Gordi, what are you doing in Okinawa? I joined the Air Force in 1972, and when I was stationed at Plattsburgh Air Force Base I discovered Uechi-Ryu — a karate system brought to Okinawa from China toward the end of the 19th century. Unlike other martial arts I tried, Uechi-Ryu appealed to me because I could easily measure my progress and see beyond the next step. I continued to study and practice the discipline, and eventually came to Okinawa to further that experience.

There is a funny story behind that, right? Actually, yes. You see, I was an Air Force weather technician. Being a weather tech in Okinawa during that time was extremely challenging because you were surrounded by water, and there was little data for use in our forecasts. So when I called the AF assignments section and told them I was interested in taking orders to Okinawa, the person who answered the phone cupped the receiver and shouted, “Hey guys, there’s a weather tech in Plattsburgh who wants orders to Okinawa!” Then I heard a shout from across the room, “Great! Get his name and his number!”

Sounds like you made the best of it. I gave my best to the Air Force and in return I was afforded the opportunity to study Uechi-Ryu in Okinawa. Another neat experience was being the AFRTS weather man for a while. I am no “ham” but I felt comfortable before the camera. Part of that is because I was training to be a professional violinist in Montreal when my draft card came up and I joined the Air Force. I was used to facing the public. The television experience added confidence once I began teaching large groups of Uechi-Ryu students.

How did you start your own Uechi-Ryu dojo on Okinawa? For 24 years I studied the same Uechi-Ryu I learned in the States. Then in 1998 I met Toyama Sensei, who for eight years was a student of the man who brought this martial art to Japan. He took me under his wing to teach me the older, original form that his sensei brought back from China. I think he looked at me as a block of wood that needed a lot of carving and polishing!

Toyama Sensei sounds like a miracle worker. Absolutely. Physically he is an 80-year-old with the body of a strong man in his 30s. He is also very wise. He derives a lot of very subtle and accurate information from a person’s body language. He knows by how people talk, when their pupils dilate, how they shift their bodies or sit, etc., to determine whether they are sincere, nervous or shy. He uses this to help him decide what to show or how to train this person.

But what about the dojo? After training three to four hours a day for seven days a week in the first year with Toyama Sensei, I showed satisfactory improvement. Eventually, my wife and I received permission from Toyama Sensei to build and open the Nagahama Dojo in 2000.

Favorite martial arts flicks? All Bruce Lee movies are superb. He was a master at his craft and maintained a splendid physique, and his dedication showed in his movies.

And the “Karate Kid”? For the most part, laughable. I must say though, “Mr. Miyagi” did perform some of his Karate techniques well.

Gordi (Seizan) BreyetteAge: 54Title: SenseiLocation: Nagahama, Yomitan, Okinawa

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