What a great time was had by all. . . I can't remember a better attended camp nor one with so much excitement and enthusiasm.
Many pictures and videos to follow. Today Susan and I are just taking it easy.
Many thanks to all who attended.
Best,
George
Back from SummerFest!!!
Moderator: Available
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Bill Glasheen
- Posts: 17299
- Joined: Thu Mar 11, 1999 6:01 am
- Location: Richmond, VA --- Louisville, KY
It was a good camp.
I got the funniest comment, George. One of the Uechi mid-seniors who regularly partners with Joe Lewis in his seminars came up to me later. To paraphrase him, "I always thought of you as that Suparinpei guy. I didn't realize you could teach!"
That humorous (and well intended) comment came subsequent to my highly-attended Friday morning Seisan class that you asked me to run.
Indeed it was fun. I've been pulled in so many different directions for so many years at camp (Suparinpei, Chinese Crane form, Firedragon Fitness Challenge, etc.) that I've missed out on the opportunity to teach core Uechi material. And people don't realize that a couple of folks like me who have been teaching core Uechi material for 30 years (as of September of this year) haven't been teaching 1 year's worth of knowledge 30 times over. The whole idea of teaching and reaching outside the restrictive "classical box" - for me - is to investigate, validate, and flesh out the basics that we work so hard to tie everything to.
I had an opportunity to teach a Uechi fundamentals class once a day for each day of the camp. And I tried not to disappoint. My idea of camp isn't to drone on about the dogma. My idea is to show people things they don't see elsewhere because my martial journey is my own with my own personal perspective to share. This (to me) is what camp is about. And I have to tell you that few instructors disappoint me when I take the time to empty my cup (or get a bigger cup) and listen.
Thanks to all who gave me an opportunity to share. Thanks for the fellowship. Thanks for showing my students a good time. Thanks for teaching number 2 son how to play karate without him realizing it, and share some Saturday night Texas Hold-em time with the big boys.
Thanks for the nice performances at the junior black belt tests on Friday, and the Senior displays on Saturday. John Fillipe's students - male and especially female - were absolutely amazing. While I'm biased in saying this because he's my "grand student", I particularly enjoyed Sal Jaber's highly creative Seisan bunkai performance and a most amazing and entertaining sparring performance. Seeing what a 340-pound rokudan in Nippon jiujitsu can do with a Uechi nidan is breathtaking - to say the least. Talk about control, controlling the opponent, and out of the box thinking...
Thank you, number 2 son, for showing an entire Saturday evening audience that daddy taught you some ukemi. Next time we call your name, I know you won't bound down the aisle 3 steps at a time. But you do have to love that heart...
And thanks for all those many, many special personal moments - happy and melancholy. To all of you who took the time to interact with me, you know exactly what I'm talking about.
- Bill
P.S. I would like to thank Mother Nature for giving us absolutely perfect camp weather. I'd also like to thank her for holding off long enough Sunday evening to let me get home. Yes, it was a typical East Coast evening in August, with a line of thunderstorms long enough to interrupt dozens of flights. But we did eventually get going, even if it was 3 hours later and at the 3rd announced gate. While the poor Chinese lady in the seat in front of me puked and I had to execute a "save" of a flight attendant who went sprawling down the aisle in the turbulence, all-in-all I was happy to drive into the garage at 1 AM. No blood, no foul. And number 2 son has yet another war story to tell for his eventful trip.
I got the funniest comment, George. One of the Uechi mid-seniors who regularly partners with Joe Lewis in his seminars came up to me later. To paraphrase him, "I always thought of you as that Suparinpei guy. I didn't realize you could teach!"
That humorous (and well intended) comment came subsequent to my highly-attended Friday morning Seisan class that you asked me to run.Indeed it was fun. I've been pulled in so many different directions for so many years at camp (Suparinpei, Chinese Crane form, Firedragon Fitness Challenge, etc.) that I've missed out on the opportunity to teach core Uechi material. And people don't realize that a couple of folks like me who have been teaching core Uechi material for 30 years (as of September of this year) haven't been teaching 1 year's worth of knowledge 30 times over. The whole idea of teaching and reaching outside the restrictive "classical box" - for me - is to investigate, validate, and flesh out the basics that we work so hard to tie everything to.
I had an opportunity to teach a Uechi fundamentals class once a day for each day of the camp. And I tried not to disappoint. My idea of camp isn't to drone on about the dogma. My idea is to show people things they don't see elsewhere because my martial journey is my own with my own personal perspective to share. This (to me) is what camp is about. And I have to tell you that few instructors disappoint me when I take the time to empty my cup (or get a bigger cup) and listen.
Thanks to all who gave me an opportunity to share. Thanks for the fellowship. Thanks for showing my students a good time. Thanks for teaching number 2 son how to play karate without him realizing it, and share some Saturday night Texas Hold-em time with the big boys.
Thanks for the nice performances at the junior black belt tests on Friday, and the Senior displays on Saturday. John Fillipe's students - male and especially female - were absolutely amazing. While I'm biased in saying this because he's my "grand student", I particularly enjoyed Sal Jaber's highly creative Seisan bunkai performance and a most amazing and entertaining sparring performance. Seeing what a 340-pound rokudan in Nippon jiujitsu can do with a Uechi nidan is breathtaking - to say the least. Talk about control, controlling the opponent, and out of the box thinking...
Thank you, number 2 son, for showing an entire Saturday evening audience that daddy taught you some ukemi. Next time we call your name, I know you won't bound down the aisle 3 steps at a time. But you do have to love that heart...
And thanks for all those many, many special personal moments - happy and melancholy. To all of you who took the time to interact with me, you know exactly what I'm talking about.
- Bill
P.S. I would like to thank Mother Nature for giving us absolutely perfect camp weather. I'd also like to thank her for holding off long enough Sunday evening to let me get home. Yes, it was a typical East Coast evening in August, with a line of thunderstorms long enough to interrupt dozens of flights. But we did eventually get going, even if it was 3 hours later and at the 3rd announced gate. While the poor Chinese lady in the seat in front of me puked and I had to execute a "save" of a flight attendant who went sprawling down the aisle in the turbulence, all-in-all I was happy to drive into the garage at 1 AM. No blood, no foul. And number 2 son has yet another war story to tell for his eventful trip.
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f.Channell
- Posts: 3541
- Joined: Thu Oct 21, 1999 6:01 am
- Location: Valhalla
We both were proud to see Sterling take that fall Bill as I taught him and the juniors Ukemi half the morning. 
F.
F.
Sans Peur Ne Obliviscaris
www.hinghamkarate.com
www.hinghamkarate.com
Sensei Mattson,
It was really a great camp. Thank you once again for all the hard work that you do year after year. You have been carrying the Uechi torch for many years. Thank you very much!
All my best,
Andrew
It was really a great camp. Thank you once again for all the hard work that you do year after year. You have been carrying the Uechi torch for many years. Thank you very much!
All my best,
Andrew
Shugyo Training Camp
www.atlantickarate.com
www.atlantickarate.com
Camp, WOW! What fun! What a great board of instructors with diverse classes. I think this was the best one ever. There were so many good teachers there that I regretted the inability to take every class.
The other part of what makes camp so great every year is the ability to establish former relationships and forge new ones.
What a treat to meet Al's & his students from Bermuda, Rob (from Sacremento) & his students, John Phillipe's & his students. David Lamb and his group, and so many more...and always, John Hassell.
I am a happy camper!
I hope we never stop having George's camp.
Thank you for taking the time do this camp every year. It is truly a gift of your time and talent. We are blessed.
Always,
Vicki
The other part of what makes camp so great every year is the ability to establish former relationships and forge new ones.
What a treat to meet Al's & his students from Bermuda, Rob (from Sacremento) & his students, John Phillipe's & his students. David Lamb and his group, and so many more...and always, John Hassell.
I am a happy camper!
I hope we never stop having George's camp.
Thank you for taking the time do this camp every year. It is truly a gift of your time and talent. We are blessed.
Always,
Vicki
Last edited by chef on Thu Aug 14, 2008 5:30 am, edited 1 time in total.
"Cry in the dojo, laugh in the battlefield"
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gmattson
- Site Admin
- Posts: 6073
- Joined: Wed Sep 16, 1998 6:01 am
- Location: Lake Mary, Florida
- Contact:
First photos....
Check the home page (http://uechi-ryu.com) and click on the photograph which is linked to the uechi gallery. Over a hundred photographs taken at camp. More to come soon.
GEM
"Do or do not. there is no try!"
"Do or do not. there is no try!"
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Robb in Sacramento
- Posts: 181
- Joined: Fri Sep 25, 1998 6:01 am
- Location: Sacramento, California, USA
Not Too Hurtful
Ms. Vicki:
It was great seeing you as well. My only regret from camp is that Sue and Harry didn’t get a chance to show their master level trivial pursuit skills.
My friends Som, Henry, Ken, Wil and Wendy had a great time. It seemed that every time I checked on Henry he was partnered with Art Rebesa, Joe Lewis, or Jim Maloney. (We took pictures of the bruises.)
For Ken is was a very special experience, as not only did he test for and receive his Shodan, but he did it with his first instructor, Roy Bedard, on the board.
The instruction at camp was remarkable. It was really difficult to decide which seminar to attend. Art Rebesa was worth the price of admission. Al Wharton again demonstrated a level of mastery and sophistication of technique that must be experienced to be believed. The grace with which he moves and practices is inspiring.
Joe Lewis was amazing, and Mr. Maloney not only provided instruction, but touched all of our hearts and honored us all by sharing a very personal part of himself with us during his demonstration at the Master’s Ceremony. It was also a privilege to be there as Buzz Durkin received his promotion. And, I think we all felt like something very special was happening as George (he told me to call him that as opposed to Sensei Mattson when I first met him in 1977) came out to demonstrate in celebration of 50 years of teaching traditional Okinawan karate in America. Whew. It doesn’t get much better.
I would of course be remiss in not mentioning my friend and Uechi sister Joan Neide. For those of us lucky enough to train and workout with her, we have come to know what a truly remarkable Uechi instructor and practitioner she is. So, it was good to hear the buzz when she finished teaching her seminars, and others had an opportunity to experience the breadth of knowledge and understanding that she brings to karate practice.
By last night the bruises were healed, and most of us had recovered from the hospitality of Southwest Airlines. But, as we trained, the influence of the camp and what we learned there from the very giving instructors and seniors, was very much present in our practice.
Thanks again to George and Susan (and of course the big man at the bar) for putting together a wonderful weekend. And to you Miss Vicki, thanks for letting us share in your training and your master’s course on evening training recovery. You’re awesome.
Peace
Robb in Sacramento
It was great seeing you as well. My only regret from camp is that Sue and Harry didn’t get a chance to show their master level trivial pursuit skills.
My friends Som, Henry, Ken, Wil and Wendy had a great time. It seemed that every time I checked on Henry he was partnered with Art Rebesa, Joe Lewis, or Jim Maloney. (We took pictures of the bruises.)
For Ken is was a very special experience, as not only did he test for and receive his Shodan, but he did it with his first instructor, Roy Bedard, on the board.
The instruction at camp was remarkable. It was really difficult to decide which seminar to attend. Art Rebesa was worth the price of admission. Al Wharton again demonstrated a level of mastery and sophistication of technique that must be experienced to be believed. The grace with which he moves and practices is inspiring.
Joe Lewis was amazing, and Mr. Maloney not only provided instruction, but touched all of our hearts and honored us all by sharing a very personal part of himself with us during his demonstration at the Master’s Ceremony. It was also a privilege to be there as Buzz Durkin received his promotion. And, I think we all felt like something very special was happening as George (he told me to call him that as opposed to Sensei Mattson when I first met him in 1977) came out to demonstrate in celebration of 50 years of teaching traditional Okinawan karate in America. Whew. It doesn’t get much better.
I would of course be remiss in not mentioning my friend and Uechi sister Joan Neide. For those of us lucky enough to train and workout with her, we have come to know what a truly remarkable Uechi instructor and practitioner she is. So, it was good to hear the buzz when she finished teaching her seminars, and others had an opportunity to experience the breadth of knowledge and understanding that she brings to karate practice.
By last night the bruises were healed, and most of us had recovered from the hospitality of Southwest Airlines. But, as we trained, the influence of the camp and what we learned there from the very giving instructors and seniors, was very much present in our practice.
Thanks again to George and Susan (and of course the big man at the bar) for putting together a wonderful weekend. And to you Miss Vicki, thanks for letting us share in your training and your master’s course on evening training recovery. You’re awesome.
Peace
Robb in Sacramento
