UESHIRO SHORIN-RYU KARATE USA
UNDER THE DIRECTION OF HANSHI ROBERT SCAGLIONE
A TRIBUTE TO MASTER UESHIRO
May 7, 2002
Dear Deshi,
It is with profound sadness and regret that I must inform you that Grand Master Ansei Ueshiro passed away this morning from a stroke suffered this past Saturday.
The Ueshiro family is in the process of making funeral arrangements and we will post them when they are finalized.
I know I speak for all of us when I offer my sincerest condolences and
sympathy to the Ueshiro family and we are forever indebted to Master Ueshiro for the extraordinary gift of Shorin-Ryu karate that he brought to us from his homeland of Okinawa. We will continue to express our love and respect for this gift through the Shorin-Ryu tradition of always moving forward.
Thank you for your help and understanding during this sad occasion.
Arigato,
Kyoshi Robert Scagione
Hong Kong Karate Club
On behalf of Sensei Alan Lai and Hong Kong Karate Club, we would like to THANK Hanshi for passing the most precious root of Shorin-Ryu Karate to us from Okinawa to USA and back to Asia. Through the practice of karate, we will convert our sadness to energy on the deck and keep moving forward! God Bless you, Hanshi.
Domo Arigato.
-- Kenneth Cheung
The Denver Shorin-Ryu Karate Club
The news from Kyoshi provides us an opportunity to reflect on the importance of what Master Ueshiro has allowed us to share. His life provided the focus and opportunity for the continuation and expansion of the teachings of Master Nagamini and those who have gone before. We are now that continuation. Although we no longer have Master Ueshiro's physical presence, like the other Masters, he remains with us in our spirit and our kata as we strive to expand our knowledge of the universe he has helped to define. It is in that striving that we celebrate, into the future, what he has meant to us, so far. Domo arigato, Master Ueshiro, safe travels,
Respectfully,
-- T.J Carney, yon kyu
Shorin-Ryu Student
Ansei Ueshiro arrived in the U.S on September 15th, 1962. Since that time he overcame great obstacles and was able to work out a living and work tirelessly for the propagation of Shorin-Ryu Karate Do in this country. His efforts were unwavering and he has produced many great karateka through his teaching and support. His influence has grown Shorin-Ryu in the U.S. and will aways be with us even though he has passed along.
We too must train hard, grow in knowledge, grow in wisdom and pass along our experiences to keep the martial arts experience alive in future generations.
Respectfully,
-- Barry Wake
Longtime Neighbor & Friend of the Family
I was fortunate to know Mr. Ueshiro and his family as a child growing up on Long Island. I was a neighbor and friend of the Ueshiro family from 1973 until 1991 when my family moved from Devon Avenue in Farmingville, NY. As a young child my best friend was his son Angie (Angiro) and Yoko was a classmate and friend as well. Mr. Ueshiro was a very kind, caring man with a wonderful sense of humor. His honor and dignity as a person was evident in his every day interaction with his family, friends and neighbors. Although it has been many years since I have last seen him there is still a feeling of sadness that such a wonderful man has left us. It was an honor to know him and his family.
-- Steven Latino
Shihan/Bushi Dojo, Santa Monica,CA.
With all due respect to Hanshi and all Denshi:
As a humble student I would like to share with everyone in honor of the relationship between Kyoshi to Hanshi and now Hanshi to Master. There is a Kanji Character called "Saisho" It literally means, "Planting The Pine", those of us from Shorin-Ryu (Pine Forest Way) at this time can really appreciate the wisdom and power in this Zen Teaching, "PLANTING THE PINE".
In the Rinza Roku (Recorded Sayings of Rinzai") there is a story that goes: "When Rinzai was planting pine tree's, his teacher, Obaku, asked, What's the good of planting so many trees in the deep mountains?' Rinzai replied, "First, I want a natural setting for the main gate; second, I want to make a landmark for later generations.' Rinzai then thumped the ground three times with his mattock and breathed out a great breath. Understanding this, Obuaku said,.... 'Under you my line will flourish throughout the world'."
Because of this historical event, even nowadays most Rinzai Zen monasteries plant a pine tree on Rinzai's Day, wishing to make a beautiful natural setting for the main gate and also to make a landmark for the generations to come.
So let us plant a pine tree in our hearts and thump the ground three times, in honor of Grand Master Ansei Ueshiro and for the flourishing of the line "Pine Forest Way' throughout the world under: Hanshi Robert Scaglione. This is the wish of Grand Master Ueshiro, I'm sure we can all see him thumping the heavens with his Rokushakubo and breathing out a great breath.
Arigato Hanshi.
-- Sensei Barnes
Downtown Karate Dojo
DOMO ARIGATO HANSHI!
You Will always be with us in spirit as we train hard and propagate the art.... Our hearts, sympathy, and aloha go out to the Ueshiro Family and Grand Master Ansei Ueshiro for sharing this beautiful Martial Art of Matsubayashi Shorin-ryu.
-- Sensei Lorenzo Aguon and the Entire Dojo
Bushi Dojo, Eilat Israel
TO GRAND MASTER ANSEI UESHIRO,
DOMO ARIGATO GOZAIMASU HANSHI, FOR YOUR SHORIN RYU KARATE, FOR ALL THE YEARS AND ALL NEXT YEARS.GOD BLESS HANSHI WE LOVE YOU!
Arigato Hanshi.
-- Shlomo Dadon
The Denver Shorin-Ryu Karate Club
The Denver Club is deeply saddened by this great loss.
Arigato Hanshi for this great gift of Shorin-Ryu.
We will keep the tradition and you in our hearts forever.
-- Shelley Schlossberg-Gucker
Pine Forest Dojo
God Bless You Hanshi.
WE LOVE YOU.
-- David Seeger
Downtown Karate Dojo
"Through adversity, the man became a Master. So humble, this man."
Domo Arigato gozaimashita for your example, Hanshi Ueshiro.
I will always remember.
-- Lyle Kleusch, Ni-Dan
Shorin-Ryu Student
My deepest sympathy at the passing of O-Sensei.
He was the true spirit of Shorin-ryu.
-- Mike Romero
Bushi Dojo, Santa Monica,CA.
With all due respect to Hanshi and all Denshi:
As a humble student I would like to share with everyone in honor of the relationship between Kyoshi to Hanshi and now Hanshi to Master.
There is a Kanji Character called "Saisho." It literally means, "Planting The Pine." Those of us from Shorin-Ryu (Pine Forest Way) at this time can really appreciate the wisdom and power in this Zen Teaching, "PLANTING THE PINE."
In the Rinza Roku (Recorded Sayings of Rinzai"), there is a story that goes: "When Rinzai was planting pine trees, his teacher, Obaku asked, "What's the good of planting so many trees in the deep mountains?" Rinzai replied, "First, I want a natural setting for the main gate; Second, I want to make a landmark for later generations." Rinzai then thumped the ground three times with his mattock and breathed out a great breath. Understanding this, Obuaku said, "Under you, my line will flourish throughout the world."
Because of this historical event, even nowadays most Rinzai Zen monasteries plant a pine tree on Rinzai's Day, wishing to make a beautiful natural setting for the main gate and also to make a landmark for the generations to come.
So let us plant a pine tree in our hearts and thump the ground three times, in honor of Grand Master Ansei Ueshiro and for the flourishing of the line "Pine Forest Way' throughout the world under Hanshi Robert Scaglione. This is the wish of Grand Master Ueshiro. I'm sure we can all see him thumping the heavens with his Rokushakubo and breathing out a great breath.
Arigato Hanshi
-- Sensei Barnes, Shihan