The 40th anniversary! It is had to believe that so much time has passed since coming to the US. I wish my husband could have been here to celebrate this occasion with you, but unfortunately it was not meant to be. In my husbands place, I was asked to say a few word and was at a loss for something to say, but certain events over the past month made it clear that three points need to be stated.

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First is the concept of being a traditionalist.
 

I'm sure that for anyone who has and is studying Karate the question of its origin has come across their mind. And, in the process of searching for the answer one would discover that it was the peasant farmers that embraced it first. The traces of this can still be seen in many of the weapons used in the martial arts that resemble simple farm tools. The peasants embraced the art to protect the community from the feudal lords that would take advantage of them. The art gave them a way to develop a sense of community; it gave them the ability to determine
their own destiny.

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In modern times, we are not fighting unreasonable feudal lords, but the fundamental purpose still hold true; to develop the self. In studying the art, we develop a discipline that helps us discover ourselves. It brings focus into our lives and this focus helps us find our place in the community. We are in the service of developing this community and as the community prospers we prosper individually.

 

The second point is the leadership of Shorin ryu Karate USA.
 

Over five years ago, our son Ando, because he lives in Japan, was asked to search for a karate gi that was sewn with black thread and to purchase three. They were supposed to be present at the next major Shorin ryu Karate USA event to the top three leaders-Bob, Baker and Sieger. This was inspired by the fact that the leadership of the organization did an out-standing job in the eyes of my husband. Developing the organization while maintaining the tradition of Shorin-Ryu Karate. This is no easy feat. In these times, profit seems to take priority over everything else and the fact that Shorin-Ryu Karate USA has been able to keep the tradition as pure as its origin is an accomplishment that we can all be proud of; an accomplishment that all the masters throughout the history of Shorin-Ryu can be proud of.

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Finally, Robert Scaglione.
 

To my husband, New York City is the center of the world, not Kincho Yakuba, Okinawa; a realization on his last trip to Okinawa. To him, New York is his home that is why we moved the family burial site to Locust Valley. His dream was to open the main dojo in New York City in partnership with someone he could eventually call his equal; someone who would teach the master a new lesson. This person is Robert Scaglione. From the time Robert was studying at the Saint James Dojo, whether he knew it or not, he was being groomed to be that person. The most important element in a relationship is trust and anyone who has served in the military, police department, fire department-any job where you are faced with putting your life in someone else's hands could truly understand the importance of this trust. A trust where you truly believe that this other person would make the same decision as you would in a given situation. It is this kind of relationship that Robert and Ansei has developed over the years; actually my husband knew this relationship would develop the first time he shook Bob's hand. My husband had entrusted Bob with the future of Shorin-Ryu in the US way before he passed away; I am grateful for this fact because I am at ease for I know my husband's wishes for the future of Shorin-Ryu in the US will be realized. My job, the Ueshiro family's duty now lies in supporting the leadership of Shorin-Ryu Karate USA.

I am grateful to all of you for keeping alive the tradition that had brought success to my husband in all aspects of his life and I truly and sincerely hope that it bring success in all aspects of your lives.

 

Sincere regards,
 

Hiro Ueshiro