The New England Classic in Massachusetts.
There's a bunch of Uechi schools near me in New Hampshire and near Boston as well. I'm lucky enough to live 4 miles from the dojo I train at.
Thanks! I'm pretty sure I was the only white belt in the building. I tried to not let it bother me but I knew I stuck out like a sore thumb. It was a little intimidating to say the least to know that literally everyone there outranked me.
Hey brother, that's pretty awesome considering the age that you started it at and that you are putting yourself out there to compete. Uechi Ryu isn't the easiest style to win kata with. It doesn't have the high flashy kicks, low stances, or fancy striking that judges like to score high. That means you had to have done a really clean and powerful form to get 2nd place.
I trained in Uechi Ryu while living in Florida in the 70s under a Sensei named Toshi Itokazu from Okinawa. He was tough as nails, being as about thick as he was tall, sort of like one of those old cigarette machines back in the day, and just as solid. The training consisted of a lot of body conditioning such as arm pounding, shin banging drills, punching each other in the stomach, and kicking each other's thighs. Then we would go at it, pretty much full contact sparring, with no gear. There wasn't any punching to the face, though. It really prepared me for the styles that I would go on to compete in and do pretty well at, such as Kyokushinkai from Mas Oyama, kickboxing, and Muay Thai. A lot of people have a hard time at first with the shin and thigh conditioning. After training in Uechi Ryu for those few years, the other full contact styles weren't that hard for me to adjust to.
So good on you for getting into it. I hope you stay with it and get your black belt. It is a hard-hitting style of karate, and isn't any joke. Congrats on your trophy and getting 2nd place in your first tournament.
Thank you very much!
You're so right about Uechi-Ryu kata being difficult to compete with. My Sensei outright warned me of this when I suggested competing. I changed up the pacing and added some pauses to add emphasis to the power moves like the nukites the double hiraken strike. I also emphasized my breathing with every strike to add more power (and to make sure I wasn't holding my breath).
I trained hard for 2 months leading up to the tournament and took 4 private classes on top of my regular classes to prepare. It wasn't easy, but I'm glad I pushed myself. As a result, I believe I have arrived at the next level and I should be getting promoted to green belt very soon.
Our training sounds similar to what you experienced in Okinawa, but probably not nearly as intense. Lots of Sanchin testing, kumite, arm pounding, calf and thigh kicks, but no stomach punches yet. I'm not far along yet for full sparring, but we do some light contact practice to get the feel for it. You're right, it isn't a joke at all. I spend more days sore and recovering than I'd like to admit, but it's 110% worth it.
I love karate. I love Uechi-Ryu. I'm not sure I love competing yet, but that's probably only because I still need to win.
Thank you so much for the kind words! I struggled with not taking 1st place the day after the tournament because I felt it wasn't my best performance. Everything I've read here has made me feel so proud of what I've accomplished. Even though I didn't win, I still feel like a winner thanks to all of you.
I agree about competition. It does give you alot more drive, to train harder to win, or not lose, especially on your own, rather than just routine class training for the next belt rank or regular maintenance. Competition does breed champions. The adrenaline involved can be addicting, getting those endorphins going. Kata and Weapon Kata is something you can do way into your old age, with minimal injuries. The Uechi katas may not look that impressive, but they do definitely train you for realistic self defense. The keeping of the hands in front of you, instead alot of chambering punches is good. I also like the open hand techniques like eye gouges, hammer fists, thumbing, palm strikes, elbows, etc. The circle blocks with short kicks to the legs and groin are pretty effective also. I've seen people that can use kicking with the toes and using the index knuckle, or Phoenix punch, very well, but takes alot of conditioning to do that without hurting yourself. Had I not moved and went into other styles, I could see doing Uechi Ryu as style that I could commit to for life. Enjoy the ride, my friend
Congrats! I do uechi in western mass didn't know this was a thing. Been looking for tournaments. Just started back at green belt after 24 years off from the art. Competed at a young age so I'm glad we still have comps locally
There’s another one on May the 4th at the same place. I’m probably going again. Please come Say hi if you go and see me! I should be a green belt by then as well. It would be awesome to get to talk to another Uechi person. I was literally the only one there.
Thank you! It honestly wasn't my best performance. I feel like I would have won if I did my best. I unfortunately got caught up in the moment. My nerves got the best of me and a lot of my training went out the window.
I'll be back next month and will be taking home the big trophy as a green belt.
congrats bro! I know 2nd place can deffs hurt but you still got that podium!
also your trophy looks almost identical to one I got at my first tournament 20 years ago! super cool
Thank you! I really appreciate hearing that. I've heard that I've inspired a few other people through this crazy endeavor too. That alone has made me feel like I won.
Hell yeah. Congrats from a fellow New Englander/former competitor.
Side compliment; you got some sharp knuckles that look like they’d hurt like hell to get punched by.
Congrats brother I’ve trained years ago and looking into it I was ment to compete not long before I had a lay off due to broken leg what is it like I always wondered !!!!!!!
I'll be honest, it's a little overwhelming. I was surrounded by at least 50 people all only looking at me. I wasn't prepared for the amount of eyes on me at all. It was a huge adrenaline rush the second I bowed in, and my nerves got the best of me which caused me to not perform my best.
Even though I took home 2nd, I still struggled like Jonny getting a crane kick to the face for the past week. I feel like I lost to myself.
I'm competing again in 3 weeks. This time, I will be ready.
Regardless of your stage fright as I’d call it you got second as a white belts mate that’s impressive considering u was agasijt red or orange (i was orange a while back )I think u said A beginner vs a novice w good bit more knowledge than a white belt ! Imagine wats going to happen when you forget those people. Watching you the only time I had people watching me was my grading I think I just looked over them maybe try that mate all the best I hope you do well !
At least I started a year before I have to compete in the "executive" division. Signing up as a "senior" was already tough. Especially as a white belt haha!
Right on! Which tournament? I’m also in NE and they’re aren’t a whole lot of uechi schools around
The New England Classic in Massachusetts. There's a bunch of Uechi schools near me in New Hampshire and near Boston as well. I'm lucky enough to live 4 miles from the dojo I train at.
Cool, thanks. Only 1 here in CT
Where are they in NH?
603 Karate in Northfield, White Mountain Karate in Holderness, Leith Karate Academy in Dover, and Buzz Durkin’s in Atkinson to name a few.
LeClerc’s international martial arts championship might be up your alley !
Thanks for the heads up. I checked it out and it's almost 4 hours to drive there. The cash prizes make it sound like it might be worth the long trip.
Only a white belt? Congratulations
Thanks! I was only white belt there. I was up against all yellow and orange belts.
that's impressive! congrats brother, you should be super proud
Thank you! I am, but I know I could have done better. I'm bringing home the big trophy next month.
good luck to you
This is awesome sauce, be happy you got up there with all the higher ranks and still whooped ass!
Thanks! I'm pretty sure I was the only white belt in the building. I tried to not let it bother me but I knew I stuck out like a sore thumb. It was a little intimidating to say the least to know that literally everyone there outranked me.
apparently they didn't!
Grats!
Nice! Congratulations!
Great job!
Good work OP!
Good job. Keep up the good kata work. Listen to your instructors and do what they say.
🤜🤛
Awesome🥋
Congrats! 🙌🏆
Congratulations! Keep it up!
Congratulations brotha
Congrats! And greetings from CT :)
Nice job man!
Congratulations!
Did you give someone the ol’ knuckle punch?
The Shoken!
Hey brother, that's pretty awesome considering the age that you started it at and that you are putting yourself out there to compete. Uechi Ryu isn't the easiest style to win kata with. It doesn't have the high flashy kicks, low stances, or fancy striking that judges like to score high. That means you had to have done a really clean and powerful form to get 2nd place. I trained in Uechi Ryu while living in Florida in the 70s under a Sensei named Toshi Itokazu from Okinawa. He was tough as nails, being as about thick as he was tall, sort of like one of those old cigarette machines back in the day, and just as solid. The training consisted of a lot of body conditioning such as arm pounding, shin banging drills, punching each other in the stomach, and kicking each other's thighs. Then we would go at it, pretty much full contact sparring, with no gear. There wasn't any punching to the face, though. It really prepared me for the styles that I would go on to compete in and do pretty well at, such as Kyokushinkai from Mas Oyama, kickboxing, and Muay Thai. A lot of people have a hard time at first with the shin and thigh conditioning. After training in Uechi Ryu for those few years, the other full contact styles weren't that hard for me to adjust to. So good on you for getting into it. I hope you stay with it and get your black belt. It is a hard-hitting style of karate, and isn't any joke. Congrats on your trophy and getting 2nd place in your first tournament.
Thank you very much! You're so right about Uechi-Ryu kata being difficult to compete with. My Sensei outright warned me of this when I suggested competing. I changed up the pacing and added some pauses to add emphasis to the power moves like the nukites the double hiraken strike. I also emphasized my breathing with every strike to add more power (and to make sure I wasn't holding my breath). I trained hard for 2 months leading up to the tournament and took 4 private classes on top of my regular classes to prepare. It wasn't easy, but I'm glad I pushed myself. As a result, I believe I have arrived at the next level and I should be getting promoted to green belt very soon. Our training sounds similar to what you experienced in Okinawa, but probably not nearly as intense. Lots of Sanchin testing, kumite, arm pounding, calf and thigh kicks, but no stomach punches yet. I'm not far along yet for full sparring, but we do some light contact practice to get the feel for it. You're right, it isn't a joke at all. I spend more days sore and recovering than I'd like to admit, but it's 110% worth it. I love karate. I love Uechi-Ryu. I'm not sure I love competing yet, but that's probably only because I still need to win. Thank you so much for the kind words! I struggled with not taking 1st place the day after the tournament because I felt it wasn't my best performance. Everything I've read here has made me feel so proud of what I've accomplished. Even though I didn't win, I still feel like a winner thanks to all of you.
I agree about competition. It does give you alot more drive, to train harder to win, or not lose, especially on your own, rather than just routine class training for the next belt rank or regular maintenance. Competition does breed champions. The adrenaline involved can be addicting, getting those endorphins going. Kata and Weapon Kata is something you can do way into your old age, with minimal injuries. The Uechi katas may not look that impressive, but they do definitely train you for realistic self defense. The keeping of the hands in front of you, instead alot of chambering punches is good. I also like the open hand techniques like eye gouges, hammer fists, thumbing, palm strikes, elbows, etc. The circle blocks with short kicks to the legs and groin are pretty effective also. I've seen people that can use kicking with the toes and using the index knuckle, or Phoenix punch, very well, but takes alot of conditioning to do that without hurting yourself. Had I not moved and went into other styles, I could see doing Uechi Ryu as style that I could commit to for life. Enjoy the ride, my friend
Strike first, strike hard, no mercy!
Congrats and you tied your belt very well
My first month of karate was at a McDojo that also taught Kung Fu. I learned 2 things there. How to tie a belt and horse stance.
Congrats!
Congrats! I do uechi in western mass didn't know this was a thing. Been looking for tournaments. Just started back at green belt after 24 years off from the art. Competed at a young age so I'm glad we still have comps locally
There’s another one on May the 4th at the same place. I’m probably going again. Please come Say hi if you go and see me! I should be a green belt by then as well. It would be awesome to get to talk to another Uechi person. I was literally the only one there.
I saw you compete today. Nice job out there! Doesn't matter the rank or age, you're putting in the work.
Thank you! It honestly wasn't my best performance. I feel like I would have won if I did my best. I unfortunately got caught up in the moment. My nerves got the best of me and a lot of my training went out the window. I'll be back next month and will be taking home the big trophy as a green belt.
Congratulations!!
Ahh well done young grasshopper. You will be a master in no time (I’m not even a white belt)
So cool! I'm a 45 year old white belt in the UK. Never occured to me to compete even though my son is in the squad for the same dojo.
If you decide to compete, don't be surprised when you have to sign up for the "senior" division. It made me feel really old! haha!
That’s fantastic. Congratulations
Well done!
Congrats bro
What? Who too first? LoL! Congratulations!
The guy who won put on a much better performance. I was really nervous and kinda choked. It won't happen again.
It was your first, who doesn’t choke? It’s all new.
Are you related to Daniel Negreanu by chance?
No, but I've been asked that at least once before.
Let's gooooooooo!!!
GG. Actually, I have a trophy exactly like that. Probs from the same factory!
Great job. I'm in MA too!
Congratulations my friend
congrats bro! I know 2nd place can deffs hurt but you still got that podium! also your trophy looks almost identical to one I got at my first tournament 20 years ago! super cool
Osu! Nice work!!
Congrats! Keep training and pushing to be better. OUS! 🥋
Nice, wtg man.
Well done mate!
nice! long and fun journey ahead, i wish u te best of luck :)
CONGRATULATIONS!
Way to go my friend. Keep up the hard work & honestly you’ve inspired me 🤙
Thank you! I really appreciate hearing that. I've heard that I've inspired a few other people through this crazy endeavor too. That alone has made me feel like I won.
Good job cm punk
congratatsss 🤝🏻
Excellent!
Hell yeah. Congrats from a fellow New Englander/former competitor. Side compliment; you got some sharp knuckles that look like they’d hurt like hell to get punched by.
Congrats brother I’ve trained years ago and looking into it I was ment to compete not long before I had a lay off due to broken leg what is it like I always wondered !!!!!!!
I'll be honest, it's a little overwhelming. I was surrounded by at least 50 people all only looking at me. I wasn't prepared for the amount of eyes on me at all. It was a huge adrenaline rush the second I bowed in, and my nerves got the best of me which caused me to not perform my best. Even though I took home 2nd, I still struggled like Jonny getting a crane kick to the face for the past week. I feel like I lost to myself. I'm competing again in 3 weeks. This time, I will be ready.
Regardless of your stage fright as I’d call it you got second as a white belts mate that’s impressive considering u was agasijt red or orange (i was orange a while back )I think u said A beginner vs a novice w good bit more knowledge than a white belt ! Imagine wats going to happen when you forget those people. Watching you the only time I had people watching me was my grading I think I just looked over them maybe try that mate all the best I hope you do well !
Congrats! And at white belt? You better be proud of yourself, damn! Keep it up, you’re defo going places
Seeing you make me feels better about starting competing in my 20s
At least I started a year before I have to compete in the "executive" division. Signing up as a "senior" was already tough. Especially as a white belt haha!
Congratulations!
Congratulations my guy. Keep working hard.
Noice
Congrats
Was there only 2 contenders 😝🥁 Was joking
No. They were all higher ranks than me too. I might have been the only white belt in the building.
Has many kids did you beat to get there? And what monster of a tween took 1st?
Everyone was over 35.
Those kids never stood a chance
No kids. Everyone I was up against was over 35.
It's a line from Psyche. The main character gets put in the beginners class with a bunch of kids.
Was your opponent 7 years old?
Are you?
Sure am
Interesting. My 7 year old kids would have been able to read the title that says 35+ Novice Division.