A Sandan of Uechi-Ryu, Chelsey Schultz, attended Winterfest 2020 and shared her experiences on her blog. If you would like to read about her experience, click HERE!
IUKF President, Darin Yee, Addresses Bogus Ranks
I have been inundated with a lot of scuttlebutt regarding “bogus” promotions, lack of “Bushido,” and despicable, shameless people claiming superior rank in our system, lowering the standards of Uechi-Ryu throughout the world.
To my friends and associates, I would like to illuminate my thoughts not only as Darin Yee, a humble student of the martial arts but also as the President of the IUKF because this is our philosophy, commitment, and strength.
Please be affirmed these promotions which you’ve so adamantly and furiously objected to is not anything that the IUKF (International Uechi-Ryu Karate Federation) has had any part. Please look very carefully at the organizational name. Imitators and “want-a-be” are still not the IUKF.
Although we ask all our members to follow the Sensei Mattson’s Black Belt test guide for dan promotions, I am demanding much more for our master ranks as we wear our belts with knowledge, honor, and pride, not merely on a handshake or a phone call. People who deceive others to bolster their egos are shameless underachievers. Those who deceive themselves are usually psychotic maniacs with an inferior complex posing misinformation and danger to the rest of our community.
I’ve told Sensei Mattson when I sat down on the big seat that my goal is to build the IUKF, maintain, and elevate the respectability of our black belts. These formative years have been a little challenging because of my discovery of unknowns and deals which do not conform with our new direction. I’ve committed to cutting out all cancer, pulling off the leaches, and chasing out all the infectious rodents. It’s a tough road, but we are making progress.
Time in Grade and Master Rank:
(Please realize the following is purely philosophical)
I posed this question back in the late 80s. As a master rank regardless of the number, how much more can I learn if I am already a master, how much higher should I go as a master? If I am truly a master, how much more can I learn?
The answer came back “there is always something to learn. No one knows everything.” If I have not learned everything, how could I consider myself a master?
As I never profess to be a genius, it took me a year or so of personal, self-discussion, and deep thoughts to compose this philosophy. The answer was right in front of my nose as I often consult with Sensei Mattson’s Black Belt Test Guide. “TIME in GRADE” is the answer. We don’t learn more as time goes by, we just become better in what we do. When we continue to train, our body becomes more adapted to our movements, and movements become embedded in our muscle memory. Movement becomes more fluent and natural, which will result in the most power we can muster at our old age and declining physical ability.
“Time in Grade” doesn’t teach you more about the system. “Time in Grade” teaches you more about yourself. You need this time in grade to train your body and to mature in the movements as a master.
Those who continue to gain master rank without working out are deceiving you and, worst of all, deceiving themselves.
Those who skip years and getting their ranks through questionable organizations are depriving themselves of proper time on grade training. Are they true masters? You can answer that yourself. Wearing a store-bought belt doesn’t reflect who you really are. Your rank is only as respectable as your organization.
We are the IUKF, and we have no say regarding the promotions of others. We as proud members of the IUKF can hold our heads high among the rest of the world as we know we’ve worked hard for our ranks, and we take a back seat to no one.
~Darin Yee
A Message from Germany
Darin Yee, IUKF President, recently did a seminar in Germany! Here is a message from Paul of … in German and English!
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.”
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.”
A Letter of Thanks from Whidbey Island
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”
A Message from Darin Yee, IUKF President
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