delta1

Well, you're on the right track, but you may be getting derailed a bit. All martial arts work with principles, and the highest form of any art is not only to be able to do it, but to thoroughly understand what you are doing. EPAK demands a good understanding, as opposed to arts that show you and leave you to work it out, hopefully with some instructor guidance. But there is no requirement to pick apart another system to either understand it or to restructure it. We get the tools to do that, and it is encouraged. But you could just keep advancing with only an understanding of the principles and concepts in AK. Personally, I find it fascinating to work with another stylist, see what he does, look for similarities, differences, points of divergence or convergence, ... . Not everyone is that way. My brother, for example, hates it when I compare styles. He immediately starts expounding on why the Kenpo way is better, and he really gets mad if I use something I learned outside our system on him and it works. It works in reverse too. He's so bad about it that once when we were sparing he was sneaking in a move from time to time and nailing me hard. I don't even remember what it was, but I do remember I was getting tired of getting hit (especially by him). So I told him that I'd seen that move practiced as a base move in a TKD school that I'd recently worked with. He never used it on me again! OK, you're derailed, I'm sidetracked. Back to the discussion: AK does have a lot of basics, and we have a lot of techniques which consist of different moves, basics, principles, concepts, etc. And we do tear them apart and restructure them. This is all a part of the method of learning and understanding these different moves, basics, principles, concepts, etc. That is what they were designed to teach, not a rote response to every situation you might face (as though that were possible). So, yes, that is prety much what we do. But we aren't the only ones that do it. We do approach it a little different than most. And we do it mostly to our own techniques. Doing it to your techniques is extracarricular, but a lot of fun- and very instructive in its own right. Hope this answered your question(s).

I recomend training an offensive mindset. Your defense should be an offense. Attack the attack! Take the initiative from him. This doesn't mean you have to hurt him. If the scenario calls for it, you may simply subdue him, redirect or upset him. But don't get caught in a situation where you are on the defensive and he still has the initiative. Even a frail, 90 yr old drunk can get lucky, given enough chances.

School Name: American Kenpo Consulting Address: Houston, TX Phone: 281-343-0581 Head Instructor / Rank: Terry McCord, 2nd Degree Black Belt Style: Ed Parker's American Kenpo, Paul Mills Associations: AKKI Email Address: Terry McCord Website: Kenpo Consulting -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- School Name: Ryukyu Kenpo Address: near West Bellfort and Fondren, Houston, TX Phone: 713-728-8641 Head Instructor / Rank: David Altman Style: Ryukyu Kenpo Description: Teaches privately, so call for information to arrange a free introductory lesson. Teaching 9th grade up and adults. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- School Name: Houston American Kenpo Training Platform Address: Houston, TX Phone: 713-728-4084 Head Instructor / Rank: Jason Bugg, 1st Degree Black Belt Style: Ed Parker's American Kenpo, Imua Kenpo Assocation: American Kenpo Federation (Brian Duffy), Imua Kenpo (Ron Braughton), OAKKA Email Address: Mr. Bugg Website: Houston Kenpo -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- School Name: Kenpo Karate: The Martial Way Address: 6100 Fairdale Ln. #8, Houston, TX 77057 Phone: 713-784-3237 Head Instructor / Rank: Jeff Townsend, 2nd Deg. Black Belt Style: Ed Parker's American Kenpo Associations: IKKA You might try contacting some of these instructors. I don't have any info or recomendations on these schools. They are from an old list, but hopefully you can get ahold of some of them. Good luck.

I have to agree with SS and Lucky here. Look, it is true that a good portion of the students in most schools are there mostly to pay the bills and keep the doors open. But that doesn't mean that there should be no standards for them, or that they shouldn't be pushed to be better. It doesn't even mean you accept everything that walks in the door with his check book. There is nothing wrong with an instructor giving extra to those students willing to work more. But there has to be some base standard that he will not compromise, otherwise he compromises everyones training, including the select few highly motivated stuents. Another point about lazy students- a lot of learning is by example. If he has lazy students, he might ask himself why. And I don't buy the 'Lazy American' stereotype. We may be slipping some, but he's in a country that still out produces the next ten top producing countries in the world. That's not just chance or blessing, it takes work. If none of his students are producing, maybe he should look at management.

I think you are correct. What I've found is that the martial arts as a whole is a family. I'm like the country cousin, I don't have a regular school close by. But, whenever I'm at my school for privare lessons, I try to schedule it so I can make a regular class as well. I'm allways accepted as part of the "family'. And, whenever I've visited other Kenpo schools, I'm accepted the same as you would an out of town relative. Even other systems treat you like a distant relative, for the most part.

Self defense was one of my main reasons for starting martial arts. I wanted to become a better figter, and when I tried it, I loved it. I've allways been verry active and extremely competitive. Me and my brother got back together many years ago (much to the horror and disgust of the good folk) and he introduced me to Kenpo. I was hooked! It is an extremely self de/off-ense oriented system. You learn to not only fight offensively, but to take an opponents successful attack and turn it on him. If he wants to grab you, don't just let him, make him hold, then make him regret it! Another thing I love is the mental aspects of the martial arts. Again, Kenpo is perfect for me in that it demands some understanding, but allows you to get a deeper understanding if you wish. I also like playing with other styles, and Kenpo's emphasis on understanding principles helps me to understand and appreciate what, and how, they do things. Then it all comes together when you spar. One of the reasons I like contact sparing is that, to me, it is like working a very large multideminsional jigsaw puzzle. The pieces must go together very quickly, and with varrying degrees of difficulty. And, the puzzle constantly changes. In no contact, you are mostly completely upright and fight in two deminsions. But, add contact, and suddenly you are reaching deep, filling voids, moving by sight, feel and instinct. Range control becomes a factor, timeing and technique are more critical. You are working off your opponents reactions, and trying to control yours. Again, in Kenpo, we say "Without contact, there is no reality!" That is why I started, and why I do what I do. My reasons are still pretty much the same. But as I get older, it also is something I can do to keep active and motivated. I don't do as much hard contact as I used to, but I still like to mix it up. Right now, I'm taking Celibrex and herbs like candy because I over di it last Monday. Oh, yeah... for the spiritual stuff, I do Taiji. And Arnis- them sticks will make a believer out of you!

110/mo and a 1 yr contract- I'd say don't even go back there. A few years ago, there was a Kenpo school in Spokane that charged about 50/mo and sold 1 yr contracts, but I believe they had the option of shorter contracts for a little more money. The Kenpo community in the entire 3 state region would have nothing to do with this guy. People like that give the martial arts a bad name, and true martial artists don't like it, or them.

I do not recomend learning Tai Chi (Taiji) by video. There are a lot of intricacies in the postures and transitions that, if done incorrectly, will destroy rather than heal. Particularly susceptable, especially for a larger person, are the knees. You need a good instructor to correct you before you develope bad habbits and debilitating problems. Another questionable, and even dangerouse, practice is self developement of internal energy. Forget what you read on the internal forum here- qi is real and another thing that, if handled improperly, your training can do seriouse dammage to your health. Fortunately, you are more likely to just waste your time doing things like locating your tantien on the surface of your belly somewhere below your navel. ( )

In American Kenpo, the reply is "That's not how Mr. Parker showed me to do it!" Guess the variouse ma's aren't all that different, at their deepest levels.

Give it a try, and see what you think. I've worked quite a bit with TKD, and find it can mix well with American Kenpo (my base). You will find that they definately violate almost every principle Kenpo taught you. But break their stuff down and look at the principles from a Kenpo perspective, and you will be surprised to find that they aren't all that different, just exagerated. However, don't be surprised if no one in your new school has the foggiest notion of what you are doing when you clean up the moves and start to extrapolate your own applications. Some TKD schools do this, but typically at higher levels. Others just learn the moves, memorize the applications, test for the belt. In fact, that is one of the things I'd look for when selecting a school. See if the instructor, and some of the senior students, can discuss principles, applications (more than the 'this is for that' littany) and can make them work on a moving, resisting opponent- not just on the challenger who punches and stands there like he's trying to attract pigeons. Can they string their one steps together to make a workable technique? How do they spar?

I don't like contracts. They are one of the main tools of the McDojo. A competent instructor will be able to keep students without having them sign contracts. But that's just my opinion. Best thing I can tell you is to be dang careful and make sure this is what you want. Look around and see what is common in your area. Also, see what else is available. Are there any other JiuJitsu schools around? How do they do it?

Long, but informative. Thanks.

If you are close to this school, you might pay it a visit: Metz's Martial Arts 916 South 10th Street Manitowoc WI, 54220 (920)683-9772 I worked out a little with Mr. Metz and some of his students. First rate bunch! He does primarily IKCA Kenpo, but also mixes other arts as well.

Agree w/ th' MDOT guy. Additionally, it may allow him to time you and then nail you. Don't go in with a pre-planned fight. Adjust strategy to your opponent.

... and, forget what your mother told you; "Son, never get involved in any activities that require armoured underwear!" ...

I grew up in Texas and New Mexico, so it was common knowlege to me. We had a bowl of chilis on the table like most people have a bowl of fruit. But it still happens. By the way, you can make a mean self defense spray out of chili oil in a nose spray bottle. Just don't leave the thing laying around!

I've only had the opportunity, and privilage, to work with them once. But I was obviously more than impresed by all I met. (I didn't get to meet Mr. Gabriel, though.) If you've competed angainst and worked with these guys, I'm sure you know what I mean.

Bourbon. Dry, red wine. Miller Highlife. Plain, unsweetened (and sure as * no milk), tea- hot or cold. Water.

They shouldn't. Ed Parker even taught different people differently at the same time. He insisted that everyone know how to think, and understood the principles and not just the moves. I don't think he wanted, or would have appreciated, a bunch Of robots perpetuating his art. The only thing you have to be careful of in deleting or changing techniques is that you don't destroy or miss part of the Web of Knowlege that was inherent in the 'final draft' of the system (which Mr. Parker was still changing at his death- I understand he was working on a grappling carriculum within the system). I've heard it said (but am not advanced enough to know) that the entire 154 tech carriculum, plus extensions, can be reduced to 18 basic techniques done 154 different ways. But you need the principles, concepts, moves and followups in logical progression to really understand what you are doing. Then, with that understandoing, you can more readily integrate other arts, which may use different principles and concepts, effectively. Many AK schools or systems do integrate other systems. FMA's and grappling are popular, as well as others. Huk Plannas organization does Arnis. The AKTS (which I belong to) does grappling, though it isn't required. I also study with the IKCA carriculum. They have reduced the entire syetem to 55 techniques. You get the moves, principles and concepts. But the Web of Knowlege is not as complete, though they are not slouches by any means. Most of the seriouse students there train it as an adjunct to other arts, or as a base on which to graft other systems, and it works well for this. You are correct that there is usually a good cross section of attitudes in most schools. But, at least in the schools I've seen, you won't get to advanced levels without contact fighting. They don't require MMA competition, and a 60 yr old woman won't be required to fight all out with a 20 yr old male. But she will have to fight with contact at some level before black. On the other hand, I recently returned from a short trip to CA. I met my first Kenpoists who don't spar with contact at any level. I'd heard rumors that these types exist, but... . Any way, sounds like you have a good school there.

I check out Martial Talk from time to time. But I almost never post there. Sometimes I will surf around and check other martial arts sites. But the ones I've seen are nowhere as near as well moderated as this one. And some are downright inane. Check out Century's forum sometime ( ). [ http://www2.centuryfitness.com/site.nsf/ma-view-all?OpenPage&ExpandView ] KF is the one! Like the guy from Boston said, "Why would I want to travel? I'm already here!"

What are your thoughts on handwraps? I use them for hitting the heavy bag, speed bag, or other hard, repetitive strikes on apparatus. But I generally just wear open finger, lightly padded gloves when sparing, even with contact. I figure it is better to protect my hands in training than to be off for months with an injury. But, in sparing, I like to have more realism and have to hit right. On the 'mean streets' you won't be wraping your hands. Anyone have any wrapping tips or techniques? I like the herringbone cotton reusable wraps. But I'm thinking of trying a pair of 'Mexican Wraps', which are a little elastic. Also, since I want finger joint protection and to anchor the wrap (not wraping the finger webs lets the wrap slide forward and come loose), I like the longer wraps- >110". I don't pad or level the knuckles, because I want to feel for sure that I'm hitting correctly. But I do want good lateral support for those fine bones and for my wrists. Let's hear your thoughts, methods, philosophies, etc.

I'll be interested to hear about it. The little KM I've seen, I really thought was bogus. Things like leaning way forward with strikes and maneuvers, and relying a lot on traping weapons in the crook of a bent arm (especially knives!?). But I allways hesitate to judge solely on limmited exposure. I've heard that some KM in the US is better than others, and I may have seen McKrav. That is getting to be more common to include grappling in the carriculum. Most of the TKD schools in this region do that, as well as other schools I've visited. And a lot more are cross training in other stand up arts as well. That's a good thing. One of the things I do like about their method is that (at least what I saw) they try to induce stress and unpredictable environmental factors with hard contact sparing. Things like, on a signal, one or everyone watching will throw things at one or both fighters. We do similar things in Kenpo. Sounds like the Kenpo/Kempo styles. I wouldn't count on it. Anything that has a good rep, or is good, will be used by the charlatins to make a fast buck. KM is the flavor of the day right now, and guaranteed some jerks are going to try and cash in on it. But if it works for you, and you've found a good school, that's the important thing. Keep us updated. We'll be gentle- honest !

If you've ever been to Phoenix in the summer, when irrigation is going and there's an inversion holding all that humidity- I swear that's where the expression "you could cut it with a knife' originated! It gets truly oppressive! 114F is hot, but 90 with that kind of humidity can push the suicide stats over the edge!

Hot. Upper 90's (in real temp, not centegrade). Sunny, but a little humid due to all the irrigation. I can deal with the heat, but I hate humidity! On the plus side, the smoke (from several range and forest fires) has pretty much cleared.

If there is an American Kenpo school nearby, you might check it out. Most AK schools are completely self defense oriented, and the closest thing they do to anything spiritual is the formal salute (which has absolutely no spiritual meaning). At least this has been my experience. You do end in the classic hands folded in prayer position, and you can do what you want there. But you usually only have about 2 sec. to do it- except when my brother leads it. He likes to pray, and he likes everyone to know he's doing it (sort of a Pharasitical hangup). I sometimes say "Aaahooooom" just to annoy him. Or "For what I'm about to do to this *^#!, please forgive me". But I wouldn't call that particularly spiritual. It just makes class a little more interesting. (By the way, that is only when we work out together, not in an actual class with others. We're not disrespectful, just me and my brother have a long history of annoying and fighting each other. ) Another advantage to AK is that the vast majority of schools speak English. We don't 'uke', we dummy. Even our ranks are in English. And we don't bow, we salute. We train in a school or studio, and our instructor is an instructor. If you're interested, ask and I'll tell you more about it. There are also a couple of others here who do American Kenpo. Good luck, and hang in there trying to find a good school that suits you. It is a good thing to spend a little time now looking around for the right school, instead of changing or droping out later.