Mr. Mattson,
In July you generously included my grandson Andy in your karate classes! He was only visiting for one week however. His attendance at two classes impacted him very positively. I wanted you and all the teachers to know what valuable lessons they are sharing. Thank you so much.
I have written to the mount Dora Parks and Recreation Department sharing my appreciation. Mount Dora and Lake County is very fortunate to have such activities available with dedicated teachers.
Sincerely,
Marjorie Hill
Thank you very much Marjorie, for your very kind letter. Your grandson Andy did very well in class and we are all very pleased with his performance and enthusiastic participation in class. Hopefully he will visit our dojo again and your future.
George E. Mattson
Saturday, August 28, 2010
Tuesday, August 24, 2010
SummerFest 2010 Feedback. . .
Sensei Mattson:
While this year's economy "2010" may have stymied some people's attendance, I found this Summerfest invigorating, educational and inspirational.
I was able to spend quality time in several workshops, and that same quality time with several of the instructors, answering questions and instructing me in techniques. As usual, I thoroughly enjoyed my time with you doing sanchin on the beach. You always provide me with insight and strategies with which to share with my students.
I enjoyed the casualness and flexibility this year as everyone seemed less pushed and we could do more quality technique and instruction because of this. I reviewed and reestablished many new friendships, an aspect of the Summerfest which may get overlooked. Many of my students know that, as they travel, they would be welcomed in most dojos!
I do hope you continue to have Summerfest as this is a great experience for all. Thank you again for being an inspiration in the martial arts community as well as to each of us individually. I love how you gave me a hug upon my arrival at me I feel honored to be one of your students, and to be in part of this organization!
One suggestion I have for future Summerfest would be to have more specifics about each Uechi kata and or Bunkai. Well we all have the same basics, the variations are fun and interesting to see/learn from others
Thanks again for a great Summerfest!
Yours in Budo,
David Lamb
Dear David:
Many thanks for your very kind message. In spite of the long-distance and travel inconveniences you must suffer to get to Summerfest every year, you always find a way to be at my Friday AM "Sanchin by the Beach"!
The mass maritime Academy has already scheduled us for 2011 and I have already begun working on a new schedule that will include suggestions by you and a number of other seniors and students who have written to me since this year's camp.
I hope you and others will be able to join me for our first Summerfest webinar which will be held during the month of September. Watch the home page for details.
While this year's economy "2010" may have stymied some people's attendance, I found this Summerfest invigorating, educational and inspirational.
I was able to spend quality time in several workshops, and that same quality time with several of the instructors, answering questions and instructing me in techniques. As usual, I thoroughly enjoyed my time with you doing sanchin on the beach. You always provide me with insight and strategies with which to share with my students.
I enjoyed the casualness and flexibility this year as everyone seemed less pushed and we could do more quality technique and instruction because of this. I reviewed and reestablished many new friendships, an aspect of the Summerfest which may get overlooked. Many of my students know that, as they travel, they would be welcomed in most dojos!
I do hope you continue to have Summerfest as this is a great experience for all. Thank you again for being an inspiration in the martial arts community as well as to each of us individually. I love how you gave me a hug upon my arrival at me I feel honored to be one of your students, and to be in part of this organization!
One suggestion I have for future Summerfest would be to have more specifics about each Uechi kata and or Bunkai. Well we all have the same basics, the variations are fun and interesting to see/learn from others
Thanks again for a great Summerfest!
Yours in Budo,
David Lamb
Dear David:
Many thanks for your very kind message. In spite of the long-distance and travel inconveniences you must suffer to get to Summerfest every year, you always find a way to be at my Friday AM "Sanchin by the Beach"!
The mass maritime Academy has already scheduled us for 2011 and I have already begun working on a new schedule that will include suggestions by you and a number of other seniors and students who have written to me since this year's camp.
I hope you and others will be able to join me for our first Summerfest webinar which will be held during the month of September. Watch the home page for details.
Wednesday, February 24, 2010
SummerFest 2010 Forum???
George,
Well I bit the bullet and bought my airline ticket for Summer Fest today. I guess I'm committed now or I should be comitted. I was looking at the lodging and transportation section of the Uechi Web site and started to wonder if there was any place to try and arrange like hotel room sharing or transportation sharing with other fest participants.
It dawned on me that the forum would be a good place to advertise stuff like that but I didn’t see anything. I wonder if you had considered or would be willing to consider setting up a Summerfest 2010 forum on the index where people could arrange sharing for the fest. I was thinking something like classified adds where people can post arrival times at Logan, rental car and hotel room sharing. Also, its been a while since my last fest, does the academy still offer rooms as part of the fest?
What do you think?
Best,
Dan
Well I bit the bullet and bought my airline ticket for Summer Fest today. I guess I'm committed now or I should be comitted. I was looking at the lodging and transportation section of the Uechi Web site and started to wonder if there was any place to try and arrange like hotel room sharing or transportation sharing with other fest participants.
It dawned on me that the forum would be a good place to advertise stuff like that but I didn’t see anything. I wonder if you had considered or would be willing to consider setting up a Summerfest 2010 forum on the index where people could arrange sharing for the fest. I was thinking something like classified adds where people can post arrival times at Logan, rental car and hotel room sharing. Also, its been a while since my last fest, does the academy still offer rooms as part of the fest?
What do you think?
Best,
Dan
Wednesday, February 17, 2010
From Dr. Paul Haydu, Chairman IUKF
Hi George,
I know you're getting ready for Winterfest. I can't make that, but am planning to attend Summerfest. You must be very busy with the camp, plus arrangements to complete delivery of your latest book. I am looking forward to receiving it, and reading it.
I'm including herein another article written later in December last, which includes ideas and concepts I employ when teaching students. It's a summation of principles I've picked up from outstanding Uechika through the years, combined with concepts that I've learned through my own practice. You could consider this and the prior article to be a contribution toward my teaching certificate.
Please use this material in any way you see fit. I want you to know that Uechi has changed my life for the better in so many ways. If I hadn't walked into your Columbus Ave dojo in 1966, I would not have had this huge gift, that keeps on giving. For this, and your continued teaching, and especially your friendship I will always be grateful !
Best,
Paul
I know you're getting ready for Winterfest. I can't make that, but am planning to attend Summerfest. You must be very busy with the camp, plus arrangements to complete delivery of your latest book. I am looking forward to receiving it, and reading it.
I'm including herein another article written later in December last, which includes ideas and concepts I employ when teaching students. It's a summation of principles I've picked up from outstanding Uechika through the years, combined with concepts that I've learned through my own practice. You could consider this and the prior article to be a contribution toward my teaching certificate.
Please use this material in any way you see fit. I want you to know that Uechi has changed my life for the better in so many ways. If I hadn't walked into your Columbus Ave dojo in 1966, I would not have had this huge gift, that keeps on giving. For this, and your continued teaching, and especially your friendship I will always be grateful !
Best,
Paul
Sunday, December 27, 2009
Harry Benfield dies. . .
Dear George
Apologies for being the bearer of bad news but Harry died, last month, after a long term illness stretching over 5 years known as Pick's disease (a severe form of alzheimers).
Before that he spent the last 15 years teaching with a small group of loyal students with which he continued to train in a very traditional style but also innovated many techniques within a conditioning routine that we nicknamed 'Benny ryu'.
Unfortunately, he stopped teaching about 7 years ago after the dojo was demolished but the signs of the illness were there and he had no motivation to look for another dojo.
If you wish to send a card to his wife then she can be contacted at:
Barbara Benfield
14 Rothbury Road
Liverpool
L14 4AL
England
I'm sure she would appreciate it. If I cna be of any further help please don't hesitate to ask.
Harry Benfield's students
George
Apologies for the time it has taken to come up with a photo of Harry. On the photo of Harry are to Harry's right, Russ Booth and to his left Alan Sansbury (taken about 1993). Alan was Harry's top student after Rob Kendrick had emigrated to California and be became quite an Urban Myth in certain circles, such was his prowess. Alas, Alan appears to have stopped training seriously around the time Harry went into hospital.
When Harry visited Okinawa in about 1981 both Rob and Alan accompanied him.
I've included a photo of me (the pale one) with Rob Kendrick taken about 1990 at Ahti Kaend's dojo. It appears Rob stopped training 5 or 6 years ago after his latest black belt grading in Okinawa. He was originally one of Harry's students who emigrated in 1983 and would be a great loss to Uechi as he was an exceptional talent. Rob returned to visit his dying father about two years ago and spotted Harry in the same Nursing Home, but was even more shocked to find that communication with Harry was impossible such was the deterioration.
I would love to try and get myself in shape and come out and train with yourself, Harry thought a great deal about you, and often mentioned Bobby Campbell. Yours were names attached to stories that were told to inspire us on many a cold night.
I'll have a word with Alan when I next visit Liverpool and see if he might be up for such a visit and if we could track down Rob then we could make it a proper reunion.
I'll keep in touch, if that's ok?
John Murphy
Wednesday, December 2, 2009
Nijurokku!
From: Paul Brennan
Subject: Nijurokku
hi, sensei.
i realize you probably receive 1000s of emails a day, but if you have time, can you please clarify a personal curiosity of mine? it's in 3 parts.
first, what year did you create nijurokku and add it to the system?
second, i understand you created nijurokku for a test. we practice it frequently in our dojo, however, i'm curious as to why you created it. was it part of your personal development for a test you were taking, or was it something you felt important for your students to learn for their tests?
third, there is some debate as to what you feel is the primary purpose of the exercise. is it primarily a punching exercise, movement exercise, etc. or is there no primary purpose for it and it is "just an exercise"?
i would really appreciate any feedback you can give me regarding nijurokku, as i feel it will help me understand the exercise and style of uechi-ryu better.
thank you for your time,
kind regards,
Paul Brennan
Hi Paul:
I believe Nijurokku was created around 1963.
I created it primarily for new students as a level of performance relating to basic and generic material, prior to the formal curriculum found in Uechi-ryu.
Thanks for your kind e-mail and interesting questions.
Best,
George Mattson
Subject: Nijurokku
hi, sensei.
i realize you probably receive 1000s of emails a day, but if you have time, can you please clarify a personal curiosity of mine? it's in 3 parts.
first, what year did you create nijurokku and add it to the system?
second, i understand you created nijurokku for a test. we practice it frequently in our dojo, however, i'm curious as to why you created it. was it part of your personal development for a test you were taking, or was it something you felt important for your students to learn for their tests?
third, there is some debate as to what you feel is the primary purpose of the exercise. is it primarily a punching exercise, movement exercise, etc. or is there no primary purpose for it and it is "just an exercise"?
i would really appreciate any feedback you can give me regarding nijurokku, as i feel it will help me understand the exercise and style of uechi-ryu better.
thank you for your time,
kind regards,
Paul Brennan
Hi Paul:
I believe Nijurokku was created around 1963.
I created it primarily for new students as a level of performance relating to basic and generic material, prior to the formal curriculum found in Uechi-ryu.
Thanks for your kind e-mail and interesting questions.
Best,
George Mattson
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