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
=====================================
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

News from an old friend. . .

Hi Lenny:

Good to hear from you. We miss you as well!
We just finished SummerFest on Cape Cod. Where was you????

I've been doing scouting work for the Pittsburgh Pirates, however, I do my sanchin and all kumite....also Kanshiwa, Katicki-tai, Seisan, etc....with long time friend,Ron Boulanger.... I do go to the Cape in May/June. It's there where the best college players play in front of 28+ pro scouts. How much $$$$$$$ for an XL Summerfest shirt?

Sorry to hear about your uncle.
Best,
George

Sensei, I think I wrote you wrong infounder such busy conditions here. Father Jerry, who you briefly met here in Plainfield retired from going to Japan after 50+ years. He would finish his priesthood in Ossiningt, New York. He retired his duries in japan in April 2008, He died last Friday on the 8th of August.
http://www.legacy.com/norwichbulletin/Obituaries.asp?Page=Lifestory&PersonId=115593985


I liked your latest film in your garage where I said to myself, " He loves it there, the birds do too." You were explaining the catch of a punch and followed by Wa-Uke. You look good..... say hi to the better half for me.

Good old days!

HI George -

I watched the kumite film with interest, and had some comments - now it's been a looong time since I taught the freshman phys ed class with Dick Philbrick (vanished) and Dave Ruth (hear from him once in a while), so I suppose I could be romanticizing... anyway, I'm writing mostly to remind myself, --- you are after all the one I learned all this from!

Anyway, here was my reaction:
1. Ouch - your sparring partner has not been taught wrist position! I would teach that the very first day with my new students - with his knuckles out and wrist bent, that poor fellow will break three or four bones very painfully if he ever actually HITS anything :-)

2. You say you teach in four stages. I remember at least one that might be what you're referring to ... What about the inside hand in the circular block kumite? When I taught it, it was in stages, and the first stage didn't use the circular right block (for a right thrust parry) at all! I taught them to first use a the very fast left deflection, just guiding past the solar plexus, since they were REALLY slow for the first year in the speed of the circular block. I would bet that forgetting this essential partial block in the kumite is the reason that other student was getting hit - not being taught the full block sequence! Then I merged the left deflect and the right circular for two stages of speed and strength that could be adjusted to the need of the moment. Working on body motion, feet and balance would be part of this also.

3. I do the circular block itself with a much stronger elbow-snap-down- to-my-rib than you showed in the demo. This I think is an advanced refinement - didn't teach to the class until they got pretty advanced. But this is essential if you miss part of the block or a second thrust comes before you're ready, to protect at least part of the mid-body while you gauge your next reaction. It also adds a lot of strength and leverage of you are physically weaker than your attacker.

4. And I agree 100% that the most important and often not-learned feature of the circular block is to cover the absolute minimum area, with no wild swings to the outside, blocking useless regions far outside the attack area. (And another bad habit - raising the elbow so high the midsection is unduly exposed to, e.g., an unforeseen kick.) I would drill on these over and over to get the hand just high enough but not too high on the cross-body motion, and no outside flailing on the finish; we would mark the area and train people to keep the elbow low and stay inside a compact region by constant nagging and tactile feedback by putting an instructor arm in the "wrong" region and making fun of them if they hit it ...

...ah, the good old days.... The classes I teach now have no conceivable means of such excellent and instantaneous class-wide feedback - I always thought teaching martial arts was much more rewarding for the instructor than academics... Best, Andy

New Dojo in Alberta

Good day Sensei Mattson. My name is Darrin Richter. I am a student of Doug Smith's from Edmonton Alberta. I recently tested for my shodan and was successful. I was wondering if I could be registered under your dojo directory and your blackbelt registry.

I have recently opened a small school in Lloydminster Alberta as I have moved there. I continue to train with Doug in Edmonton with a 2.5 hour drive. I was wondering if it would be alright to put a link to your website on my own website. My URL is www.bordercitykarate.com. My site is meant to be for information purposes only.

Thank you for your time.

Darrin Richter
780-872-2296

p.s. I purchased your book, Uechi-Ryu Karate-Do from your website and it has been an excellent resource for me.

Best wishes from Eva

Dear George,

No one knows for sure the future.
Thousands of things which have happens and which forms our destiny.
There are extra steps you have walked down what made you the outstanding and memorable person you are.
You portray what we Martial Artists value most...commitment,the courage one need to be successful.

There are so many things We can be thankful for you.
I would like to thank you for all you do.
Thank you for the time you gave,
For your willingness to help,
You were there on our day,
Thank you sharing of your talent
We do truly appreciate,
Thank you for the beautiful gifts,- our memories,
That you've helped us to make.

Please always remember
"What we do for ourselves dies with us. What we do for others and the world remains and is immortal."

What you've done will always be appreciated and never be forgotten.

Best wishes,
--
Eva
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Thanks Eva. I really do appreciate your kind words. GEM