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
My name is Darin Yee. I am a member of the IUKF Board of Directors and I also head up Public Relations for the IUKF.
One of the issues I’ve been giving a lot of thought to is organizations and associations. What are they all about and why are they of any importance to us?
Please be informed and understand the following are just my thoughts and in no way reflect my actual feelings and convictions towards this issue.
I hear from many people asking what can the IUKF do for me? That’s funny. I’ve been asking myself the very same question. I’ve been studying and practicing Uechi-Ryu since 1969. I’ve probed, disected, associated, minipulated, distorded, compared and misused Uechi-Ryu in more ways and positions then anyone can imagine. Why am I still here?
Maybe I feel comfortable here. A sence of belonging I suppose. I disappeared in the mid “70” to cross train and have been very content with what I was doing. Yet after 25 years of “OZ” I’ve realized “ther’s no place like home”.
My next question is why the IUKF? I’ve automaticly came here without considering there are now many others who has developed their own groups. Again after careful consideration, I’ve realize this is where George Mattson is. He was the person directly responcable for Uechi-Ryu being in this great country of The United States of America (the American Godfather of Uechi-Ryu). George Mattson also taught my Sensei, Robert Campbell who in my opinion is the very best in the entire world. Now what better place is there for me to be?
Back to the question, why the IUKF? In the IUKF, I sit with people who has simular interest, people who I consider family. We interact and commuicate. We exchange ideas and feed off each other’s knowledge. In unity there’s strength. In division, we have nothing.
We should always be proud but there is a fine line between being proud and being vain. We need to careful not to be confused.
Again back to the question what can the IUKF do for me? I beleive the proper question at this time is what can I do for the IUKF? If I want a big beautiful house to live in I must first work hard to help put it together instead of picking it apart before it is completed. If we want a stong, unified family, we need to be supportive, tolerent and understanding not arrogent and judgmental.
Please don’t take any of this personal. I did’nt have anyone in mind while I was writing my thoughts. I’m not a great philosipher nor was there ever an attemp to be one. This is just common sence.
It’s late, I’m tired and I’m not going back to check my spelling. Just consider my mis-spelled words typos and we’ll call it even. Good Night!
Darin.