So you think you are a master!!!

Dear Sensei George,
How are you and the Family? I hope that you're healthy and strong and practicing regularly. This article, for your site, is for those individuals who may seek another perspective on all the "Masters" floating around given the extreme commercialism today in the MA. Manny


You’re a master? Sorry, I don’t think so.
By Manny Neves, 8th Dan

A few weeks ago, I attended a Master Gushi Seminar at the Hartford Dojo. My student and I were a little late for the Saturday class, so as not to interrupt anyone, we sat in the back of the room and watched the instructions for a while. As I was sitting there, Mr Harriman, 7th dan and promoter of the seminar turned around and asked me, “Why don’t you like to call people Masters when they’re 6th dan or above?” I started to respond to him when my student said that Master Gushi wanted us to gi up and be part of the program. So I was never able to finish my conversation with Ernie. I’ll share my thoughts with you here, with the chance you may dislike me more than you already do for whatever reason.

To me there’s one underlying principle that should be followed for you to call yourself a “Master”. It’s what I refer to as “creating something from nothing”. Most practitioners are basically followers of someone or something. Albeit, some may be very youthful, powerful and earnest and have more energy than others, possibly displaying excellent technique, but they’re still followers. For instance, those of us, who seek depth to our training, by seeking the “meaning” of our kata are still “following” the path of the creator of the original kata. Also, there are those individuals who bastardize the original kata and create what they call “their” way of doing the kata and call themselves masters and may even promote themselves to high degrees. I look at individuals who achieve the rank of 6th dan and above as dedicated, generally older individuals who found a way to make their kata continually be effective even if they are 45, 50, 60 years old and possibly older. Those high ranks, as most of us know, are tied to character, age, time in grade and the ability to still do kata correctly. But are they Masters? I believe they are not. What about the individuals who are or were great fighters, the one’s who, in the past, dedicated their youth to beating up all comers? The notion that you’re a master because you won a few matches, or even many matches, in a contest is absurd. Everyone and anyone can be beaten on a given day given the right circumstances. Also, the contrasting view applies. You can beat anyone in a contest on a given day with the right circumstances. Those of us who’ve competed know what those circumstances generally are.

That being said, my point is to be humble. Don’t call yourself a master to feed your dominant ego. Be earnest in your training so that you can open up to inspiration that may help you create “something from nothing”. One caveat, make sure that “something” has significant value and is time tested (at least 50 years or longer).

The Way of Karate!

Sent: Thursday, November 20, 2008 4:40 PM
To: gmattson@uechi-ryu.com
Subject: The Way of Karate

Mattson Sensei,

a few months ago I came across a copy of your book The Way of Karate a 1966 edition and have treasured it ever since. I am an instructor of Isshinryu Karate and find it very informative on the history of the Okinawan tradition.
I thought you might like to hear that after all this time this book is still circulating

Thank you,
Jeffrey W. Brown
===================================
Hi Jeffrey.

Thanks for the note and kind words.

I’m still training, learning and enjoying the karate experience. Hope you are as well.

Stay in touch. . .

George Mattson

"blast from the past". . .

-----Original Message-----
From: Jay Freedman
Sent: Friday, November 14, 2008 3:15 AM
To: gmattson@uechi-ryu.com
Subject: Hello from Maryland

George,
Just a quick note from a former Boston student. I started at the Boston dojo when I was 10 in 1967, on Saturday mornings. You were the first instructor, and Bob Campbell, a green belt, took over those classes shortly thereafter, before he left for the Navy. I eventually took over the Saturday classes with several other students and had a great time, until i left for college in New York in 1974, having earned a second degree Brown belt. I remember the Boston dojo, some of the students and family with fondness. The lessons I learned in Boston have stayed with me my entire life, and although I have married, moved to Maryland, have kids, those lessons remain invaluable. Great seeing your website, Uechi-Ryu to me is the only Karate. Glad to see you are still teaching in (semi) retirement:)

Sincerely,
Jay Freedman
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Hi Jay. . .

Good to hear from you. I'm playing golf this morning and must head for the course in a few minutes. I did want to say hello though and thank you for sending me this very kind note. I get a couple messages a month from Cambridge St dojo students and many of them (like you) still fondly remember time spent working out. Surprisingly, many still do Sanchin and other kata as part of their fitness routine. (Hope you do as well) :)

If you don't mind, I'll put your email address on my Newsletter list. Expect a monthly Uechi update, which you can cancel at any time.

Stay in touch and if you have time, drop into the forums and say hello to the Uechi community.

Best,
george