Hi Mr. Mattson,
Ray and Kelly
Other than those in the Registry, I don't know of any other dojo. Perhaps someone will see this letter who can help you. (Since I don't publish e-mail, please email me and I'll pass along any messages)
Best,
George
Tuesday, July 31, 2007
Looking for a dojo in TX
Other than those in the Registry, I don't know of any other dojo. Perhaps someone will see this letter who can help you. (Since I don't publish e-mail, please email me and I'll pass along any messages)
Best,
George
Uechi-ryu Karate Do Books!
I and my friend Andy Hickman have been taking instruction in Uechi-ryu karate from Keith Beldam here on
There seems to be some difficulty getting the book here in
Hi Ian:
These books are now very scarce and expensive. Amazon is offering them for between $140 - $500! They are now out of print.
Our Uechi store has a few which we are selling for $125, but they are going fast.
George.
Inquiries
Hello Mr George,
i want to thank you for informing me of your travelling,so you mean when you return you will come and train me,ok am also ready this time to learn from you as a good master.
So please when you come back and i want to come to you and learn more in your country will that be possible if i may ask?
Because my aim is to come and learn in your school so that i be the best fighter among your guys.
I will like to give you my postal address incase of something,
Because my aim is to come and learn in your school so that i be the best fighter among your guys.
I will like to give you my postal address incase of something,
ERIC TWUMASI
WEST-AFRICA.
Thank you very much my greetings to your family good bye.
Hi Eric:
Thanks for your interest in Uechi-ryu. I'll have our P.R. Director, Darin Yee contact you regarding coming to the USA for training.
Best,
George Mattson
Hi Eric:
Thanks for your interest in Uechi-ryu. I'll have our P.R. Director, Darin Yee contact you regarding coming to the USA for training.
Best,
George Mattson
Students "checking-in"....
Hello George,
I did receive your ebook via your email to me. I start off each day now with a read in it. The background and flavour of the whole system is much appreciated. Also on most days I make it up to the local health club to do the Uechi exercises and kata. I live on Cape Cod now. The nearest Uechi dojo is Peter McRae in Plymouth. He runs a fine dojo, but it is a long drive for me.
You mentioned the march of time as we accumulate years of age. I’ll reach my 80th birthday in a couple of weeks. All joints and muscles work fine, thanks much to the Uechi work.
What isn’t quite so fine is memory and a bit of balance. The neurologist says “early Alzheimer’s” This is a very slow developing process, but noticeable to me. As a volunteer, I used to drive old people to their doctor appointments. After a while, I found myself getting lost trying to find their house, even with maps, so I had to give that up.
I believe the Uechi exercises help me with balance. Remembering the elements of the kata may be a helpful memory aid also.
In retirement I tried to stay active. After I left GE, I did private consulting for about 10 years until I felt my poor memory might get me in big trouble. I’m saying this because you suggested committee work.
I don’t like to lose the feeling that I can do something worthwhile. Your suggestion of “IUKF committee work” is certainly worthwhile, but I’m a little afraid to say “Sure”.
Best regards,
Millard
Hi Millard:
Pleased to hear that you are still active and aren't having any "joint" problems. Regarding that direction problem - have you considered a GPS? That way you just program the destination and let the machine tell you where to go. (I use mine all the time)
Best,
George
Camp Letters
George:
I hope you and Susan have cleared the airport and are back home (I arrived home at 3:30 a.m. this morning). I had a great time at camp. It was an honor to watch the master testing and presentations. The seminars were very interesting, and I loved the focus on Uechi.
Please give my best to your new black belt students. They looked really good.
I am hoping that you and Susan have a great year. I am looking forward to joining you next year on the second weekend in August to hear all about it.
Peace
Robb
Thanks Robb. Sue and I were at the Providence Airport from 4:40PM until 10:55PM. Bad weather in the Midwest somehow kept planes from getting to Providence. Never saw such a crowded airport. Thanks for making the trip and supporting my camp. Looking forward to seeing you soon.
Best,
George
Chicago, Illinois
Dear Sensei George E. Mattson
For many years you have been my teacher and my great friend. When I was a senior in high school, I purchased your first book The Way of Karate. At that time, in 1963, karate was a relatively new phenomenon to most Americans. Tales of karate men who were able to chop bricks apart with their bare hands and fight off many attackers suddenly became popular in the media. Many young men rushed out to the karate schools that were starting to pop up around the country so that they too could be trained to be invincible in a street attack situation.
I will admit that I had some romanticized ideas about the martial arts too at that time. I had studied a little Judo for a few months but I sensed that karate might be a more practical method of self defense. When I purchased your book I expected to go home and read about many secret and deadly techniques that would make me an instant success in any fight. Of course I found something quite different. Your book emphasized an attitude toward training and even to life. You explained that the same principles of karate could over time be applied to everyday living. You also pointed out that there was no magic easy method for learning martial arts. You outlined instead a path of hard work and dedication. Even at the age of seventeen I could see the path that you wanted to show to your readers had much more value than just learning to win a fight. The title of your book really said it all - The WAY of Karate.
I read the first few chapters several times and then attempted to learn the exercises in the book. Little by little I learned the blocks, the punches and the kicks. I moved on to Sanchin and Seisan. (Your introduction to the Sanchin kata is one of the most beautiful descriptions of the purpose and benefits of performing kata that I have found anywhere.)
After graduating from high school I joined the Air Force. Your book went with me to Lowry Air Force base in Colorado, then Spain and Iran. After fours years in the Air force I returned to Illinois to take advantage of the G.!. Bill benefits. Studies at the University of Illinois in psychology and a year teaching high school followed. I began taking flying lessons and eventually became an airline pilot. After thirty years of flying, twenty of it as an airline captain, I am about to retire in Mexico. The Way of Karate went with me to Puerto Rico, many states in the U.S., England, Ireland, Turkey, Malta, even back to Japan. I studied in many different schools, saw the teaching methods of many instructors and many styles. My technique has evolved over the years to be a mixture of many things. I have read many books and watched many video tapes. I have had many good instructors and a few who have achieved no enlightenment whatsoever and probably never will. As I get older I find my body responds less and less to the demands that I put on it, but I still manage to follow a routine that I sometimes call "old man's karate" when someone asks what I practice now. I intend to continue practicing until my body will not allow me to do so anymore.
I am not claiming any great knowledge of the martial arts. Most of my technique is quite simple and basic. Neither do I claim any great abilities. I started out as a young man with no athletic ability and almost no coordination. My martial arts achievements are modest. My achievements as a human being are also modest. I have struggled my whole life, partly through the inspiration I obtained from your book, to attempt to overcome my flaws and develop a better character. I know better than anyone the areas where I have failed up to now. This doesn't mean I have given up on the possibility of still growing. Neither does it mean that I am not still enjoying the process.
Your book started a young man out on a journey that has still not ended. That journey is about to take on a very different shape as I intend to spend my retirement studying and writing in Mexico.
Your book gave me an outline for karate training and an outline for bUilding a certain perspective on life. Many times when I have had to face fear, sadness, or crisis, I have turned to my martial arts training to rekindle my spirit and the will to move ahead.
After all these years I wanted to thank you for the inspiration you gave me at an early age when I was young, fearful, and very confused. Your book made a difference in my life. I think that is the greatest gift that martial arts study can bring to an individual. Thank you for setting me out on the proper path right from the start.
I'd like you to have these two books I have written as a gift from a grateful student. I would also like to ask a favor. I have included my tattered, treasured copy of The Way of Karate with the hope that you will sign it. My copy of your book will go to my grandson someday. I hope he will pass the book down to his son and so on.
Thank you Sensei Mattson,
Earl E. Rogers
Dear Earl:
Many thanks for your very kind letter. It is extremely rewarding to hear from people like you, who both enjoy my books and benefit in some way from what I wrote.
I also wish to thank you for your two books, (Captain and Captain II) which I have read and now reside in my library. Should you ever find yourself in Central Florida, please plan to contact me.
Best,
George
Dear Sensei George E. Mattson
For many years you have been my teacher and my great friend. When I was a senior in high school, I purchased your first book The Way of Karate. At that time, in 1963, karate was a relatively new phenomenon to most Americans. Tales of karate men who were able to chop bricks apart with their bare hands and fight off many attackers suddenly became popular in the media. Many young men rushed out to the karate schools that were starting to pop up around the country so that they too could be trained to be invincible in a street attack situation.
I will admit that I had some romanticized ideas about the martial arts too at that time. I had studied a little Judo for a few months but I sensed that karate might be a more practical method of self defense. When I purchased your book I expected to go home and read about many secret and deadly techniques that would make me an instant success in any fight. Of course I found something quite different. Your book emphasized an attitude toward training and even to life. You explained that the same principles of karate could over time be applied to everyday living. You also pointed out that there was no magic easy method for learning martial arts. You outlined instead a path of hard work and dedication. Even at the age of seventeen I could see the path that you wanted to show to your readers had much more value than just learning to win a fight. The title of your book really said it all - The WAY of Karate.
I read the first few chapters several times and then attempted to learn the exercises in the book. Little by little I learned the blocks, the punches and the kicks. I moved on to Sanchin and Seisan. (Your introduction to the Sanchin kata is one of the most beautiful descriptions of the purpose and benefits of performing kata that I have found anywhere.)
After graduating from high school I joined the Air Force. Your book went with me to Lowry Air Force base in Colorado, then Spain and Iran. After fours years in the Air force I returned to Illinois to take advantage of the G.!. Bill benefits. Studies at the University of Illinois in psychology and a year teaching high school followed. I began taking flying lessons and eventually became an airline pilot. After thirty years of flying, twenty of it as an airline captain, I am about to retire in Mexico. The Way of Karate went with me to Puerto Rico, many states in the U.S., England, Ireland, Turkey, Malta, even back to Japan. I studied in many different schools, saw the teaching methods of many instructors and many styles. My technique has evolved over the years to be a mixture of many things. I have read many books and watched many video tapes. I have had many good instructors and a few who have achieved no enlightenment whatsoever and probably never will. As I get older I find my body responds less and less to the demands that I put on it, but I still manage to follow a routine that I sometimes call "old man's karate" when someone asks what I practice now. I intend to continue practicing until my body will not allow me to do so anymore.
I am not claiming any great knowledge of the martial arts. Most of my technique is quite simple and basic. Neither do I claim any great abilities. I started out as a young man with no athletic ability and almost no coordination. My martial arts achievements are modest. My achievements as a human being are also modest. I have struggled my whole life, partly through the inspiration I obtained from your book, to attempt to overcome my flaws and develop a better character. I know better than anyone the areas where I have failed up to now. This doesn't mean I have given up on the possibility of still growing. Neither does it mean that I am not still enjoying the process.
Your book started a young man out on a journey that has still not ended. That journey is about to take on a very different shape as I intend to spend my retirement studying and writing in Mexico.
Your book gave me an outline for karate training and an outline for bUilding a certain perspective on life. Many times when I have had to face fear, sadness, or crisis, I have turned to my martial arts training to rekindle my spirit and the will to move ahead.
After all these years I wanted to thank you for the inspiration you gave me at an early age when I was young, fearful, and very confused. Your book made a difference in my life. I think that is the greatest gift that martial arts study can bring to an individual. Thank you for setting me out on the proper path right from the start.
I'd like you to have these two books I have written as a gift from a grateful student. I would also like to ask a favor. I have included my tattered, treasured copy of The Way of Karate with the hope that you will sign it. My copy of your book will go to my grandson someday. I hope he will pass the book down to his son and so on.
Thank you Sensei Mattson,
Earl E. Rogers
Dear Earl:
Many thanks for your very kind letter. It is extremely rewarding to hear from people like you, who both enjoy my books and benefit in some way from what I wrote.
I also wish to thank you for your two books, (Captain and Captain II) which I have read and now reside in my library. Should you ever find yourself in Central Florida, please plan to contact me.
Best,
George
Thursday, July 12, 2007
e-Book review... Thumbs up I'm happy to hear.
George,
Thank you for the help in connecting with your ebook. Everything is fine.
I was watching one of your video clips which gave me a flashback to a time at my local health club where I was punching on the heavy bag.
There was an old black guy in the room (who I later found out was a former prize fighter) who said "You don't have any power in those punches ! Power comes from HERE (and he pointed to his hips and his lower body).
When I tried that, what a difference.
I guess this is something that doesn't have to be introduced early in the training, but by black belt time ,as your video says, this would get to be a must-know.
Best regards,
Millard Cramp
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