Interview – Back from Winterfest

We are thrilled to welcome back our Sensei, Lionel Reynaud, who has just returned from his trip to Florida where he participated in the prestigious Winterfest (March 7–8), organized by George Mattson, often considered the father of Uechi-Ryu Karate in America.

Uechi-Ryu Oryukai: Welcome back, Lionel! You just returned from the USA, where you took part in Winterfest.

Lionel Reynaud: Hello! Yes, indeed—I had the privilege of being invited by George Mattson to Orlando, Florida, for Winterfest.
Winterfest is a gathering that began in the late 1970s and has welcomed many great masters such as Seiyu Gushi, Tsumoto Nakahodo, and Kanmei Uechi, among others.
The goal of this event is to bring together practitioners from different countries and organizations within the Uechi-Ryu Karate world.

We had representatives from the USA, Argentina, Brazil, the Netherlands, Australia, China, France… and organizations like IUKF, Kenyukai, Butokukai, Yoshukai, and many more.
What I appreciated most was the spirit of fraternity, beyond nationalities and organizations. Even if there are differences in practice, we all share a common path in Uechi-Ryu Karate.
In a global climate of anxiety, many participants expressed their gratitude for this unique opportunity to come together.

How did the days unfold?

The schedule was simple and effective. Each day began with a joint morning session led by George Mattson and Buzz Durkin.
After that, around 10 AM, 3–4 simultaneous workshops were offered. The topics were diverse, with strong emphasis on the Chinese roots of Uechi-Ryu Karate.

We had workshops on wooden dummy training, sessions with Kung Fu masters, Kobudo, and of course, many workshops entirely focused on Uechi-Ryu.

Sounds like a massive dojo?

Actually, we weren’t in a dojo! With over 100 participants and multiple workshops, it would be hard to find a space that large in Orlando.
Some workshops were even held outdoors, as Mattson Sensei likes to say: “The world is our dojo.”
The day before Winterfest officially started, George invited us to train in a wooded park—a truly enjoyable experience, especially with the warm Florida weather!

The guest list included U.S. Karate legends—you were among them. How did that feel?

Honestly, I was a bit intimidated at first, but mostly excited. I’ve been in contact with many of these practitioners online for over ten years, and it was my first chance to meet them in person.

Anyone in particular come to mind?

Yes, Rik Lostritto and Jannet Okazaki, with whom I regularly train online. Rik is a student of Gushi Sensei, who had a major impact in the U.S. during the 1980s.
Also, Buzz and Judy Durkin, Patricia and Tim Dando, Justin Testa (with whom I teach online via the Mattson Academy and who authored a great book on Uechi-Ryu), and of course my dear friend Cecilia Salbuchi from Argentina. It was a real joy to finally spend time together in person!

You’ve named many people—but not George Mattson?

(Laughs) That’s true! I’ve known George for many years. He’s extremely important to me—not just as a martial artist, but on a personal level. He and his wife Susan are like family to me.
It was a great honor to stand by his side during such an event, and to share meaningful moments despite how busy the schedule was.

At 88 years old, he continues to practice with remarkable energy, passion, and vision. He even demonstrated katas during the event, just after recovering from illness.

He also spoke about Kanei Uechi and Ryuko Tomoyose?

Yes, he’s very committed to passing on the teachings he received from Kanei Uechi and Ryuko Tomoyose. That’s what he refers to as “The Old Way.”

What is “The Old Way”?

It’s based on practical principles: working on relaxation to enhance speed and impact, along with specific breathing techniques.
It’s a full-body practice that allows you to conserve energy and then release it at the right moment—switching between solid and fluid phases of movement.

Is this approach spreading in the U.S.?

Not really—it’s a big country with many different teachers. But during Winterfest, many high-ranking black belts came to explore or rediscover this approach.
It was very enriching to work with them.

So it wasn’t a gathering just for The Old Way?

Correct—it was a Uechi-Ryu Karate event. However, The Old Way was introduced each morning by George, and there was a dedicated workshop each day.
Justin Testa led the static component, while I led the dynamic part, focusing on full-body integration (InYo) and different kata execution levels.

That’s quite a responsibility!

And quite a language challenge, too! (Laughs) My English definitely doesn’t have a U.S. accent.
Honestly, I didn’t focus on the responsibility—I focused on sharing useful content. The participants were very eager to learn and asked great questions.

I didn’t even realize I had 7th, 8th, and 9th dan black belts in my first workshop until the end! That might have added pressure—but luckily I just went ahead with what I’d prepared.

I also shared some live physiological data collected while performing the three traditional katas—Sanchin, Seisan, and Sanseiryu—to illustrate the efficiency of this method.
While Okinawan Karate isn’t as “technological” as modern sports like cycling (where I coached for many years), we can still use tools like the Herman Trainer developed by George Mattson to measure reaction time and technique impact.

What kind of feedback did you get?

Some told me “The Old Way” reflected principles their Japanese masters used—but without ever explaining them.
Several students of Gushi Sensei recognized familiar concepts.
They were also very interested in the live data and how it could inform training.
What touched me most was the humility of high-ranking instructors—open to learning, questioning, and training alongside everyone else.
It was incredibly inspiring.

What’s next?

First—rest! It was an emotionally and physically intense week. I did manage a short break to visit the Kennedy Space Center, which was amazing.

But I was back teaching online just a few hours after landing in France, and I’ll resume classes in Toulouse next Monday, thanks to my wonderful colleague Sophie Palierne, who covered for me.

Looking ahead, we have the Uechi-Ryu French Cup, visits from Japanese experts, and we’ll also organize a gathering for students from the Uechi-Ryu Karate Institute (online classes).

In September, I’ll be in Regensburg, Germany, to co-lead a Uechi-Ryu Karate seminar.