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Thank You from IUKF President on New Rank!

Chelsey Schultz
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Thank You from IUKF President on New Rank!

I have been receiving many congratulatory messages and well wishes from friends and associates worldwide, and I am thankful and humbled by their comments and acceptance. I realized long ago, you are only who others believe you to be. As we all know, there are always people who will preach their messages of discontent and hate for whatever reason. I am so happy that the hundreds heavily outweigh the few.

There are many Uechi-Ryu organizations I could have turned to for advancement. I am so proud to have been honored by the IUKF, being acknowledged and promoted by Sensei George Mattson, the pioneer of Uechi-Ryu in the Americas, north and south. I am not implying that Sensei Mattson is the only person in this country to have studied and trained in Okinawa, but Sensei Mattson was the very first to bring Uechi-Ryu to light, starting in the northeastern region of the United States of America. Evident in the congregation of Uechi-Ryu dojos in the New England States and Canada.

As I realize this promotion demonstrates the pinnacle of our ranking system, this does not mean there is nothing else to learn. Martial arts are so vast, and Uechi-Ryu is so complicated and diverse that there is enough room for advancement and improvements for two lifetimes. I promise I will continue to train, study and learn from all sources until I am unable.
Martial Arts have been my passion since I was 7 years old. Throughout these many years, I have accumulated much knowledge. Some useful and some not so much.

However, as the president of the IUKF, I have committed to sharing all the information I have gathered. As senseis, we must realize that should be our desire. To be more direct, that should be our objective.
I do not use the word “teach,” as this might indicate that my path is imminent. I will always say that I am “sharing,” which gives everyone the option to receive or politely pass.

This promotion does not place me above anyone. Anyone who feels their rank means superiority in any shape or form has been walking the wrong path. We are all brothers and sisters heading in the same direction. Due to the extra time I’ve started my journey puts me a few steps ahead. Nothing more and nothing less.

I look forward to the day when those whom I walk in front will be leading me with strength, honor, and respect.

Darin Yee
President-IUKF
Judan-Hanshi

Honoring Marjorie Swift

Chelsey Schultz
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Honoring Marjorie Swift

On 2/22/22, Marjorie Swift, a very special martial artist, passed away. She fought a very courageous, impossible battle against cancer these past years. I’ve known many who fought this battle, but none showed as much love and dedication to her art. Regardless of the difficulties she faced and the hardships she endured, she has proven to be a true warrior by donning her gi and being counted in our workouts every opportunity she had.

Marjorie began her journey with Uechi-Ryu in May of 1986. She studied under the tutelage of Charles Earle and earned the rank of Shodan in 1991 through NAUKA. Marjorie obtained a master of Uechi-Ryu status on 8/3/2013, was certified by a very objective IUKF board and continued to advance.

She served on the IUKF Titles Committee and underwent her tasks with conviction and certainty. Marjorie was a loyal, no-nonsense contributor in anything she lent herself to. She was exemplary for all due to her love for family and friends, her seriousness and dedication to the IUKF and its training, her straightforwardness to the facts, and the support she showed to her friends who surrounded her.

I will always remember Marjorie Swift for the time, effort, and work she’d contributed to the IUKF. We will always have a special place in our hearts for people with her dedication, honesty, compassion, and loyalty.

Darin Yee

Member Questions, Answered by IUKF President

Chelsey Schultz
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Member Questions, Answered by IUKF President

I was asked these questions by a member of the IUKF from overseas, and I wanted to share my answers with the rest of the IUKF community.

1) Is Uechi Ryu about breaking boards?

The quick and easy answer to this question is NO. Breaking boards is not what karate is about. Breaking boards just demonstrates personal qualities one was gifted at birth. Not everyone was fortunate enough to have the size, strength, or speed to be the greatest fighter.

Karate was and always will be the science of fighting and teaching every student to use movements to be the best they can be. We should all realize that every martial arts student is different, and not everyone can do what someone else does. We should all train and study to understand what’s best for ourselves and not try to be exactly like someone else.

The greatest fighter does not mean the greatest martial artist. I grew up in a neighborhood where tremendous fighters never took one martial arts lesson. Train honestly and diligently, and you will gain the respect of everyone.

2) How do I achieve control in the vicious attacks of Sanchin? How many students train in an aggressive way?

We are a product of our beliefs and training. If you are asking about the Sanchin kata, I agree Sanchin is an aggressive kata. I’ve always been taught that defense is usually a move backward. In my opinion, Sanchin is a continuous forward kata which demonstrates our intention to be aggressive.

Although most people just perform their katas with strong, powerful movements, my firm conviction is that everyone should train like the Dragon with slow, decisive, exact actions seeking perfection in balance and stability. Second, train like the Crane and flow with smooth, connecting movements while the body adjusts to the timing and feeling the natural body movements to create the most powerful strikes and intercepting blocks. The power of the Tiger can be achieved in so many different ways.

As for how many students train in that fashion? I try not to judge others for what they do. I have always trained to improve myself and freely offer my acquired experiences to anyone wanting what I have to offer. Everyone should train in whatever way they feel would make them the most productive martial artist they can be.

3) Does the kata end with each one in the corner of the Dojo?

While I’m not sure of the intent of the question, I hope the following will suffice.

As performed by contemporary practitioners, Uechi-Ryu Kata will begin at one spot and end up wherever they end up. However, I trained in the old Chinese belief where I would start on one spot and end my kata in the same spot. Much Chinese nuances and philosophy have been lost since Pong Gai Noon was brought to Okinawa.

The sad truth is most people study believing they will become a great fighter. That may be true. Training will give most people more confidence, and that alone will increase your fighting abilities.

Always remember, you are who you are. You will hopefully become the best that you can be. Please do not compare yourself with others. No matter how good of a fighter you may believe you’ve become, sooner or later, there will always be someone younger, stronger, and faster.

Always be proud of your training and accomplishments. You can always share and pass on your knowledge, but no one can transfer their abilities. Being a good fighter does not automatically make you a great teacher.

4) Should you fight like you fight in Kyokushin, letting the blows in? Or are you looking for a knockout?

I’ve met a lot of students who believe Uechi-Ryu is a one-strike one-kill system. I cannot speak for others, but I’ve trained continuously for over 60 years, and I honestly cannot expect that outcome with most of my Uechi-Ryu strikes. We train to understand our personal abilities and limitations.

I trained to use my Uechi-Ryu movements to deflect an attack while injecting a counterattack simultaneously.

Please understand the most important thing in a fight is not how much you can hurt your opponent. The most important thing about getting into a fight is not getting hurt yourself.

I hope I’ve been of some help to you.
Darin Yee

Sechin Bunkai Variations

Chelsey Schultz
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Sechin Bunkai Variations

Cecilia Salbuchi, one of our IUKF members from Argentina, has shared with us this incredible video on various applications of Sechin in Bunkai! Please take a look when you have a moment; it is worth the watch!

Plus, feel free to follow Ms. Salbuchi on Facebook and YouTube; she posts something almost every day.

Pan Gai Noon Family

George Mattson
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Pan Gai Noon Family

To My Uechi-Ryu Family,

This includes everyone from every Uechi organization and from Ju-Kyu to Ju-dan.  During this time of love, understanding and grace I want everyone to know that regardless of any possible differences, those of us who truly believe they are students of Uechi-Ryu/Pong Gai Noon have a lot more in common than anything that separates us.

As I have mentioned in several articles I’ve posted throughout the years, we are all connected in the tree of Uechi-Ryu.  We are firmly rooted in our origins of Pong Gai Noon.  We are sturdy and steadfast in our training and committed to our purpose.  

As in all trees, the branches have their own separate paths and reach towards the sun in different directions. We all grow with time and mature in different ways. Some may develop thicker and some may reach further.  Most of us will develop leaves.  Some may flourish while others will only support a few.  Hopefully our individual branches will grow and mature into their own direction and grow their own branches and carry their own leaves.

Please know that we are all family.  We need not agree with everything or anything regarding how we train.  Respect, understanding and kindness is the key to a successful, healthy future for Uechi-Ryu.  Let’s make this our motto for 2022.  What we must understand is we are very much like that tree.  We may be growing in different directions yet we are all connected.

Blessings to all and wishing you and yours a very healthy and prosperous new year.

Darin Yee

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