[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 87 (Wednesday, May 24, 1995)]
[Senate]
[Page S7401]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


                  OKINAWAN KARATE-DO IN MASSACHUSETTS

 Mr. KERRY. Mr. President, Massachusetts is proud to be home to 
the North American Okinawan Karate-Do Association. Early in this 
century, Kanbum Uechi studied this ancient art on the mainland of China 
where it was first developed. Returning to his homeland of Okinawa, he 
introduced it there in 1910 and was the first master of the Okinawan 
Karate-Do system.
  In 1956, for the first time, American servicemen were accepted as 
students in the Okinawan Karate-Do schools. One of them settled in the 
Boston area after his military discharge and began teaching this art 
form to people in the area. Walter Mattson of Framingham, MA, is the 
senior American instructor.
  Over the years, there has been a continuing cultural exchange between 
the Masters on Okinawa and practitioners here in North America. Mr. 
Mattson is primarily responsible for this 35-year exchange program. 
This summer, Senior Instructor Peter McCrae from Plymouth, MA, will be 
studying on Okinawa with Master Shintoku Takara.
  Many Americans have found in Okinawan Karate-Do a physical and mental 
discipline which promotes positive attitudes, good health, and self-
mastery. Our young people have found in it an alternative to the 
streets and, in its instructors, positive role models. We are grateful 
for this Japanese import and we hope that this positive exchange 
between our two countries continues for many years.


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