. But there just wasn’t time. All weekend I had the edgy feeling that if I wasn’t right there in the middle of things, I might miss something.

I had been invited to George Mattson’s Summerfest to talk about my newly published book, “The Art and the Way”, and teach karate history and weapons, but ended up again more the student than the teacher. I was lounging on the grass under the tent Saturday afternoon listening to Mr. Wong and his translator talk about one Chinese approach to our common pursuit. As I watched, I became aware of a figure practicing sai and bo kata off in the field behind them. The bo flowed smoothly and the sai cleanly and I found I had a hard time concentrating on the lesson at hand. The kata performer was John Hassell and at first polite chance, I donned my student hat, introduced myself again and spent that evening letting John berate me to keep my elbows down and move from my center. I was a student once more. Sweat trickled down my nose. I was tired. My back ached. My feet burned. My legs begged for rest. It was heaven. If I could only make the bo cut the air with the same woosh that John did.

As the weekend passed I found that there were plenty of other arts to sample, with people around to teach most any weapon from Philippine escrima to Okinawan bo to Chinese spear. There was all the kata one could handle, tai chi, grappling, jujutsu, pressure point techniques, acupuncture, tai massage and a pile of things I can’t even get myself to remember right now.

Even as I write this, all the events that took place over the three days seem to be fighting for their place on this page in front of me. The task of sorting them out in order of interest and importance is truly daunting - and probably not necessary. If you study karate, you know what I mean. (And if you are reading this you probably study karate.)

The afternoons grew warm, but the breeze never ebbed, and evening descended over the Academy accompanied by a quiet mist, framing each light bulb in a soft halo and soothing the body and soul from the day’s intense activity. After-dinner time was passed in the clubhouse doing what karate people do best - talk about karate. There was, of course, the omnipresent guitar and an impromptu rock band that changed members regularly as the evening progressed. Calling it “friendly” would be faint praise.

I remember sitting in the clubhouse at a table with David and George from Florida, fellow travelers John and Hoshin, Patrick the acupuncture man and a quiet guy who looked just like Paul Sorvino. We talked about karate history, Japan, Okinawa, Kanbun Uechi and a myriad of other things you might expect at a karate camp. I like karate. I could talk about it all night. If my wife hadn’t dragged me off to our dorm room, I would probably still be there.

Early Sunday morning I meandered along the water’s edge past the dormitory and studied the ocean lapping against the sand. Two locals stood thigh deep in the surf digging for clams. Bits of last night’s mist still hung in the fresh air like fluff from a fading blanket, the breeze off the sound just beginning to nudge it all away. I peered down the beach. A woman stood facing the ocean, as still as Lot’s besalted wife, her arms outstretched toward the incoming surf in a heartfelt welcome to the morning at hand. She never budged a centimeter during the several minutes I stood there marveling. Behind her a figure in typical karate white repeated Sanchin over and again, following the four directions of the compass, and then started once more at East facing the Atlantic in the same direction as Lot’s wife. Behind him another warrior waved his six foot bo over his head and around his body in loopy circles as if directing a symphony of waves to break uniformly on the shore, which, in turn, seemed to obey. It was very inspiring.

I met Windsong Blake. Windsong is a Wompanoag Indian. They were the ones who spent that mythological first Thanksgiving meal together at Plimouth with the Pilgrims and who have regretted it ever since. Windsong began his karate training in the ’50’s by reading and practicing the moves from Nishiyama and Brown’s book because there weren’t any karate teachers around. He went through Shotokan, Kyoyushinkai, back to Shotokan and on to other arts and adventures.

He talked about going down to New York City in a rattling ’37 Chevy to take part in his first real karate training (with Mas Oyama). Here was someone who has been to the mountain and back again and who was behind me mimicking the bo kata I was teaching. I had the distinct feeling that the wrong person was standing in front of the class.
I took Windsong to be about 65, and, although he looked pretty fit, I wondered why a guy that age would be learning one more bo kata after all these years. I asked his age. He’s seventy-nine.

Sunday about 3:00 in the afternoon we faced the inevitable end. I hung around the Academy like the last robin of summer, soaking in the ocean breeze and the camaraderie. I practice karate in Phoenix. Oceans are important to me. Water in general is important to me. I try to stay as close as I can for as long as I can every chance I get to approach any body of water larger than a swimming pool. Hence this place was double fun - karate with a sea breeze.

I bade my farewells, waved goodbye to George Mattson and headed back across the green grassy field that I had crossed the first day in the other direction. The white canopy somehow looked sadder empty. The sea birds laughed at my foolish attempt to put life in some order and wondered why I just didn’t stay there on Cape Cod Bay. I know that’s what they were thinking. What else would they be thinking? I wondered it, too.
But I was happy. I had grabbed a few hours of karate among people who followed the same call as I. And I had the sea and the sun, the birds, the salt breeze, a few good memories, my bo and three hundred new friends to grab it with me.

I knew it was going to be a great weekend.

August 4, 2004 What a Fantastic Camp!

Finally have a few minutes to catch up on my web site work. The big news is this year's SummerFest. The fortunate group of attendees will be talking about the seminars and "under-the-tent" discussions and demos for years to come. Lots of last minute registrations made this year's camp one of the largest as well. With so many people working together you would think the egos, style differences and politics would enter the picture just a little bit, but thankfully there wasn't one incident to mar the perfect weekend.

The new format worked out very well and will be continued next year.

The new presenters were very professional and well received by the group. Joe Lewis's seminars were really great. He is the most knowledgeable sport fighter in the world and one of the most gifted teachers. He is able to discuss traditional martial arts, sport and/or street fighting from every conceivable emotional, technical, medical or personal point of view. Wow! Even the big Uechi hitters were captivated by his energetic and dynamic seminars.

What can be said about "Rory"! (and I must add Kimi) What a team. What a pleasure to be associated with them, work with them and party with them. Read Van and Bill's forums for more information on this dynamic duo.

After having read Robert Hunt's novel (The Art and the Way) I was really looking forward to meeting him in person. No question about it, Robert is a very traditional martial artist. Most of us were training in a gi bottom and t-shirt, Robert was never without his complete gi and belt. His lectures and demonstrations were filled with facts and information that helped fill in the gaps of Uechi history most of us lacked.

Robert isn't just a historian or novelist. His kata and weapon skills are superior. More importantly, he is first and foremost a teacher. Watching him on the field with a group of eager students was where he felt most comfortable.

Ironically, we were blessed with a second acknowledged martial art historian and Uechi expert in Tsukasa (Scott) Higa. Because of our full presenter list, Scott's last minute decision to attend our camp presented a scheduling dilemma. Where to squeeze such a treasure into a schedule filled with treasures!!!

Scott resolved the problem quite easily and without any hurt feelings. He simply made himself available to any and all who had any questions about anything related to the martial arts. He was never far away from his suitcase full of common and many obscure Okinawan weapons, scrap books of rare pictures and reams of old manuscripts with his expertly translated notes.

I'd like to also thank the regular presenters, who did such a great job during the weekend. One regular who deserves special recognition is Brooks Bowen (The santa claus double). His "push hands" seminar was always filled to capacity. I'd also like to mention Scott Danzinger, our official "Vidographer", who recorder over 14 hours of seminars and discussions. Scott promises a really great camp dvd and summary clip coming soon.

Finally, I'd like to thank everyone who took the time and effort to attend this year's camp. There were lots of distractions, including the Democratic Convention, Cape traffic and the usual competing seminars being held everywhere. If you made the decision to attend, I know you weren't disappointed.

July 25, 2004

What a fantastic SummerFest program we have for you this year. You really don't want to miss it.

I know it is really late. . . only 5 days left. . . However, because of the magic of the Internet, you can still register and assure your spot on the field Friday morning for the beginning of one spectacular weekend of martial arts.

All you have to do is Click Here to register for one of the many programs we offer. You can still get "everything", including lodging and meals, or come as a "Daytripper", which includes lunch.

Some people were a little confused over the new schedule, including my good friend Harvey Liebergott. Following a lengthy phone call with Harvey, he wrote the following on Van Canna's forum. A really nice letter that explains the program much better than I did:

Over the last 63 years, I have learned to ask penetrating questions. Unfortunately, I seem to forget the answers. So, I am writing them down, here.

I took a quick look at the schedule and saw a program very reduced from last year. What is more, it seemed to be mostly about fighting (okay with me, but not something I can do more than once a day), or shooting the bull in the tent (something I do too much of already).

I know the top liners are super stars. And I would have come anyway, especially when David Mott is being honored. But I was not excited. I have now talked to George Mattson who suggested that I read more carefully. And I am excited.

I did not understand that the people listed in the schedule were team leaders who would be assisted by many other superb people, any one of whom is worth coming for, in his/her own right. This means that instead of having to chose, say, between two or three people teaching weapons, or sparring, students learn from all of them and from their interactions with each other. It also means that students do not have to be torn between attending the classes of teachers they study with regularly and would like to support, and teachers they see only at camp, and would hate to miss. Last year, I missed George Donahue's class, thinking I would see him at night and at his class the next day. But he had to leave that afternoon, and I did not see him at all. Under the new format, I would not have had to choose so tightly.

Further, I did not know that the fighting classes would not all be aerobic, or that the tent discussions would also follow themes. I love the feel of moving explosively to Van's tc class. But I cannot practice that way without Van watching my every move to make sure that I do not cheat. So, when I practice at home, I often do my kata t'ai chi style, feeling my weight, when I torque and compress. David Mott put me on to a book by Peter Ralston that captures this exactly. And I cannot wait to discuss it with the seniors under the tent.

Finally, I am working very hard to understand sumo, and am looking forward to meeting Tsukasa Higa, who seems to be as bi-lingual/bi-cultural a person as I may ever find and might be able to help me.

People are increasingly reluctant to go through the hassles of travel, the Canadian dollar is still down, and there are other camps, so the numbers of attendees has fallen off. But this is still the best camp. And, although I miss seeing old friends, the smaller the classes the better. Evan Pantazi's seminar with Jim Hulse was wonderful and worth every penny, but it had to be more expensive, because its logistics were different. The camp offers a relatively inexpensive way to see a dozen people, any one of whom is worth the cost alone.

June 27, 2004

I Hope everyone is enjoying their Summer. Susan and I worked very hard making sure the Uechi Championships came off without any problems. The officials, helpers and Coordinators did a wonderful job making sure the competitors had a great time and a rewarding experience. Win or lose, the competitors came away from the event feeling as though they became better martial artist by participating.

While waiting in the Chiropractor's office today, I was scanning the magazines and noticed an article about "Why kids aren't playing sports today". A couple of big league baseball players, coaches and parents were interviewed and they all blamed the parents for "taking the fun out of sports" for the kids. They related some real horror stories of fighting, yelling and screaming at the kids and downright boorish behavior on the part of the parents as they coached their kids in little league, soccer, football and other sports.

The kids are rebelling by not participating!

Well, maybe the karate kids' moms and pops are different. During the whole, long day of my tournament, I didn't see one parent get upset at the officials or their kids. I did see lots of hugs of encouragement and "high five's". . . whether the child came in first place or tenth place.

All of the successful dojo I am familiar with, work with the parents and the kids. The kids get the lessons and confidence. The parents get the benefits of their children's lessons with higher grades in school for their kids, respectful treatment at home by their kids and a generally happy relationship with their karate kids.

I just wanted to take this opportunity to thank all the parents who support and encourage their children as they pursue that elusive black belt. It has always been my feeling that when the child receives his/her Jr. Black Belt, the parents should receive one as well. :)

=======================================

Sue and I are now focusing our efforts towards our annual Martial Arts SummerFest. This year promises to be fantastic!

Instead of having 10 - 15 teachers conducting seminars every hour, this year we are focusing on presenting a seminar "Theme". I've put together a list of team "leaders", whose job it will be to organize their seminar and utilize the team "members" who will be assisting the "leader".

On Friday morning from 9 - 11:30am we will be conducting a two and a half hour energetic traditional workout for all ages and all ranks. Steve Perry suggested this "theme", so I've asked him to coordinate this segment. He will be assisted by many seniors, who will work with smaller groups on specific techniques and drills.

We will be devoting this same time slot to the intense study of Okinawan Bo. We are fortunate in having Sensei Robert Hunt as team leader for this session. Mr. Hunt is the author of a wonderfully written novel about the martial arts called "The Art and the Way". In addition to his many other accomplishments, Mr. Hunt is a recognized authority on the history of karate and an expert in Okinawan weapons.

For those of you who read our martial art forums, Rory Miller and his wife Kami are familiar names. They will be attending SummerFest for the first time this year and will be team leaders for a number of special self protection sessions. They will be assisted by other police officers and experts in this complex and difficult field.

The annual gathering at the Mass Maritime Academy has become sort of a family reunion for many of us. We work hard on the field all day, socialize and enjoy being with one another all evening.

Hey... Life is good!

OK, so some of us can't take a physically demanding workout or be able to keep up with the youngsters for eight hours straight. Well, we haven't forgotten about you. "Under the Tent", in the shade, with a light breeze blowing in from the ocean, you can take a break and enjoy an hour listening to and watching one of our many guests discuss and demonstrate subjects such as "history of Uechi-ryu and its link to Chinese martial arts". Naturally, we have one of China's "Old style" martial artist with us, who just happens to be one of the formost expert in all of China with us.

What would SummerFest be like without a Tai massage, an acupuncture treatment or an expert chiropractic adjustment. Well, all our old friends will be back with us again this year and happy to work on those nagging aches and karate pains.

Oh yes, there is lots more activities in store for you this year. Don't forget to show up for my "Sanchin on the beach" every morning at 6:30AM and my traditional Uechi workout, where I'll be helped by a stellar group of senior instructors, teaching and helping all who wish to have their Uechi-ryu checked out.

Finally, I do want to say a few words about what has become the most popular and moving experience at SummerFest or for that matter, in all of the martial arts. . . The celebration on Saturday evening where the very best of the best in our Uechi-ryu, is treated to a very special honor by his peers, family and friends. This year we will be honoring my very dear friend, Sensei David Mott. This year David will be awarded the eighth degree black belt and title of Hachidan in a very special ceremony, moderated by Dr. Paul Giella.

OK, now you know what a great time and rewarding experience SummerFest will be. Now all we need to make the event a 100% success is YOU! I hope you will go to Uechi-ryu.com and click on "events/Fests/Summerfest" and sign-up today. I promise that you will not be disappointed.

Regards, George E. Mattson

May 25, 2004: Lets talk Sport Uechi-ryu!

I'd like to discuss the subject of Sport Karate today. Competitive martial arts is misunderstood and unappreciated among traditional martial artists. The reason for this comes from a couple of justifiable reasons:

1. The original rules were ambiguous and seldom read or understood by the competitors.

2. Officials were untrained and seldom followed any rules.

3. Tournaments were dangerous because some students were fighting "full contact" while their opponents fought using the rules.

Some of the less realistic reasons for not competing in sport karate events:

1. Uechi-ryu (or substitute any style) is too dangerous for competition.

2. My students are trained to use "killing blows" and cannot pull their techniques.

3. People who spar successfully, cannot use their style's stances or techniques. They all eventually resort to generic methods that obliterate their style's uniqueness.

4. We can't use all the weapons of our style in competition. Therefore we are handicapped.

5. Competition creates habits that offset our style's effective methods.

6. Teachers encourage their students to salvage the teacher and his dojo's reputation by getting disqualified rather than lose honestly.

Other excuses come to mind, but these are enough to get my point across.

I organized and ran one of the first karate tournaments ever held in North America back in the 60s. It was well run, with few rules and many conscientious officials who attempted to determine the best fighter without anyone getting killed. Within a year, dozens of tournaments were being run throughout the country, each with its own rules and officials who interpreted those rules as they wished.

I organized the first officials' organization in the 70s, recognizing the importance of having trained officials who were capable of fairly enforcing the rules.

But a number of the unforeseen problems no one had answers for killed tournaments for the next generation of martial artists and influenced the direction Uechi-ryu's version of sport karate took here and on Okinawa.

The main culprit was defining and enforcing rules regarding "contact".

The second culprit was people who insisted that sport karate training methods must come from their traditional style instead of allowing the sport to develop, using traditional methods as tools and foundation. Instead of building the sport with an open mind, traditionalists were handicapped by legends and misconceptions about the infallibility of their teachers, peers and themselves.

Egos, politics and an unwillingness to evolve has killed sport karate within much of the traditional Okinawan karate world. Fear of the unknown and unwillingness to accept traditional martial arts as little more than historical ritual, has prevented much of the Uechi world (and other Okinawan systems) from benefiting from the challenge and appeal found in sport karate.

I wish it was possible to credit my senior students or myself with the resurrection of sport karate. What I had attempted and failed to do many years ago has been accomplished by the AAU and the WKF. The founders based their rules on traditional techniques, performed in a disciplined and controlled manner.

Not many martial artists will say that sport karate hurt the development of the top fighters within Uechi-ryu or other styles. I'm convinced there would be a lot more highly respected competitors had Uechi-ryu and other hold-outs embraced the AAU and WKF tournament methods years ago. Instead, the seniors continued to hold on to the dangerous and misguided belief that sport competition had to remain uncontrolled, dangerous and completely unfair to any competitor who actually was foolish enough to follow the rules.

Anyone who decided not to compete under those conditions was branded a coward (or worse) in the minds of those who braved the odds of getting hurt and continued to test themselves under the most difficult conditions.

I personally believe that much of the outcry from Sport Karate detractors, comes from those who are simply (and with good reason) afraid to have their students exposed to this danger unnecessarily and create all kinds of justification for not supporting sport tournaments.

I know, since I was one of those teachers for quite a few years.

There are three types of Sport Karate tournaments still being held in America.

1. The Open events account for 95% of all participation. The rules are well understood by all who attend. The officials don't have to be trained, since the object is "tagging" your opponent. The key here is that the competitor need not use good form or technique. You simply have to tag you opponent. Injuries are very, very rare.

2. Hard contact, old-style tournaments. Pretty much a throwback to the way things were done. Very few of these events are being held today, but once in awhile an "oldtimer" will come out of retirement and run one. Very dangerous and few rules.

3. Taekwondo Tournaments: They don't use hands. Emphasis in on kicks.

4. AAU/WKF/ events. Emphasis in on "tagging", but with excellent form and technique. Although very popular outside of the USA, there are very few of these events being held here at this time.

Currently there are no ADULT Uechi-ryu tournaments being held anywhere in the world except my Uechi Championships. Since all of the past tournaments were run under the #2 category of rules and because of the inordinate number of injuries, there is little chance of anyone trying to run one in the foreseeable future.

So why have I been banging my head against a wall these past ten years, continuing an attempt to rebuild sport competition in the Uechi world?

Mostly, because I am a firm believer in the value of sport training as an integral part and partner of traditional Uechi-ryu. Partly, because I'm stubborn and refuse to believe Uechi practitioners are incapable of following a training routine, based on their root system, that can be used safely in a ring. We are looking for controlled movements, disciplined actions, good balance, excellent distancing ability and a warrior spirit. How do these skills hurt your traditional Uechi-ryu?

Show me a top WKF fighter and I'll show you a person that any teacher would be proud to have as a student. He/she will be able to perform kata as good or better than any other person in that dojo. He/she will be able to perform any bunkai as good or better than any other person in the dojo. He/she will have the potential to defend him/herself in any dangerous situation as good as or better than any other person in the dojo.

Open tournaments attract over 1000 competitors per event. Even the small ones get 5-600. Why should I continue to restrict my tournament to Uechi practitioners and use rules that few Americans understand?

Because I don't believe the Open events or the "old" style tournaments are best for a traditional Uechi dojo. Because I believe building competitive students in a Uechi dojo, using WKF standards, helps build better Uechi students.

If what I'm doing catches on and other Uechi teachers recognize the value in this type of competition, the AAU/WKF events will catch on elsewhere. Then we will hear fewer excuses as to why sport karate is not compatible with the "real" karate.

The key to success is understanding and acceptance of the rules by competitors and officials. To work, the rules must be tied to the sparring training in the dojo. This doesn't mean eliminating the rest of your Uechi training, but it does mean opening up your mind when it comes to sparring. In the old days, sparring was simply something we did after the formal part of the class was over. There was no link to the traditional system. . . Students just got out there and mixed it up.

Today, anyone wanting to enter a legitimate WKF event with this background would find themselves completely outclassed. To become a skilled fighter, you must train using the tools of your Uechi-ryu with drills and practice routines that are completely foreign to the average sensei.

We can continue to proudly hold up our Uechi certificate and extra long belt and talk about how tough we used to be while remaining totally ignorant of what it takes to build a competitor capable of competing in a truly world-class event. Or we can get up off our collective butts and get out there and learn and train ourselves and our students in something new and exciting. Spend a year DOING . . . Then determine if the training has hurt your Uechi or if as I suspect, you will discover that you and your students have actually become better at everything you are trying to accomplish in your dojo!

On June 5th, I'm hoping to attract a couple more teachers than last year. I'm hoping to have a couple more teachers who will volunteer to spend a couple of rounds as a side official, to get experience and an idea about what the WKF rules are all about and how learning about them will benefit his/her dojo.

This is not about politics or the patch you wear on your shoulder. It is about building a strong Uechi dojo with students who are fit and healthy. It is about taking your Uechi to another level. It is about dispelling all the old and petty excuses for not learning something new. It is all about your students……

This is not about what is "real" Uechi and "unreal" Uechi. It is about training students to be disciplined fighters using traditional Uechi techniques with traditional Uechi mindset. It is about translating everything done in the dojo to the ring.

I hope to see you all June 5th at the ADULT Uechi-ryu tournament at the Plymouth, MA Sports Dome. The adult tournament will be in Arena 2. The New England Uechi-ryu Junior Championships will be held in Arena 1.

If you would like to review the Adult Tournament rules and summary of the New England Regional Workout, please check out:

http://www.uechi-ryu.com/championship/adult_tourny.htm

If you have any questions, just email me or call: 508-586-3969

George E. Mattson

 

March 1, 2004: Trying to figure out what the "experts" are saying!

OK, we've read all the posts. We've read and reread countless excerpts from countless experts, exalting dozens of "correct" breathing methods. We've listened to why we should not do pre-arranged drills while others tell us the latest in "can't miss" pre-pre arranged" drills. We've been told how "Kanbun did it!" by one expert while another tells us to abandon the "old ways."

I don't know about you, but I'm thoroughly confused! Apparently, I'm not the only one scratching my head while trying to figure out what the "experts" are really saying and how to make sense out all the conflicting and in most cases, diametrically opposed advice.

While in Florida, one of the teachers I was working with expressed his concern over the lack of direction and support for the traditional martial arts by the leaders, who this teacher believes, should be strengthening the system instead of being so critical of the majority of dojo and instructors.

Most teachers are afraid to voice their opinions, unless they jive with whatever the more vocal seniors are promoting in the way of training philosophies. The problem, according to this teacher, was that the experts are very good at "tearing apart" the typical dojo but are doing very little in the way of supporting and building them. Students, reading these conflicting viewpoints, don't see them as options, but instead as guides and measuring rods by which their instructor and dojo must be judged.

Accurate assessment or not, this appears to be a common place perception among the silent majority of dojo and teachers "out there".

I countered his argument by saying that the there was no single way or method in the martial arts. Just as every individual must eventually build his/her own system, every teacher has his/her own way to present the art in their own way. I attempted to explain how the martial arts is not all that much different than the game of golf. Although the object of the game is to strike the ball with a variety of tools, there are literally thousands of different methods and approaches to doing this.

The difficulty with accepting this open-minded attitude in the martial arts lies in the fact that the "experts" often attribute a sort of mystical quality about their abilities and how they acquired this ability and the source of their experience. Anyone who believes they have a lock on a style by virtue of their background, teacher or historical link to someone, may unintentionally appear to label anyone not possessing all of these qualities as being inferior and what they teach as being flawed. Nothing to judge this belief. . . No ball to hit or putt to sink as a measure of skill and justification for belief of superiority.

If we all stopped trying to find that elusive "perfect", "undisputed" and "ultimate" system. . . or even to believe that such a thing actually exists, we could approach the subject of martial arts and self defense in a more objective and agreeable manner. . . for my skeptical student in Florida and probably the majority of practitioners who read our forums looking for ways to improve their martial arts.

Following my seminar, I spent quite a lot of time thinking about why martial artist have this problem experimenting with different training methods or even reading about variations in techniques.  My conclusion involves both the way we perceive the role martial arts play in our lives and the way our instructors portray them as a fixed and complete system that must by mastered instead of explored and used.

The best way to break that mystical hold the martial arts has on its practitioners, while maintaining all of the benefits and traditions, is to view it through a model which can be easily understood and related back to what we do. For some reason or other, it is easier to relate to a subject that is not so steeped in ritual and perceived historical relevancy.

Bear with me for a minute and lets explore the model which I believe will help us understand our martial arts while demystifying the process of learning and practicing self defense.

The World of Driving Compared to the World of Martial Arts:

If we put aside all the ego traits that influences the martial arts and view them as we do driving a car, the exercise will help us demystify the art while shedding some insight into what the "experts" are really attempting to offer us in the way of advice.

Every time we enter a car, we put our life in danger. Ironically, we are in far more danger while driving to the Mall then we are walking around the facility looking for items to purchase.

We practice a far more complex set of actions and reactions while driving a car than we do while negotiating our way through a park or walking down a deserted street.

We can learn how to drive from our parents, friends, sibling or we can attend a school for the purpose. There are different styles of teaching students how to drive. Interestingly, many of the same concerns and situations involved in driving are also subjects of martial art classes.

There are highly specialized versions of driving.... everything from different tests involving racing to offbeat, somewhat extreme demolition derbies. My friend "Mad" Max Papis is an expert at the very difficult art of road racing. This skill involves not only the ability to have the very best tools of his trade, but to use these tools with physical and mental abilities he was born with. Some of us might be able to develop a measure of the kind of speed of reflex, timing, reaction and hand/eye coordination that Max possesses, but we would be delusional to believe we could compete with him on the track.

Driving a car involves many of the same kind of techniques our "experts" discuss on our forums, that involve the martial arts. Much of that driving advice is common sense and has to do with awareness, pre-emptive actions, defensive maneuvers and techniques used to avoid danger and in the worse case, to deal with it in as safe a manner possible.

Finally, the condition of your equipment is a major consideration in driving safely and surviving with your self defense tools.

Hopefully I've gotten my point across. There are styles of driving as there are styles of the martial arts. There are highly specialized methods and uses for super conditioned drivers as there are for superior talented martial artist.

It would be foolish to tout "Mad" Max Papis as the model for what the average driving schools should be turning out and it would be dishonest for anyone to knock the driving school because his students couldn't out drive Max at Daytona.

Yet, this is exactly the perception that some students and teachers have when reading what our "experts" are proclaiming when they challenge a Uechi student to enter the UFC as a test of his teacher's or his ability.

Still, with all his natural ability and never ending training, even Max will lose races and have accidents. In his field, this equates to a martial artist getting beat up in a fight. Max's goal is to always win, but when the unexpected occurs, his objective is to survive!

When reading our "experts" advice, try to remember, in spite what the words sound like, there is no one out there that is going to turn an average martial artist into the "Mad" Max of Uechi-ryu. When training, be mindful of the common sense driving skills you probably take for granted and try to apply them to what you are learning in the dojo.

I read in this morning's paper, two deaths in Massachusetts caused by road rage. In both cases, neither of the participants would "back off" and instead escalated the rage until one lost both the ego battle and his life. Unless you are a "Mad" Max, spend at least as much time learning to control your ego and rage as you do standing up to the bully when no alternative exists.

February 17: Self Protection: The Role of the Traditional-based Dojo

I know we've discussed this before on WhatsNew, but quite a lot has happened in the world, the USA and within the Uechi-ryu community since that last editorial. Our website forums is a microcosm of our world that represents a small segment of the population and a fairly large percentage of the martial art world. Much of what I have to say on this subject is based on various topics discussed on our forums.

I always find it interesting that so many people "lurk" and so few actually participate in the forums. This means that a very small percentage of the people who read the forums, actually dictate the direction and thrust of the topics and dialog found there.

Some would speculate that the majority simply agree with what is being posted and signify their approval by continuing to read yet remain silent.

Others believe that the silent majority is much like the general population. They complain and are unhappy over the way things are run and over what has been said, but they don't vote, they don't write their representatives in congress and they don't express their feelings on the forums.

Whichever is the case, our forums seem to have taken a hard right turn towards realist training (whatever that might mean) and much confusion over what ""tradition"" represent and its place in the world of self protection and martial arts.

Although I believe in many of the "realist" mind set and training methods, I have a hard time giving up my "traditional" roots. "Mushin" is a lot easier for me to understand and work on than attempting to read and comprehend a book on the scientific basis for achieving a zero based mind set! :)

As I see it, there exists two extremes in the martial arts. Both see what they do as the best way to address the self-defense conundrum facing the fighting arts community.

Before continuing, I want to stress that we are evaluating positions regarding self-defense methods for civilians and not the military, police, swat teams, bouncers or any other group that must, as part of their job, put themselves in "harms' way" on a regular basis.

The "Realist" on the farthest outer edge of our model, doesn't believe in any part of the "Traditionalist" doctrine. To them, everything martial artist do is a waste of time or worse.

On the far left are those who believe that everything we need to take care of ourselves in a fight, is found in system of martial arts they practice. Weaknesses in performance can be traced to weaknesses in practice, understanding and faith in themselves and the style.

Obviously, most of us find ourselves in the middle somewhere, either amused at the radicals or terrified that we are being shortchanged by our teacher/s and our methods of training.

The irony of this argument is that neither method is best or even better than the other and even more ironic. . . neither method, even in its purest form, is any better for the average civilian, than what is being taught in a half way decent dojo throughout the world!

If all the groups out there, selling courses, videos, books, seminars, boot camps or whatever, had to meet the same standards for making claims as auto makers or viagra, the ads for those self defense claims would be lot easier to read and understand and a whole lot smaller.

We have learned a few facts by reading the forums:

• If a skilled Bad Guy (BG) with a weapon wants you dead, you are dead

• If an unskilled BG with a weapon wants you dead, you are probably dead.

• If a skilled BG without a weapon wants to hurt you, your survival will have more to do with your emotional mind set than on the drills you practiced at the middle of the road dojo or high tech seminar you attended for three hours.

• If you are really interested in self-protection, you should rely on a gun (legally obtained and carried of course) backed up with lots of range experience and specialized scenario training.

• If you have been convinced that whatever you may have been taught or sold, has prepared you for a battle with a truly skilled BG, with or without a weapon, you may elect to engage rather than withdraw from a conflict, where that alternative was possible.

• There are emotional consequences for believing that eventually you will discover the perfect seminar, teacher, course or whatever, that will give you the confidence and skills to deal with a life and death conflict.

The most disturbing realization remains. . .

Should you elect to engage, whether a choice was available or not and you have your weapon of choice ready, be advised that most people will be unable to actually pull the trigger or throw that destructive kick/punch when faced with that decision.

So just what are we discussing when we take a position for being a "traditionalist" or a "realist" on an issue relating to self defense?

In my opinion, we should spend more time attempting to define exactly what we are doing, why we are doing it and what we hope to accomplish in the process. I'd like to see a lot of the "hype" associated with both traditional and realist training methods toned down to reflect more honesty in the content instead of all the emotional arguments to "do it this way".

Probably most important in all this a a mutual respect for those people who elect to do one or the other, for their own reasons. For a "realist" to argue against doing "cooperative" drills is not something a "traditionalist" wants to hear. Especially when the "realist" uses an argument that is misleading and unproven by any reasonable scientific standard.

It would be just as unreasonable for a "traditionalist" to say that based on folklore and legends, a system without a makiwara and kata is unworkable.

In both arguments, the premise of superiority is based on undefined rationale and lots of assumptions. What bothers me in these types of "believe me" arguments, is that the real experts cannot validate simple and easily researched self-defense information on something as hard-wired as gunshot wounds. Certainly the "traditionalist" pointy finger and toe weapons cannot be studied with such precision. Can the "realist" and their tools, be any more certain in their beliefs, findings and recommendations, than the effects of a gunshot wound to a Bad Guy?

There are just too many variables involved in a fight, to make any suggestions as to outcome based on the system/s studied by the participants. Therefore, we are left with a number of potential methods and tools that were created to accomplish certain tasks, under conditions where other, unpredictable variables play a very large part in the encounter.

None better, none worse.

If we can all accept this simple declaration about what we do in the name of self protection, then those of us who are "Traditionalist" will be more willing to listen to "Realist" tell us about their new fangled drill with the latest knife and the "Realist" won't cringe when reading about the "Traditionalist's" old fashioned method for conditioning the shins.

There is one irrefutable fact that we should all recognize should this mutual respect scenario fail:

The majority of students come from the "traditional" dojo and the "realist" rely heavily on cherry picking exceptional students from these schools for their programs, certification and franchises.

The smart specialist like Tony Blauer, Dave Young and Scott Sonnon, when working with traditional dojo, are very respectful and sensitive to their audience. They are honest about what their tools are designed to do. They support the "Traditional" dojo by building on their traditions and methods. They enhance the root programs and don't try to replace them.

A win win situation for all and a huge lesson for both the hard core "Realist" and hard core "Traditionalist".
                                                                            George E. Mattson