I was at an inter organizational workout yesterday, and carefully teaching and explaining my ideas of teaching Uechi-Ryu. Jayel Cuaresma
accompanied me to many of these seminars.To be completely honest, Master Cuaresma was not my student during his early years studying
Uechi-Ryu but he was interested in my ideas and performances of our beloved system.
After a few workout and seeing the sincere interest from Jayel, I decided to continue contributing ideas for Jay to think about. Please understand, I teach beginners and a lot different than I teach people who have already spent numerous years learning from someone else. Most students have trained differently so I need to take a different approach.I have a tendency not to insist on any set pattern or use for any technique.
As we must determine how the techniques would fit us as individuals.
Yesterday, during another Master’s seminar, Jayel was asked how he would use and Interpret a certain move in our Seisan kata. To my
amazement, and joy, Jayel demonstrated an amazing, strong and effective technique, which I did not show him nor would I believe any other sensei in Uechi-Ryu could’ve thought him.
I sat back on my chair in amazement and overwhelmed by the idea that some of what I’m teaching has come to fruition.As I have said, in many of my seminars, that I am not there to insist anyone uses my techniques or perform their kata as I perform mine. The most important thing for me to teach, is how to think for yourself. Look at what’s being taught, learned, dissect, analyze and experiment to make sure that it works as you expected. And if it doesn’t work, as you expect, maybe you need to readjust the way you analyze. And again, the best teacher is you. As no one knows you better than you. I can only watch Your movements and suggest how they can be stronger or faster, but the rest is all you.
Duane Swanson was a student I met while teaching in Honolulu. I noticed the stiffness in his movements and the lack of speed that could
easily be improved. So hopefully I was not over extending myself, to offered and give him a couple of unsolicited suggestions on how to utilize his Wauiki. He openly and happily accepted my offer and we’ve never looked back from there.
I have quite a few followers that reacted the same way as Duane. Why is Duane such a stand out?
That is because Duane Swanson has studied more years than most of our master ranks. Due to his separation and distance from other sensies, he had very little comparison of information and knowledge, and very little advanced training. Although in his 30+ years of training, he never received the promotions nor did he seek for the advancements, where many would self-promote. I was extremely fortunate to have met him and to share some of my gathered information.
Duane Swanson has been working out with me online for over five years now And he is another person. I am extremely happy to be sharing
knowledge. Duane is very receptive of suggestions and willing to prove things that I teach him. He has a striking dummy that I’ve suggest he hit in different ways to discover his most powerful and advantageous delivery. After my 69 years of martial arts, I have no eminent need to share knowledge with people who are too educated to welcome any more information. Both Jayel Cuaresma and Duane Swanson along with a few others who are willing to understand what real “Pong Gai Noon” means will become real masters.There is a lot of training to be able to transition from one to the other. It needs to be instinctual. One needs to work at it. But how can you work on something you don’t really understand?
Anyways, I want to give a triple thumbs up and a grateful THANK YOU to both of these two guys and those who are searching for the real
understanding of hard and soft. I now believe all the hard work I’ve invested in learning and training will not go to waste.
Darin Yee (Lok Hon Yuen)
IUKF Judan, Hung Gar Master
Student of Martial Arts since 1958