Mattson Academy "Virtual" Dojo
Although the lessons are serious business, I teach in a rather informal manner. My uniforms are reserved for special occasions, like demonstrations, seminars, promotions or when I visit other dojo. You can wear anything you wish when filming video clips for review. . . but the baggier the outfit, the harder it is for me to see the technique, form and applications.
Lessons for student and instructors (Read article written by one of my first "Virtual" dojo students)
Lessons are geared towards your specific goals. If you are working on your teaching certificate (Shihan), I'll focus more on accuracy of technique and your understanding of what you are doing. If you are simply doing karate for self-defense purposes, our lessons will stress applications, mindset and conditioning.
Although your membership fee is primarily for the time I spend with you on-line, you will find that I spend considerable more time working with you via e-mail, newsletters and shared video instructional clips. I get a kick out of seeing my students advance and will help you in any way possible to help you achieve your goals.
In our first session we will discuss your goals and the best way for you to successfully acheive them. I will help you plan out a training program and a method for me to monitor your progress.
An important component to this program is your private training blog. Discipline yourself to update this document on a daily basis. I will monitor your training record and will make suggestions where appropriate.
Your workspace is your private dojo. There are many tools available for you to use. . . not only for your karate training, but in your daily life. Your access to the program is limited to your private workspace/dojo. You can't cause a problem with the rest of the site by experimenting with your dojo, so don't be afraid to experiment with its look, feel or features.
I'm looking forward to working with you. Good luck with your training and remember the secret to the mastery of Uechi-ryu karate. . . . "practice, practice and practice!"
George E. Mattson
10th dan, Hanshi
Uechi-ryu Karate
Learning/Practicing/Using Uechi-ryu -
Art vs Learning how to fight
The "virtual" dojo program focuses on the "art" of Uechi-ryu. This means working on the "components" that make up the "techniques" that in turn make up the "kata". It is my philosophy that techniques must be mastered in Sanchin before they can be applied in advanced kata, bunkai, drills or sparring. Too many Uechi practitioners practice their system as "ritual"; a sort of a disjointed matching of meaningless movements that often hinder important elements of the fighting system they believe they are studying. In a separate study and practice, they learn to spar - unaware and blissfully ignorant of the fact that their application of the system is supposed to be derived from the system itself and not be a result of a completely different set of components, technique, mindset and applications. The primary purpose of the "virtual" dojo program is to re-acquaint those who are really interested, the foundation of our fighting system and to build or rebuild Uechi-ryu so it can actually be used as a fighting system. What I have just said is not intended to disparage or negate any individual's fighting ability. No one, regardless of what he/she is studying can pass judgement on another's ability to survive in a fight. (street - tournament or UFC) My intent, in mentioning something that most people studying the martial arts today are unaware of, is to make sure that my "virtual" students understand the reasons I created the program.
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