沧海一笑
秋天久雨现雷暴，
俗世浮沉沧海中。
冬天雪后将转晴，
惨雨酸风顷刻平。
千里莺啼绿映红，
春来一笑风云过。
－－贺文耀 2007年1月12日著。
Uechi-Ryu Zankai – My Anamnesis – Part 10
In my previous anamnesis part 9 and earlier, I mostly wrote about my feelings and understanding of the Uechi-Ryu concepts. This part gives this a change, not to talk about Uechi-Ryu solely but the underlying fundamentals and concepts common in all martial arts.
I am having muscle ache on my stomach, arms and chest due to the heavy workout last night. So, today not much of practice for myself. As usual, after checking the students’ Sanchin, we went on dantai no kata for Kanshiwa and Kanshuu, then Kanshiwa bunkai.
Tonight, only adult students were coming. None of the kids, including mine came for training. My muscles were aching and not much practice for myself. A perfect time to talk about some concepts. I talked about concepts, not so much of Uechi-Ryu but the fundamentals of tanden (or Tantien in Chinese) and the body structure and skeleton alignment. I also demonstrated explosive 1 inch power punch (of course with controlled amount of energy not to hurt anyone). I continued to demonstrate and to explain the concept of Taijiquan and the differences between the external and internal system. I gave quite a lengthy talk about both internal and external weight change and of course, the scientific explanation of this underlying fundamentals. Martial arts is also martial science which involves human anatomy, physiology, bio-mechanism, kinesiology and physics.
I find it important to let older students to know about this so that they can understand the concept and learn to utilize their body more effectively. This fundamental knowledge is also crucial for them to understand not only Uechi-Ryu system but also other martial arts. The knowledge is also an eye-opener to not be superstitious about Qi, Tantien and the myths about Taijiquan as seen on Youtube as well as in discussion forums.
If I say I have not learned Taijiquan before but am able to explain and demonstrate the Taijiquan concepts, will you believe it? 
This appears to be a short anamnesis but I will continue to write about this fundamentals in more depth.
Light foods
I had some crackers before training this evening. Crackers is a slow-release carbohydrate, said LA. So, I tried this evening. I had about 4 pieces, washed down with a mouthful of fresh milk and a tall glass of water. I felt fine as my stomach was not too full for actions and not to empty for training. Just nice.
After the training, I took an orange, and 5 pieces of crackers with sweet coconut jam or kaya. More carbohydrate and sugar. Yeah sugar, good for my brain to work on blogs and trouble-shooting some hardware problem for my client. Here starts the night of the day!
Protected: 120 mark!
A basket of rotten fruits
It’s Monday again, another week of teaching and training. As usual, I was looking for something to eat in the evening before going to dōkōkai. I thought of having some fruits so I look into the fruit basket on the table. Guess what?
OMG! Some fruits had rotten in the basket! They rot and got moldy. What a waste! I threw them away instantly without a second of hesitation. But I am glad that I’ve managed to save several from rotting in the basket. Perhaps they are lucky that I found them (or they found me?).
What a bizarre coincidence!!! 
Protected: FCUK
Dinner for training
Since the opening of the dōkōkai in November, my dinner on weekdays are usually post training. Sometimes I continued my training after the class and I would be home around 10 or 10:30pm. It is rather late for dinner but LA had kept some food for me. I felt very difficult to sleep after the dinner even though I did not eat too much. I know this is bad for health but there is an empty stomach. So, I would continue working on computer to let the food be digested a little. But I will usually linger until midnight or pass midnight before going to bed.
Yesterday, I changed my pattern to try it out. I had my dinner before the training. Not a full dinner but it certainly did not feel good during the first part of the training. I guess I will have to have my dinner a little earlier, about 5 to avoid a full stomach during the training at 7.
I had a grapefruit and 6 slices of breads last night after the training. I felt much better but I slept at 2am because I was updating my blog.
Or perhaps, some light food and fruits before training and bread after training will be better off. I should try this today.
Research Paper
At the end of 2007, I saw another challenge to teach the students about concepts. A simple movement such as wa-uke or circular block has many concepts in its fundamental which I find it difficult to learn, teach and to talk about.
I wrote an article to provoke thinking and self-exploration, hopefully can lead my students, friends and even myself to self-realization of the technique and its fundamental concepts. It has received a number of feedback. I hope more feedback will come in so that I want to compile those feedback for writing a paper about it.
Uechi-Ryu Zankai – My Anamnesis – Part 9
Part 8 of this anamnesis closed the year of 2007. I have written all 8 parts of my anamnesis since my return. It will be a great pleasure to begin the new year with part 9 of this anamnesis. I don’t foresee how many parts will it be. I guess I will keep on writing until this old ship is washed ashore. Until then, I hope my children will continue my saga in their own time when I have passed.
In my retrospection, 2007 had been a great year. A year full of events and incidents. A great year which I embarked on a new chapter in my karate exploration, a totally new direction and a new experience for me. I had visited Okinawa last July/August, a dream place where most karate practitioners would visit and seek further knowledge and experience. I had witnessed with my own eyes for the first time and had broken the myths about karate on Okinawa. I had achieved, to some extent, from Jukyu to Ikkyu after a month long of “severe” training on Okinawa and received recognition and approval (to teach) from both my teacher and my teacher’s teacher. I learned the meaning of “severe” from my new teacher. Upon my return from Okinawa, I set the course on track, a big responsibility for me to teach what I had learned on Okinawa to my students. I opened the first Okinawa Karate-Do Uechi-Ryu Zankai Malaysia Dōkōkai in November. All my students had been tested and a hierarchy had formed before the year ended with Christmas Carol and Nikainen-undō (Training on New Year Eve pass midnight, bridging two years).
I have a rather successful year despite of some sour events. What else do I want more? It is time for me to let go those mistreatment I received. It is time for me to let go the hatred and grudge (did I have any?). It will be nice to let these burdens off my shoulder. This way I can even progress further as I can already see.
I am not only learning a great art of Uechi-Ryu from my teacher, I am also learning the fine Okinawan Budo art from him. I wish to thank him and also those people who have been supporting and assisting me. Once again, thank you all and may you have a happy, prosperous and successful new year 2008.
At the end of 2007, I had seen the challenge for me to teach the concept of Uechi-Ryu, particularly, wa-uke, binkansa and yawarakasa. It is really abstract and hard to be explained and understood by words. So, I begin my research and writing an article (of many parts) to assist my teaching. Part 1 of the article was written two days ago. I foresee it will be many parts of it like this anamnesis. I hope to compile these articles (posts including the comments) into a research paper or book later on. Maybe 10 years later when I have got more time to sit down for word crafting.
Speaking about word crafting, I learn a great deal from my teacher too. Perhaps, my blog will train me to become a writer/author one day.
The last 6 months of 2007 were really exciting and fruitful. I learned a great deal along the process and I find myself with more knowledge and skills. Oh yes, and experience. I would like to thank those people who were the causal factors which slingshot me into this marvelous learning paradise!
Protected: OA9
Protected: Feeling – The ultimate learning – Part 1
Control
Control is the ultimate skill level for any martial artists. To be able to control your strikes is the hardest to achieve compared to how hard you can strike your opponent.
I recalled in a tournament 18 years ago, where I was enraged by the referee who did not award me point when I gave a uraken-uchi (back fist strike) to my opponent every time he threw a gyaku-tzuki (reverse punch) to my mid section. I struck him with uraken-uchi to the side of his head but he could not even touch my gi. I had the advantage of long reach than him. I was 6’3″ and he was about 5’5″. I became more frustrated and angry as his punches did not touch me but awarded point. I don’t deny his gyaku-tzuki was perfect in posture, movement, power, speed and timing. My uraken-uchi struck harder every each time he was awarded wazari (half point). The last few strikes were the hardest, if they all landed on the vital point such as the temple, he would be traumatized. I struck on his parietal with surgical precision. Parietal is the largest and hardest skull bone which covers both sides and the lateral of the brain.
I never met my opponent since after the fight until I met two of his friends at a National Sports Science Workshop in September 2004. We talked about the old days and mentioned about this guy. Both of them told me that this guy said to them how powerful my uraken-uchi. He was feeling dizzy and disoriented after the fight.
Uraken-uchi is my favorite technique because of the advantage of my long range and height. I developed a powerful uraken-uchi and was able to strike hard without drawing the hand backward closer to the body. 18 years ago, I had already developed controllable uraken-uchi with various level of power.
After the tournament, it took me almost 15 years to develop precise control which I am able to deliver an uraken-uchi to opponent’s face with superficial tingling sensation without any obvious injury. Today, my uraken-uchi can strike like a sledge hammer or as soft as a pat on a baby. I have yet to master control as I don’t feel satisfied and am still continuously seeking perfection.
How to develop control and precision in a strike? Well, feeling is the most important factor in acquiring such skill.
Uechi-Ryu Zankai – My Anamnesis – Part 8
A great advancement in my teaching/coaching experience occurred when I switched from one karate style to another and finally to Uechi-Ryu. My journey has taught me a great deal about teaching. My current teacher, Seizan Sensei has been my good guidance and I have learned a great deal from him too.
Recently, after the last grading test on December 21, I received valuable feedbacks from my teacher. It is extremely easy to learn movement of kata in Uechi-Ryu compared to any other styles. The main factor is the minimum techniques and stances. The most fundamental and frequently used stance is Sanchin-dachi, followed by kiba-dachi and zenkutsu-dachi. Sanchin-dachi appears 98% in all kata. There is only one blocking technique in Uechi-Ryu, the versatile Wa-uke or circular block.
The wa-uke looks very easy and simple by making a circular motion with the arm. The easiest and simplest thing requires most effort to understand and the most difficult to master. I have been trying to teach the basic concept about wa-uke to my students. Even the most senior student has difficulties to understand my teaching.
We often hear a saying, “Empty your cup… to taste my tea.” or equivalent. It is necessary for those who switch over from other style of karate to Uechi-Ryu. They need to unlearn what they have learned. They have to put all the techniques behind. One most important thing they need to put behind is their attitude before they can open their mind and let the knowledge be absorbed like a sponge.
Besides an open mind and/or attitude to willingly accept new knowledge, skills and techniques which look contrary to their previous training, another important requirement is open up all the senses/feeling during training and learning. Senses or feelings, include vision, hearing, touch, macro and micro movement, instinct, and heart. Feeling is a necessary factor in training which most students and teachers have overlook.
Training with feelings can accelerate the understanding of a technique and concepts behind it. Even my most senior student cannot feel or at least describe her feelings during training or practice. Most karate trainings are merely repeating mechanical performance and lack emphasis on feelings. Feelings are most important in the understanding of Uechi-Ryu concepts.
I will write about effectiveness of training by open up all your senses in a series of articles here. I will also write about advanced wa-uke concept in another article. But these articles will only be available to my students and Zankai fellows.
《秋风夜吟》
一时心血来潮，写了一首诗《 秋风夜吟》。这可是我第一首中文诗，献丑了！
秋风轻拂又一载，回首笑看众愚痴。
奴面不如花面好，江湖恩怨今秋了。
云鬓斜簪春欲放，仰首挺胸迎彤霞。
龙虎鹤功悲新竹，学问功名笑野梅。
老夫高歌轻俗世，秋风伴我饮一杯。
－－贺文耀 2007年12月26日著。
Birthday Wish 2007
Last year, I made a birthday wish to learn Uechi-Ryu karate from Toyama Sensei. My wish came through and again thanks to Scott of Canada who led me the path.
Actually, I got to train with Toyama’s Sensei trusted student, Seizan Sensei, my teacher. And I got the chance to meet Toyama Sensei and performed in front of him. I feel I am one of those lucky people to be able to find great teacher.
This birthday, I make another wish, to achieve my dan ranking of my dream before I retire from public teaching. The dan and my retiring year remain as secret in my heart.
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