Sep 29

Message from the Chairman

Categories:

Articles of Interest, Chairman’s Corner

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henry-thom

INTERNATIONAL UECHI-RYU KARATE FEDERATION

A CALL TO JOIN IUKF ——–
By Henry Thom, 9-Dan, Hanshi

 

As a brief introduction, IUKF is a federation of Uechi-Ryu practitioners who share a common lineage to Grandmaster Kanei Uechi.  A member of the South China Martial Arts Alliance [SCMAA] and the Okinawa Family of Uechi Organizations, the IUKF was founded in mid-1980 by George Mattson, Hanshi 10th Dan.  Sensei Mattson studied directly under Grandmaster Kanei Uechi and Master Ryuko Tomoyose and is acknowledged as one of the senior world leaders of Uechi-Ryu by various Okinawa Karate Systems and teachers.   In addition to George Mattson, IUKF senior leadership includes Van Canna and Arthur Rabesa, both 10th Dan, Darin Yee, 8th Dan / Vice President of IUKF, and Henry Thom, 9th Dan / Chairman of IUKF.

Individual Uechi-ryu practitioners and dojos, regardless of current affiliations, are welcome to join IUKF as Individual or Dojo Members.

IUKF believes that when a large group of Uechi-Ryu dojos work together in a synergistic fashion, it makes individual dojos stronger.

IUKF dojos are run by the dojo owners, not by IUKF.  The IUKF, by design, is there to support and help members grow their dojos and maximize their potential, rather than to restrict them with arbitrary rules and regulations.   As such, IUKF membership is not exclusive.  Rather, we encourage member Dojos to maintain existing links with other associations and teachers, with IUKF providing another source of knowledge, activities, friendship and extended senior access. IUKF dojo owners are charged with maintaining IUKF standards within their dojos, and have a single mission:  to nurture and grow within their own students the knowledge and confidence given to them by their teachers.  IUKF will help individual dojos become builders of strong and successful individuals.

IUKF is an internationally recognized source of promotion and certification for Uechi-Ryu Dan (black belt) rank.  IUKF is a strong believer in maintaining what Grandmaster UECHI Kanei termed the “Sacred Space” between students and their sensei. IUKF has determined that ultimately, the teacher should remain the final authority regarding when students are promoted. However, IUKF also recommends that the member Senseis take advantage of IUKF’s senior teachers and recommended procedures relating to promotions, as detailed in the (for members only) Black Belt Test Guide (BBTG). The BBTG provides valuable information on the study and practice of Uechi-Ryu and the testing and ranking requirements. The IUKF leadership will always be available to assist dojo owners and students upon request.  IUKF also conducts semi-annual events including regional black belt tests for those who would prefer to have their students test in front of a large board of very senior Uechi-ryu teachers rather than handle the details of testing on their own.  Automatic recording of ranks and title in the International Rank and Titles Registry website is a benefit of membership in the IUKF.

There are several additional benefits of IUKF membership.

SEMINARS: Many higher ranking IUKF black belts perform seminars in various locations around the world. For dojos which would like to invite Senior IUKF Teachers to lead formal seminars, daily rates for IUKF Seniors are standardized, so dojo owners can budget and plan easily. The Uechi-Ryu.com website keeps our members in touch with each other and with developments in Uechi-Ryu.

FORUMS:  The IUKF Forums allow for a lively exchange of ideas.

FORUMS:  The IUKF Forums allow for a lively exchange of ideas.

VIDEO:  The IUKF video section is rich in content.  IUKF provides administrative and training webinars on dealing with social media and advertising tutorials, and provides programs relating to “Bullying” and other problems affecting both children and adults.  IUKF also provides helpful tutorials and live webinars on all areas of running a successful dojo.

MONTHLY NEWSLETTER:   Sensei Mattson also distributes his monthly Newsletter with special training tips to members.

If you have questions regarding IUKF, concerning membership, etc, please contact Henry Thom at henrythom(at)hotmail.com.   Sensei George Mattson is available at gmattson(at)uechi-ryu.com.

You may also contact country-specific IUKF leadership as noted below.  Important:  All member countries are independent entities.

IUKF-USA: Please contact Brett Maine: bmainelmt(at)gmail.com

IUKF-Canada: Please contact David Mott: david(at)davidmottmusic.com

IUKF-UK: Please contact Lee Adams:  lee.adams(at)pfizer.com and Al Wharton: alwharton8(at)gmail.com

IUKF-Germany: Please contact Bruce Hirabayashi: bruce.hirabayashi(at)gmail.com and/or Paul Kronschnabl: paul.kronschanbl(at)web.de

IUKF-Cuba: Please contact Noslem Torres M.: mtmiranda(at)infomed.sld.cu

 

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Archives:

2015 Greetings,

IUKF-USA is entering another very successful year of operation. For the new visitors to this site, please allow me first present a very brief history of Uechi Ryu in the U.S. before proceeding further. In 1958 Grand Master Kanei Uechi (RIP) asked Sensei George Mattson, a soldier in Okinawa, to bring the art to the U.S. and prompted him to open the first Uechi Ryu dojo in the U.S. and expand the art in the country. A lot has occurred since then. Master George Mattson started his teaching in a humble little corner of a Boston YMCA some 58 years ago to subsequently opening up his huge and very successful Mattson Academy in Boston. He has trained literally more than a thousand students and hundreds of black belts. Many of his black belt students have since scattered worldwide and some have branched off and built their own Uechi Ryu organizations. Two of Master Mattson’s original students, Sensei Van Canna and Sensei Art Rabesa, are now 10-Dan in IUKF. I am also one of Master Mattson’s original student from 50 years ago.

For IUKF-USA to continue to grow, we must have members who pay dues in order to support the various IUKF activities. There are a lot of activities.

“What is the IUKF doing for me”, may be the question in your mind.

Well, the more we do for the IUKF, the more it will be able to offer its members. Currently, the IUKF is a promoting and certifying source for Uechi-Ryu black belt rankings. The members only Black Belt Test Guide provides valuable information on the study and practice of Uechi Ryu and the testing and ranking requirements. Many higher ranking black belts perform seminars in various locations.

The Uechi-Ryu.com website operates on behalf of Uechi Ryu and the IUKF. This site alone keeps our members in touch with each other and with developments in Uechi Ryu. Its Forums allow for lively exchange of ideas. The video section is rich in content, and will be available exclusively for members. Master Mattson also distribute his monthly Newsletter with special training tips to members. The Eastern Arts store in Uechi-Ryu.com has DVDs, books, Uechi insignia clothes, gym bags and jewelry, all discounted to IUKF members.

If you are a new or relatively new student, please join up and support IUKF. To those who have been around for a while and benefiting from IUKF one way or another but are not paying members, please start considering how to give back to IUKF in a meaningful manner, which means pay your membership due.

The members of the IUKF Advisory Board and its various committees are individuals who volunteer considerable amounts of their time with no cost to IUKF. Every bit of membership dues received by the IUKF goes to communications and projects on behalf of the members.

If you are a dojo owner and prefer joining as a dojo, please contact IUKF Chairman of the Board of Advisors, Henry Thom at henrythom@hotmail.com.
The general membership fee is $50 for adults ($30 for juniors), about a tank of gas. For general membership please contact IUKF’s Membership Administrator, Brett Maine, at Brett Maine (membership.iukf@gmail.com)

Hope to see all of you at the next Summer and Winter Fest. Please check the website for details.        

The following was written by Dr. Paul Haydu in 2006:

What is an IUKF member?

The IUKF is a young organization and the Board of Directors was discussing the question of what makes an IUKF member.  Other Martial Arts organizations require membership dues in order to join.  If you’re an engineer, lawyer or doctor, you pay annual dues to belong to professional organizations.  The year you omit your dues, is the year you cease to be a member.

It was mentioned that some people think that because they’ve been affiliated with IUKF activities, that they’re a member.  Some feel that because they are seniors, they ought to be considered a member.  Others who volunteer time and effort on behalf of the organization believe that this equates to being a member.  What they all miss is that in order for an organization such as the IUKF to grow and prosper, it needs funding.  For it to create projects and items of value to its members, it needs funding, and that comes from all of our dues!

Every bit of those dues received by the IUKF goes to communications and projects on behalf of the members.

To give you an example, the members of the Board of Directors are individuals who volunteer considerable amounts of their time.  Still, each one of them is a paying member.  Darin Yee, who is an advanced teacher, has forty years of Martial Arts experience and gives classes and seminars on behalf of the IUKF, has paid extra, to become a lifetime member.  The members of the Board understand that the more senior one is the more one should understand that our organization needs the support of each one of us, to survive and prosper.  So a dues-paying person, is a member of the IUKF.

“What is the IUKF doing for me”, may be the reply to a request for dues.  Well, the more we do for the IUKF, the more it will be able to offer its members.  Currently, the IUKF is a promoting and certifying source for Uechi-Ryu Dan rankings.  The Eastern Arts website operates on behalf of Uechi Ryu and the IUKF.  This site alone keeps our style’s members in touch with each other and with developments in our style.  Its Forums allow for lively exchange of ideas.  The video section is rich in content, and will be available exclusively for members.

The Eastern Arts store has DVDs, Uechi insignia clothes, gym bags and jewelry, all discounted to IUKF members.   And the Summer Fest tuition cost is discounted each year sufficiently for IUKF members to off-set for the cost of dues each year!

As the IUKF grows, it will become the kind of organization that will have the power to offer the wide array of products and services that you would like. 

As a young outfit, it needs your help.

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Mar 29

A Message from Germany

Categories:

Articles of Interest, I.U.K.F., IUKF Member Section, IUKF Website, Newsflash, NewsLetters, Seminars

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Darin Yee, IUKF President, recently did a seminar in Germany! Here is a message from Paul of … in German and English!

IUKF German Dojo

German Version

“Vom 6. Bis 8. Juli hatten wir ein Seminar Uechi-Ryu Seminar mit Darin Yee, 9. Dan und Präsident von IUKF in Deutschland (Regensburg und Pettendorf).

Es war ein hervorragendes Seminar. Sensei Darin Yee arbeitete mit uns an der weichen Seite von Uechi-Ryu und daran maximale Kraft in der Technik zu generieren. Dazu gingen wir durch die 8 Katas und übten an verschiedenen Schwerpunkten. Teilnehmer aus weiteren Dojos in Deutschland waren auch zu Gast. Meinen Schülern und auch den Teilnehmern aus den anderen Dojos hat das Seminar sehr gut gefallen.

Vielen Dank nochmal, Sensei.”

  • Darin visiting Germany
  • Darin teaching an elbow strike

English Version

From the 6th to the 8th of July we had a Uechi-Ryu seminar with Darin Yee, 9th Dan and president of IUKF in Germany (Regensburg and Pettendorf).

It was an excellent seminar. Sensei Darin Yee worked with us on the soft side of Uechi-Ryu and how to create maximum power in the technics. We went through the 8 Katas and practiced at various focal points. Participants from other dojos in Germany were also guests. My students and also the participants from the other dojos really enjoyed the seminar.

Thank you again, Sensei.”

Uechi Seminar in Germany

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Mar 24

A Letter of Thanks from Whidbey Island

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Articles of Interest, I.U.K.F., IUKF Member Section, Newsflash, NewsLetters, Seminars

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We wanted to share with you this message of thanks from Whidbey Island, where Darin Yee oversaw the black belt testing and taught a fantastic seminar.

“Hi Mr. Yee,
We met while you were visiting in Washington during the Black Belt Test at the winery. We just wanted to thank you so very much for teaching my wife and I, before the test and before the seminar. We deeply regretted not being able to stay for the seminar, but we are both very grateful for the wisdom you shared with us while we were there. It gave both of us a new way to look at the thing we do and opened a door to a better way of thinking about the things we do. We just wanted you to know how much we appreciated the time you took and the knowledge you shared.

THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH,
Rob and Michelle Durr”

Tiger Martial Arts, Whidbey Island

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Mar 23

A Message from Darin Yee, IUKF President

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Articles of Interest, I.U.K.F., IUKF Member Section, IUKF Website, Newsflash, NewsLetters

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Dear Brothers and Sisters,

I sincerely hope you are well and practicing good sanitation habits suggested by our educated, seasoned health professionals. At times like this, we need temporarily set aside all the things we want to do and follow the protocol of what we should do.

As an extrovert, I find it very difficult to sit patiently at home and watch all the bad news on television. I’ve already informed my friends who come to work out with me to hold off and stay safely at home until this virus is eradicated.

I’ve continued to stay active by performing all 8 Uechi-Ryu katas followed by tiger/crane, Choy-Li-Fut, and every kung-fu form I remember. I’ve even brought home from my dojo some of the Chinese Weaponry and found enough room to go half-speed carefully.

In consideration, I’ve emailed my students and suggested we can meet online to train together. We have done it 2 times already and are learning what we can do and how we can do it. The IUKF has a GoTo Meeting program where we can entertain a total of 151 participants.

I understand some of us have very diverse processes of training, but the bottom line is, we are all family, and I encourage all to advance and grow in our path. Without sounding political, my philosophy has always been the fact that we all need to be supportive and not regulatory. Since my appointment as president of the IUKF, I’ve been a bit more liberal than some would like, but I believe no one knows what we want better than each individual, and I, for one, respect our individual beliefs.

If anyone would like to join our online workouts, please let me know, and I will include you in my notifications of time and what we will be working on in that particular workout. Please email me at darinyee@hotmail.com.

I understand these workouts would not be as vigorous as when I am standing next to you, pushing you to go 110%. The bottom line is you will get out of these workouts that you put in.

Anyways, please stay healthy and well. When this is over, I look forward to seeing everyone again. I may set up another regional workout so we can be gathered together as good families should do periodically.

Please stay vigilant, practice good sanitation habits, and I look forward to seeing you again soon.

Darin Yee

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Mar 23

Sensei Cecilia Salbuchi Visits Brazil

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Articles of Interest, I.U.K.F., IUKF Member Section, IUKF Website, Newsflash, NewsLetters, Seminars

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(Please note that this message was translated and may not be 100% accurate!)

On Friday, March 13, Sensei Cecilia Salbuchi traveled to Brazil to represent Uechi Ryu IUKF on the occasion of the seminar that Sensei George E. Mattson (10th Dan) and Darin Yee (9th Dan) were going to offer that weekend. Abruptly the event had to change its organization due to the expansion of the coronavirus in America. That same week, with very little notice, the senseis from the United States had to suspend their trips on medical advice first and because the airlines began to suspend their flights.

Because Argentina and Brazil continued with their open borders within South America, the event could be held with only the delegations of Brasilia, Rio de Janeiro, Minas Gerais, and Buenos Aires. Attentive to the provisions of the government of that country, no training was carried out in closed dojos, only in open spaces (courts and public parks) and the recommended hygiene measures were adopted.

Sensei Salbuchi shared exercises and concepts that were demonstrated in the previous WinterFest in the USA where she had traveled on several occasions, in order to be faithful as possible to the style that characterizes IUKF. In the general seminar on Sunday the importance of practicing Sanchin was discussed to strengthen the body correctly, without doing harm and at all times helping the practitioner to overcome their own limits. They carried out practical exercises of pressure on the practitioner who executes Sanchin, with the focus placed on achieving a strong skeletal-muscular structure and the rooting-based balance that characterizes this kata.

IUKF Poster

Then we worked on different levels of bunkai of the Kata Kanshiwa, stressing the importance of the black belt always having a different training from the colored belts, so we exercised a level of analysis in the way we call bunkai Ura or Tori Te. At the end of the seminar, some varied endings of Yakusoku Kyu Kumite were seen and various ideas were discussed around it.

Representatives of dojos from different locations within Brazil were present at this seminar, as well as Sensei José Vieira, President of the Federação De Karatê Dos Estilos Okinawanos – FKEO, who was very satisfied with the holding of the event despite the vicissitudes of public knowledge.

The rest of the classes that were held were attended by the brand new IUKF representatives in Brazil: Senseis Luiz Monteiro, André Tavares, Paulo Monteiro, and Wesley Almeida. We had the opportunity to review concepts, train all the katas of the style and enrich each other by sharing Danish training methods. Each of these teachers has knowledge that makes them unique and valuable, and that they shared with humility and generosity with their Argentine counterpart.

We also have videos that Sensei George Mattson sent us sharing some of the material they offered at the Winterfest held a week before this event, as well as videos sent by Sensei Darin Yee about their notions of the soft side of our style.

From Argentina, as representatives of IUKF and also of FAKKO, we appreciate the hospitality and warmth with which the representatives of IUKF Brazil and FKEO received us.

Dome arigato!

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Mar 14

Clarification of IUKF Rank and Title Promotions

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Articles of Interest, I.U.K.F., IUKF Member Section, Newsflash, NewsLetters, Titles Projects

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IUKF Dan Promotions: Ian Quitilen Chairman

Candidate must be a member of an “IUKF dojo in good standing”

Candidate must be recommended by dojo Shihan

Dojo Shihan must apply online and pay the $100 non-refundable application fee.

Please provide

  •             NAME as it should be on the certificate.
  •             RANK being promoted to
  •             IUKF REGISTRY NUMBER (if you do not have one, one will be assigned)
  •             DATE of the test

Applying 60 days prior to the test is recommended.

The test will be a dojo test according to the Shihan’s discretion. May follow suggestions within the BBTG.

Certificates will be mailed to the dojo and will be awarded by the Shihan if the candidate passes.  Should be torn if not.

Upon request, the presence of an IUKF master rank could be arranged.   

All awards will be presented at the end of the testing or at an IUKF sponsored event        

IUKF Master Rank Promotions: Ian Quitilen Chairman

Candidate must be a member of an “IUKF dojo in good standing”

Candidate should be recommended by an IUKF uplink.

Must apply online and pay the $100 non-refundable application fee.

Please provide:

  •             NAME as it should be on the certificate.
  •             RANK being promoted to
  •             IUKF REGISTRY NUMBER (if you do not have one, one will be assigned)
  •             DATE of the test will be listed when we receive all passing votes.

Providing a resume of the candidate would help to verify the time in grade and total time in training.

Must provide a recording of all 8 katas to be judged by 3 anonymous master rank.  The judges will only provide negative comments (if any) and submit a yes or no vote.

One “NO” vote will constitute a need to retest no sooner than 6 months.  All comments will be provided upon request.  The second attempt will be sent to another 3 master ranks.

All awards will be presented at an IUKF sponsored event

Oversight Promotion Committee: Al Wharton Chairman

Candidate must be a member of an “IUKF dojo in good standing”

Candidate should be recommended by an IUKF uplink.

Must apply online and pay the $100 non-refundable application fee.

Please provide:

  •             NAME as it should be on the certificate.
  •             RANK being promoted to
  •             IUKF REGISTRY NUMBER (if you do not have one, one will be assigned)
  •         DATE of the test will be listed when we receive all passing votes.

This committee was created for any and all IUKF members who feels they have missed promotions due to substantiated, uncontrollable situations.  An example is the Shihan for some reason is no longer present at this dojo but the dojo remained in existence and this candidate continued training.  Another example would be moving away from your home dojo and opening your own dojo to continue working out and teach.  Simply stating you continued to work out is not enough verification of you continuing to work out.

Injuries are not acceptable.  If you are injured, you certainly have not been working out.

To say you’ve continued to work out on your own is not acceptable.  There is no substantiation of your claims.

Each claim is different and must go through the oversight committee.  

Must present all copies of past promotions.

Please be informed this committee gathers and verifies all the information submitted.  Decisions to allow testing will be determined by our senior board members and candidate must still pass required testing.

IUKF Title: Bruce Witheral Chairman

Candidate must be a member of an “IUKF dojo in good standing”

Candidate must apply online by an uplink and pay the non-refundable application fee.

Please provide:

  •             NAME as it should be on certificate.
  •             TITLE to be awarded
  •             IUKF REGISTRY NUMBER

Note: Uplink must submit a recommendation letter.

Uplink’s recommendation letter must be accompanied by 3 more verifying letters from people who actually know this candidate. 

Please understand a rank does not automatically include a title.  Unlike most organizations, the IUKF realizes a rank is what you’ve work and train to achieve. 

A title is awarded by an organization to a person for the goodwill and advancement he/she has unselfishly contributed to the IUKF and our Uechi-Ryu community.

Please be informed this committee gathers and verifies all the information submitted.  Decisions to award a title will be determined by our entire senior board members.

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