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QUARTERLY NEWSLETTER MARCH 2026

I.U.K.F.

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March 17, 2026

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MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT

Dear IUKF Members:

As I step into the role of President of the International Uechi-Ryu Karate Federation, I am honored and deeply grateful for the opportunity to serve this dedicated community. Uechi-Ryu is a living Okinawan tradition rooted in discipline and respect.

The IUKF is built on the strength of our instructors, students, and dojos. This newsletter marks a new effort to stay connected, share our progress, and celebrate our members’ achievements. Each quarter, we will highlight promotions, dojo news, events, training insights, and the stories that make our community strong. I ask that you openly share news from your dojos and contribute articles of interest to our members. I will reach out to you in advance of each quarter’s newsletter publication.

Thank you so much for your ongoing commitment to Uechi-Ryu and the IUKF. The Board of Directors and the operations team are dedicated to supporting you and your dojos. I’m excited about the journey ahead and look forward to growing and strengthening our organization together in the coming months!

Respectfully,

Justin Testa
President, International Uechi-Ryu Karate Federation

QUARTER 1 2026 HIGHLIGHTS We began the new year by restructuring the IUKF’s administration. Our new Board of Directors comprises experienced professionals committed to improving the IUKF. The Board consists of Mario Rizzo, Treasurer; Bruce Hirabayashi, Secretary; Patty Dando, Director; Rik Lostrito, Director; and Justin Testa, President.Supporting the ongoing operations of the IUKF are Lee Adams, Dan Promotions Administrator; Bruce Witherell, Titles Administrator; Al Wharton, Oversight Promotions Administrator; Dan Maestas, Dojo Administrator; and Cecilia Salbuchi, Web Administrator.George Mattson, IUKF Grandmaster and Advisor to the President.Henry Thom, Chairman Emeritus
Darin Yee and Tim Dando visited Okinawa this January. During their visit, Tim delivered a New Year’s greeting letter and a gift from the IUKF to the Uechi Family Soke, Uechi Sadanao.
Sensei George Mattson published a new book, Enduring Strength, this February.
WinterFest 2026 took place in Lake Mary, Florida, in early March. It was a wonderful two days of martial arts enjoyed by all. Thank you, George and Susan, for hosting this event once again.

DAN PROMOTIONS & TITLES

2025 Promotions and Titles

Brendon Campbell	Shodan	Jürgen Donhauser	Sandan
Karen Van Ness	Sandan/Shidoin	Volker Kösztner	Sandan
Bynne B. Harris, Jr.	Nidan	Anton Gareis	Sandan
David Berndt	Hachidan	Peter Kronschnabl	Sandan
Paul Andrew Swift	Nanadan	Thomas Müller	Yondan
Bynne B. Harris, Jr.	Nidan	John O’Doherty	Yondan
Trevor Goss-Packard	Nidan	Yulanda Francis	Yondan
Dean Packard	Nidan	William Alfred Spriggs	Godan
Megan Gower	Nidan	Alaia F.V. Wharton	Shodan
Andrea Giuntoli	Shidoin	Brian Briggs	Shodan
Megan Gower	Nidan	Jeff Jensen	Shodan
David James Higgins	Nidan	Timothy Skudder	Shodan
Michael Anson Bass	Sandan	Walter Cobessi	Nidan
David R. Robison	Shodan	Lionel Reynaud	Yondan
William R. Biddell	Shodan	Paula Sofía Villarroel	Shodan
Shawn Spalti	Shodan	Daniel Carlos Cardone	Shodan
Jean Gregory	Shodan	Ben Rogers	Nidan
Leo Blinn	Nanadan	Barney Harsent	Shodan
Nancy Beatriz Reynoso	Shidoin	Patricia Dando	Rokudan
Lukasz Bardzinski	Shodan	John Guarnieri	Yondan
Yohann Galy	Shodan	Neven Tomas	Nidan
Stacy Smith	Yondan	Aiya Swanson	Shodan
Griffin Arndt	Nidan	Brett Allen Allio	Shodan
Juan C. Nova	Sandan	Heather Lynn Allio	Nidan
Amelia Nova	Shodan	Kenneth Edward Ness	Shodan
Harley Kaiser	Sandan	Kenneth Phillps	Sandan
Macdonald Huechinson	Godan	Richard Aik	Shodan
Markus Keidler	Shodan	Jerome Charbonneau	Shodan
Raphael Neudert	Shodan	Mark Todd	Shodan
Manuela Beiel	Shodan	Michael McGee	Hachidan
Assad Gorab	Nidan

2026 Q1 Promotions and Titles

Lee Adams	Hanshi
Kristin Amirault	Nanadan
Jayel Cuaresma	Rokudan

DOJO NEWS

EVENTS

FEATURED ARTICLE

THE SIGNIFICANCE OF THE WAUKE
by Justin Testa

Many martial artists believe that learning more techniques makes them better prepared to defend themselves. This might include practicing different kata, forms, throws, wrist manipulations, submissions, and strategies for defending against weapons. However, it’s worth asking, “Am I truly better equipped to defend myself by mastering more and more techniques?” To explore this, let’s consider Hick’s Law.Hick’s Law is a valuable concept from psychology that explains how the number of choices we have can influence the time it takes us to make a decision. Hick’s Law states that as the number of options increases, the decision time grows with the number of choices. In karate, Hick’s Law can also help explain why practicing a few simple techniques thoroughly is often the most effective approach for self-defense.

When you’re physically attacked, your body doesn’t wait for you to think — it reacts automatically to survive. Your body triggers the fight, flight, or freeze response, with an adrenaline rush that boosts strength and speed but reduces fine motor control. The flinch reflex is a basic survival instinct that allows the body to respond quickly to potential threats. This reaction is part of the body’s “startle reflex,” which is controlled by the brainstem and occurs without conscious thought.
Among Uechi-Ryu’s arsenal of movements, one stands out as a cornerstone of the system’s strategy—the Hirate Mawashiuke, or wauke. In analyzing the movements of the eight kata of Uechi-ryu, the wauke is performed about three times more often than the next most frequent movement, the nukite. Why is this the case? There is an underlying message from the system’s creators about the importance of this movement for self-defense. The wauke serves as the foundation for limiting the number of choices (Hick’s Law) for practical self-defense. It is the wauke that acts as a bridge to the follow-up strikes. As you perform your kata and execute the many wauke–strike combinations, be mindful that the most critical movement in the series of movements is the wauke. Also, grasp the significance of the “flinch” action in self-defense and how the wauke equips you for this purpose.

CLOSING MESSAGE

As we close this first edition of the IUKF quarterly newsletter, I hope you enjoyed reading it. Our goal is for this newsletter to become a meaningful way for members of our federation to stay informed, inspired, and connected.
One of the great strengths of our organization is the global community we share. Although distance may separate our dojos geographically, communication helps keep us united. This newsletter can serve as a bridge—bringing our experiences, accomplishments, and knowledge together in one place so we can continue learning from one another.
We invite all members to contribute to future editions. Please consider sharing news from your dojo, student promotions, upcoming events, or other achievements within your community. We also welcome articles that explore training methods, history, philosophy, or personal insights that deepen our collective understanding of Uechi-Ryu karate.
I also welcome any feedback, questions, or suggestions you may have. Your input will help us continue improving this newsletter and ensure it remains valuable to everyone in our organization.
Thank you for being part of this journey.
Justin
jtesta028@gmail.com

WinterFest 2026: A Global Gathering of Uechi-Ryu Karate

Events

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March 17, 2026

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WinterFest 2026: A Global Gathering of Uechi-Ryu Karate

The 2026 WinterFest, hosted by George E. Mattson, once again brought together practitioners of Uechi-Ryu Karate from around the world for a weekend of training, friendship, and exchange of knowledge in Florida, USA.

Held annually since the early 1980s, WinterFest has become one of the most important international gatherings for practitioners of Uechi-Ryu. Founded by Mattson Sensei—often recognized as the pioneer who introduced Uechi-Ryu to the United States—the event reflects his lifelong commitment to sharing traditional Okinawan karate with the global martial arts community.

An International Community

WinterFest 2026 welcomed martial artists representing numerous countries and organizations. Participants included students and instructors from different Uechi-Ryu lineages as well as practitioners from related martial traditions. The atmosphere of the event emphasized unity and collaboration, with karateka gathering not only to train but also to strengthen friendships across borders.

Throughout the seminar, multiple training sessions and workshops were offered simultaneously, allowing participants to explore a wide range of subjects. These included kata practice, kumite drills and specialized training such as kobudo and traditional Chinese-influenced hand techniques that are part of the historical roots of Uechi-Ryu.

Learning the “Old Way”

A central theme of the event was the study of the principles often referred to as “The Old Way”—the traditional approach to Uechi-Ryu taught by masters such as Kanei Uechi and Ryuko Tomoyose. These principles emphasize natural body movement, efficient power generation, interception and control, and the seamless flow of technique throughout kata and applications.

Under the guidance of experienced instructors, participants had the opportunity to deepen their understanding of these concepts while refining their own practice.

A Special Presentation

One of the highlights of WinterFest 2026 was the participation of guest instructor Gustavo Gondra, who presented special training sessions during the weekend. His presence added another international dimension to the event and provided participants with the opportunity to experience additional perspectives within the Uechi-Ryu tradition.

Continuing a Tradition

More than just a seminar, WinterFest continues to embody the spirit of Uechi-Ryu karate: respect for tradition, openness to learning, and friendship within the martial arts community. Each year, students and instructors gather not only to train but also to celebrate the shared heritage of the style.

As WinterFest 2026 concluded, participants returned to their home dojos inspired by the experience—carrying forward the teachings, connections, and spirit of Uechi-Ryu that make this annual gathering so special.

George E. Mattson 2026 WinterFest Complete Event Schedule

Events

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February 25, 2026

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George E. Mattson 2026 WinterFest Complete Event Schedule

IUKF Organization Announcement Effective January 1, 2026

I.U.K.F.

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January 2, 2026

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IUKF Organization Announcement Effective January 1, 2026

The International Uechi-Ryu Karate Federation (IUKF) announces an important leadership transition within our organization.

After dedicated service as President, Darin Yee has stepped down from his role. Darin shared:

“Serving the IUKF has been a great honor. I have held this position since 2018, and I am grateful to all of you who have supported, assisted, and encouraged me. I am proud of what we have accomplished together and appreciative of the support and commitment shown by the membership throughout my tenure. My special thanks to Grandmaster George Mattson for his mentoring and advice over the years.

As I conclude my tenure as President of the IUKF, I am pleased to introduce our new President, Justin Testa. Justin is an accomplished martial artist who brings strong leadership, experience, and a deep commitment to the values and development of Uechi-Ryu karate. I am confident that under Justin’s guidance, the IUKF will continue to grow, strengthen its international community, and uphold the standards our members expect. Please join me in offering Justin your full support as he assumes this role. I wish him every success and look forward to seeing the IUKF continue to progress under new leadership”.

In accepting the role, Justin Testa shared:

“Join me in expressing our sincere gratitude to Darin for his time, commitment, and contributions to the IUKF. His leadership, guidance, and efforts have played a meaningful role in supporting the IUKF’s growth, and we thank him for his many years of service to our members and the broader Uechi-Ryu community.

I am honored to serve as President of the International Uechi-Ryu Karate Federation. I look forward to working with our dojos, members, and leadership to support the organization’s continued growth while honoring the traditions and values that define Uechi-Ryu Karate. Together, we will continue moving the IUKF forward in a positive and unified direction.”

The IUKF remains committed to its mission to promote Uechi-Ryu Karate, foster international cooperation, and support practitioners at all levels. We look forward to this next chapter and appreciate the continued support of our membership during this transition.

Happy New Year.