9th Dan - Uechiryu Karate

Justin Testa is a highly respected martial artist with 59 years of experience in Uechi-Ryu karate. He holds the rank of 9th Dan and the titles of Hanshi and Shihan. Justin is the senior instructor at Mattson Academy of Karate (www.AtHomeKarate.com), and author of the recently published book, “Insights Into Uechi-Ryu Karate (www.uechi-insights.com).

Title: Power Uechi Seminar

Power and strength are often used interchangeably, but biomechanically, they are two distinct qualities. Strength refers to the maximum amount of force a muscle or group of muscles can produce, regardless of speed. In contrast, power is the combination of strength and speed. To maximize one’s power in movement, accelerated movement without tension is necessary. Several years ago, Sensei George Mattson introduced the OldWay to UechiCon. The OldWay describes a method of practicing Uechi-Ryu movements that closely aligns with the half-hard/half-soft principles of Uechi-Ryu, as taught to him by Master Tomoyose Ryuko and Master Uechi Kanei in the 1950s in Okinawa. The OldWay is based on the key principle of body flow. Body flow maximizes speed and power through tension-free movement and acceleration that starts from the ground. It requires connecting movements of the entire body through the kinetic chain. Generating powerful movement begins with the feet, ankles, and legs. The lower body connects to the upper body through an activated core, and at the moment of impact, the shoulders, arms, fists, and muscles throughout the chain tense and then relax. This is the essence of what we aim to develop through the OldWay method of movement. In this seminar, you will practice tension-free movement, learn several exercises key to developing lower body strength, perform drills to feel the connection to the ground, and practice Uechi hand isometrics. Both newcomers to the OldWay methodology and those who are already practicing it will benefit from this seminar.