Dear IUKF Practitioners,

I want to state that everyone has a “letter of the law” to follow. However, honorable people live by the “spirit of the law.” I understand some of the writings can be ambiguous, allowing those who’ll manipulate the system to find alternative translations. 

Trying not to be too ostentatious, the IUKF will not accept anything less than “the spirit” in connection with Sensei Mattson’s writings.  

I am defining the meaning of several phrases found in Sensei Mattson’s Black Belt Test Guild. Please be informed the IUKF will consider all factors in regards to our master rank promotions.

Found in the RANK REQUIREMENT SUMMARY CHART

Years in Grade:

This phrase does not mean simple chronological passing years. The spirit of this term means years of honest, continuous, consistent, dedicated workouts.

We advance in grade due to the maturity and continuous improvement of our art through training on the dojo floor.    

The IUKF is now informing everyone, the phrase “years in grade” will be defined as “years in grade training.” All training must be verified by the “home dojo” and applications for advancements must be received from the Shihan of your dojo. If you do not have a home dojo, please contact me, and I will help offer you suggestions.

Minimum Years and Average Years:

Sensei Mattson’s suggested time in training is for Senseis to follow. This does not mean you can quit training and show up with the recommended time looking for a promotion. That is the primary reason the IUKF no longer accepts applications from ronans. All applications must come from an IUKF dojo in good standing.

The IUKF also suggests dojos and Shihans understand and consider why Sensei George Mattson published the “minimum time and average time.”  

Students who come to class 3 to 5 times a week exhibit an exceptional desire to learn and excel in the art. For example, this student will accumulate over 150 workouts in 1 year or 750 workouts in the 5-year minimum time frame. 

Students attending classes 2 times a week would be considered “average.” Calculating 50 weeks in a lunar year, 2 workouts a week would equate to 100 workouts credited to each year. If we multiply these 100 workouts a year, times 5 years, we would only total 500 workouts. Hardly seem fair or acceptable in comparison to 750 from exceptional students, does it?

The IUKF’s position on these minimum and average years will include suggested workouts. All relevant years must consist of 100 adequate workouts each year. For example, an average student at 2 times a week will accumulate 100 workout hours in 1 workout year. Therefore, the sensei should recommend this student for advancement with not only the suggested years but verify the workout hours.    

Please note the IUKF will maintain respect for our honored ranking system and request all dojos to follow these guidelines as published in Sensei Mattson’s Black Belt Test Guild. Ranking should not be a self-serving right but an honor bestowed to you by your peers to recognize your effort and accomplishments.    

Also, note there are financial advantages in honoring the IUKF guild lines along with presenting a more mature student. 

Thank you for your understanding and respect for your art.

Darin Yee

President-IUKF 

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