Uechi-ryu Journal Blog

Jasmine is probably one of my favorite teas. I enjoy sitting down with a cup to review email, read my current book (typically on marketing); or just to chat with my wife.

Turns out Jasmine Tea has a history with Uechi-ryu Karate as well. As related by Toyama Sensei (last student of Kanbun Sensei); Jasmine Tea was a popular drink for post workout discussion. When I visit Okinawa I also get the chance to sit and chat with classmates while sipping Jasmine Tea.

Truth is I like it. Jasmine has a mild, pleasing taste. Truthfully I do not know if the tea we drink today tastes the same as in Kanbun Sensei’s day…. either way it helps to create a connection between then and now. Sitting down with classmates going over history, technique, upcoming events ….. bringing people together with a common interest.

A simple cup of tea. Click the image to get your tin!

I am publishing a new Uechi-ryu book and I want you to be a part of it!

This is an exciting time! I was getting ready to publish my personal Uechi-ryu book and I decided that this idea is too exciting to keep to myself!

I want your inspirational Uechi-ryu story for a new book, a book meant to help promote Uechi-ryu around the world!

Will you be part of this unique project?

Let’s collectively share our personal Uechi-ryu related stories for all practitioners and prospective practitioners.

You don’t have to be a master to be part of this; trust me, I’m no master! Your rank doesn’t matter, this isn’t a book about techniques - it’s a book about people like you and I who are passionate about Uechi-ryu Karate.

Your association or affiliation is not an issue either- if you study a system stemming from Uechi-ryu, you’re qualified!

What better way to help popularize Uechi-ryu around the world than by telling others how Karate has impacted our lives? This is the best motivator of all!

I want to share with you how Uechi-ryu changed my life, and I hope you will share your story for this book as well.

This will be a printed book - not digital; but paper - and will be available in bookstores.

Keeping in mind that this is a printed book; I can only accept submissions for a short time. The formatting and printing process will take a bit once the book is compiled, and any artwork will need to be sorted out.

Here’s what I want you to do:

1. Send me an email saying that you’re in on this project, with a time-line indicating when I can expect your essay to arrive via email.
2. Once it is ready you can send me the text either as an email or as a Word file. Okay to include any photos that you would like to share with the global community.
3. Please include your full name, dojo, closest town/city, and contact information.
4. I may have to edit for length, however I do hope to avoid ‘trimming’ if at all possible. I will clear all editing with you before publishing.

This book has a specialized purpose and focus. I ask that contributors keep your topic related to how Uechi-Ryu training has made an impact on your life and the lives of those around you.

I am absolutely overwhelmed with excitement about this, I think this is a great way to commemorate the passing of Kanbun Uechi Sensei 60 years ago this November.

Kanbun Sensei dedicated his life to passing on the system he taught; let’s do our part as well!

Once you have emailed me letting me know you wish to contribute to this hard-bound book I will keep you notified as to the scheduling, compiling, publishing, etc.Send your email now
to editor@uechi-ryu-journal.com letting me know that you want to be published!

Regards;
Scott Taylor
Editor Uechi-ryu Journal

The first volume of Uechi-ryu Karate Drills is Ready! 

How can you bring realistic training to your dojo? Simple …. by introducing “Situational Training” to your class program. This is exactly what you need to use right now if you are interested at all in realistic training.

http://www.uechi-ryu-journal.com/drill_vol1/

You know that professional soldiers/law enforcement use this type of training, right? These types of training drills are called ‘the real deal’ for good reason.

I just wish more people trained this way….

So I figured out a way to *install* the realistic approach to Karate training in your dojo immediately - quickly and easily. This is serious stuff - but what you need to know is that *it works*. And it’s important to me that you get this book and use it right now.

You get:

• Thirteen training drills that will spark your understanding of how to practice Uechi-ryu in practical situations.

• An easy to understand drill format that allows you to prove the techniques work!

• How to add ‘the stress factor’ to make your exercises more demanding .

• And I guarantee it will help you train more effectively.

In just a couple of minutes, you can be absorbing the drills for practicing Situational Training.

Ready?

Go to –

http://www.uechi-ryu-journal.com/drill_vol1/

Download this .pdf file that you can print off from your computer right now!

For three years now I have been quietly compiling the history of Canadian Uechi-ryu Karate. This is an interesting undertaking as even here is Canada there is so much fracturing and it is difficult to contact key people.

I am fortunate to have the support of Jim Maloney Sensei with this lengthy project. I write when I can, honestly I have a few detailed projects in the works and so I make time for each one when I can.

I do hope to complete this project within the next year so it can be offered to the Uechi-ryu community.

Below are two photos I have from a close friend back in Nova Scotia; Curtis Michael. He sent these images along to me some time ago & after reviewing my material I decided to post them.

Please notice the copyright; the originals are in my possession with permission to use them, these slightly modified ones have the Uechi-ryu Journal copyright attached just to keep track of where they are used.

The first image was taken in March of 2006 at Shubenacadie First Nations; and the second image is dated somewhere in the 70’s 80’s …. exact date unknown. Sensei Maloney is wearing a green belt with brown bar.

I wanted to let you know about my new Karate drill ebook about to be released.

One of the biggest issues commented to me is that dojo training needs to be practical and realistic; in short something called “Situational Training”.

Never heard of it? It’s okay…. it is not so common in the Karate world yet; but it’s coming.

The military and law enforcement have been doing it for years, so has the emergency field (Medical, Fire, Safety).

Basically it involves the most realistic training that can be provided in the safest possible manner. For Karate this becomes problematic on several levels.

1.We often train to hurt others to protect ourselves.

2.We do not want to hurt our training partners to learn Karate!

3.We are supposed to be able to control our tactics, techniques…. but have rarely tried doing this under the real stress of conflict.

Enter Situational Training for Karate: A collection of training drills meant to increase the stress levels of your classes while teaching realistic drills using your Karate.

I wanted to give you a heads up to let you know that I am just about ready to release this kick-butt manual to the general public. I have already released this training manual to Uechi-ryu Newsletter members and the positive feedback is rolling in!

I am confidant that you will be as excited about reading (and using) this material as I was putting it together.

I will let you know more in the next few days. In the meantime, train hard!

Public speaking is a nightmare for many people! Yet here you are standing in front of your first full blown Karate class! A dojo full of watchful youth…worse yet if their parents are there too watching your first class!Obviously there are ways to overcome this fear of public speaking/presentation; heck most teachers start out just like you; scared..now it is nothing to them, teaching/demonstrating is not even a concern in their routine!

So how can you get to this relaxed level? Easy, practice, practice, practice.

What you need is a method of calming yourself, and preparing your class lessons to be exciting and enjoyable. Here are a few ‘tricks’ to help you relax, enjoy and excel at public speaking.

1 Reassure yourself that the class will be interested in what you teach. They are there to learn from you…you need to know your stuff and should be well prepared for your class. ‘Winging it’ is obvious and can cause you to lose your pace in class. Know your class material and start running the lesson!

2 Hook the students by being an interesting teacher. Nothing is worse than a dull, uninterested lesson - seeing the class fall inattentive can be unnerving and cause you to lose confidence & result in student injury; prepare yourself well for the age group you are working with.

3 Inspire them with activities and hands-on demonstrations. Keep talking to a minimum, teach Karate through demonstration not a lecture!

Here are a few insights into how to relax and prepare yourself for a class, public performance, etc.

Tip One - Breath…no really, breath!

Quick nervous breathing can cause hyperventilation and worsens anxiety. Just before class take five minutes in a quiet area to relax with deep breathing. Run through what you want to do during class and also prepare yourself to be active and lively for the next 50 minutes or so.

Tip Two - Captivate student’s attention by using actions. Demonstrate the techniques (this cannot be stressed enough). When you do speak to give explanations, paint pictures and sensations in their minds with your words.

Tip Three - Alter your voice tonality and speed of delivery when describing concepts/moves. Explode with energy when need be and slow down when you need to have them hanging on the edge of their seats! You are the conductor and they are the orchestra.

Tip Four - Have fun!

Over the past few days I have been getting more and more email coming in. A hearty thank you again to all of the Newsletter members who have taken the time to reply to my original email.

Here are the main three topics that readers would like to see more of:

1. Uechi-ryu History – This is a fascinating subject with so much information available! There are a couple of pieces coming up for the Journal’s Fall edition that won’t disappoint!

2. Teaching Tips, lesson plans, etc. - Excellent topic & there will be more of these offered to members in the coming weeks.

3. Members Only Forums – I will have to think about this one….

4. Practical Training Drills – This was a major request of readers & one that I take quite seriously as you already know.

I have decided to publish a series of drills that work under the umbrella of situational training; something that has been in the works for some time (as part of a larger work). I am thinking I will be breaking this section off to offer to members as a separate entity.

I will keep you informed as to when this will be ready for release.

Again, thank you to everyone who submitted a request for material. I will be doing my best to accomodate you.

I am swamped!

Thank you to everyone who took the time to answer my feedback request from the Newsletter; I am currently wading through the email and taking all suggestions seriously.

I will post again soon on any changes I will be applying. Thank you so much!

**My web host was wondering why I had such a flood of email!

Sometimes I am amazed at what people are trying to teach their students, maybe amazed is too ‘kind’ ….

I am a member of several instructor mailing lists, forums, etc…. I enjoy scanning them to see how others deal with relevant topics.

This morning I received this ‘training’ suggestion in my email - “For instance, if
someone comes at you with a pair of nunchakas…”

Uhhh, what?

Do students pay for this type of ‘training’? I certainly hope not. The biggest movement in the history of North American Martial Arts has been in reality based training, yet I still come across this garbage.

Karate as a whole is based on realitic defense and protection, we know it changed and became more sport orientated, group focused in the 60’s …. but nunchakas?

It has been a rude awakening for many to find out that while their systems contain practical defensive techniques; they are seldom taught the way they were intended.

How about training students to defend against a modern attack? Pool cue, blade, an ipod grab…. but please leave the nunchakas at home!

A bit of a rant on this today, but I find the subject laughable.

It comes out on the 25th of this month; and you need to pre-order your copy today!

In the Uechi-ryu newsletter I present drills that pass on my opinions with practical, realistic defence with Uechi-ryu; the sport or casual attitudes about Karate just don’t do anything for me. I train to protect my family.

Rory Miller is a correctional officer & he has insights into real violence. This book is lining up to become a ‘must have’ for realistic self-defence; I have already pre-ordered my copy…have you?