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2020 Honolulu Regional Workout

Sharing the Love of Karate in the Spirit of Aloha – Honolulu Uechi-Ryu Gasshuku: Traditional Intensive Training

An open invitation to all friends of The Honolulu Uechi-Ryu Karate-do Club! Join us January 11th & 12th, 2020 for a two-day informal training session at Magic Island in Honolulu, Hawaii! 

This weekend event is specialized training in the Japanese Budo tradition of the Gasshuku. Unlike traditional workshops where new material is taught, Gasshuku (translating to “lodging together”) immerses keen students in a lifestyle of coming together for a few hours a day.

Much of Gasshuku is conducted outdoors, providing a wide range of diversity in training methods and activities. Nature plays a large part in this training and using the environment to create unique and fascinating challenges. 

What distinguishes the tradition of Budo practice is the practice of cohabitating with fellow students, socializing during meals, and bonding together from the experience. Gasshuku is not merely another day of training, but a change in lifestyle that will be an essential aspect for their lifelong commitment to the way of Budo.

Please consider joining us on January 11th and 12th, 2020 at magic Island in Honolulu Hawaii for the first annual Honolulu Uechi-Ryu Gasshuku.

For more information on who will be presenting, please check out our website for up-to-date information!

To access the special rates, guests should book by either of the following:

  1. Online at www.alamoanahotelhonolulu.com, using Promo Code: HNL20 or
  2. By phone, call the reservations department.  If calling reservations, guests are advised to mention Promo Code (HNL20)

Ala Moana Hotel reservations can be reached at:

1-800-367-6025 from the U.S. Mainland; 1-800-446-8990 from the neighbor islands; and 955-4811 from Oahu

(The promo code will expire the day before the latest checkout date.)

2020 European Regional Seminar

European 2020 Seminar

Set in the grounds of the Discovery Science Park Building 509, situated close to the historic towns of Sandwich, Canterbury and Dover, the European regional Uechi-Ryu workout 2020 promises to be a must attend Seminar for the serious Uechi practitioner.

Uechi Brethren from all associations have been invited so we can share and engage with the wider community and enjoy 2 days of training from September 19th – September 20th, 2020.

We have confirmed presenters from USA/UK/Germany including:

  • George Mattson – 10th Dan Father of Uechi Ryu in America
  • Darin Yee – 9th Dan IUKF President
  • Al Wharton – 9th Dan IUKF Bermuda
  • Jim Hulse – 8th Dan IUKF GB
  • Lee Adams – 7th Dan IUKF GB
  • Paul Kronschabl – 6th Dan IUKF Germany
  • David Harris – 6th Dan Uechi Ryu GB
  • Scott Hulse – 6th Dan IUKF GB
  • Thomas Podzelny – 5th Dan Okinawa Uechi Ryu Karate do Assc.

On Saturday evening, there will be a 3-course meal (separate charge), bar, and music so we can relax and have time to chat.

Junior Seminar (under 14) is on Sunday, September 20th from 9am – 12 Noon FOC
*Please pre-register via email – shogun@talktalk.net

Costs:

Early Bird Special:

Seminar cost £80/$100/€89 for the weekend
PayPal link – paypal.me/Shogunmartialarts – please put ‘Seminar’ in comments

3 Course Celebration Meal

Cost: £20/$25/23EUR
PayPal link – paypal.me/Shogunmartialarts – please put ‘Celebration’ in comments

Other Information:

Trains from London:

  • Ramsgate – 1 hour 18minutes then taxi for 10 minutes
  • Canterbury West – 58 minutes then taxi for 20 minutes
  • Sandwich – 1 hour 28 minutes then taxi for 8 mins
  • Dover Priory – 1 hour 5 minutes then taxi for 25 minutes

Hotels:

Building has started on a travel lodge in the Discovery park site; the hope is that this will be available for the event, however other options are available. Shogun has a minibus which should be available to shuttle attendees from local hotels to the event.

Taxi’s:

  • Sandwich Taxis – 01304 617 424
  • Thanet Cars – 01843 666 666
  • Longley’s Private Hire – 01227 710 777

**Please note that you don’t have taxi’s at Sandwich train station, please book in advance.** maybe for registration.

Activities:

There are many things to see and do in the UK during your visit some suggestions are listed below, if you get a chance why not visit the historic City of Canterbury with the world-famous Cathedral which will celebrate its 800th birthday in 2020, explore the historic streets the home of Chaucer’s Canterbury Tales.

Uechi-Ryu Karate Do

IUKF President Visits Bennett’s Karate

Bennett's Karate IUKF 2019 Seminar 3

This October, Richard Bennett and Bennett’s Karate in Erie, CO, hosted Darin Yee to share his Uechi Ryu concepts with various Kung Fu interpretations with students.

Bennett's Karate IUKF 2019 Seminar 2

Bennett’s Karate is a member of Master Jim Thompson’s Uechi Ryu Kokusai organization. Master Jim Thompson has shared his knowledge and skill at George Mattson’s Summer Fest.

At Bennett’s Karate, seminar attendees participated in drills and discussions from Sensei Darin Yee. Darin Yee would like to thank Richard Bennett and Bennett’s Karate students for their gracious hospitality and the opportunity to share these concepts.

Bennett's Karate IUKF 2019 Seminar 1

Sensei Darin Yee wanted to share his experience with you. Here is what he said,

On October 18 to the 20th, Sensei Darin Yee, president of the IUKF, along with Sensei Dan Maestas, a senior advisory board member, was in Denver, Colorado, visiting Sensei Allen Bennett, Sensei Richard Bennett, their families, and students.  The Bennett family are all respected and well train masters in the art of Uechi-Ryu.  They also operate several very successful dojos in their area.

I was honored for their invitation for me to visit and share some of my ideas and demonstrate the individualism I’ve acquired from my 50 years studying Uechi-Ryu influenced by my 60 years of Chinese Kung-Fu.  To list full disclosure, I’ve also learned much from conversations and interactions with Allen Sensei and his incredibly energetic son Richard Sensei.  With the eagerness for knowledge and tradition which radiates from Sensei Richard Allen, he will indeed be one of the most honored American Senseis following in the footsteps of father, Sensei Allen Bennett. He is on the path to greatness is respect, honesty, integrity, loyalty, and humility.  

Darin Yee”

IUKF President Visits Honolulu Uechi-Ryu Dojo

IUKF President, Darin Yee, with Al

In the Hawaiian Language, the word “ALOHA” mostly functions as a salutation and a greeting. But the word actually conveys a deeper sense of meaning, which the locals expound upon, by breaking the individual letters down into other Hawaiian terms:

A – Akahai: Kindness, expressed with tenderness

L – Lokahi: Unity, expressed with harmony

O – Olu’olu: Agreeable, expressed with pleasantness

H – Ha’aha’a: Humility, expressed with modesty

A – Ahonui: Patience, expressed with perseverance

Aloha is more than just a word of greeting or farewell or a salutation. Aloha means mutual regard and affection and extends warmth in caring with no obligation in return. Aloha is the essence of relationships in which each person is important to every other person for collective existence. Aloha means to hear what is not said, to see what cannot be seen, and to know the unknowable….

IUKF President, Darin Yee, teaching students

On November 9, 2019, Darin Yee-Sensei traveled 5,046 miles from Boston to Hawaii to share his extensive knowledge of Uechi-Ryu, to offer his continued support of our Dojo, and to spend his valuable time with us. From the multiple meetings and training sessions throughout the week, we gained much insight into the Tiger, Dragon, Crane roots of our art. We are so grateful to have been shown a new perspective from which to dissect, analyze, and maximize our effectiveness in Kata performance and applications. I’m particularly impressed with the humble manner in which Darin-Sensei interacted with our group. From the youngest member to the oldest member, he showed patience, kindness, and understanding in freely sharing his knowledge.

Sensei Yee, thank you for your on-going efforts in building a highly supportive International Uechi-ryu Karate Federation, and especially for traveling so far across the globe to help us become better Karateka! Mahalo nui loa for embodying the Spirit of Aloha! We are proud to be an IUKF affiliated Dojo and look forward to your next visit on January 11th and 12th 2020 for our Honolulu Uechi-Ryu Gasshuku Regional Workout.

Sincerely,
Albert Cloutier
Honolulu Uechi-Ryu Karate-do Club

Sensei Darin Yee – 8 Katas of Uechi-Ryu

On November 14, 2019, Darin Yee (President of the IUKF) performed the 8 Katas of Uechi-Ryu while visiting with The Honolulu Uechi-Ryu Karate-Do Club.

Sensei Albert Cloutier and his dojo wanted to share how grateful they are for Sensei Yee traveling so far to share his experience, knowledge, and insight with them that they created this lovely video.