Mr. Mike

actually, that is pretty cool. Small brushes with fame, but cool nonetheless. have a pseudo-famous one in my family...had a hand in creating the ninja turtles way back in the early 80's when they were all in junior high school. Kevin Eastman and Peter Laird were decently cool dudes...he had the choice to hold on the rights, but he let them go to support his other project which was WAY cooler, but fizzled: The Radioactive Adolescent Blackbelt Hamsters. Hey, I can't make this stuff up if I tried. Now, he makes the large scale mockups of the same hotwheels cars that all of our kids play with...if you're interested, his nickname at the Hotwheel/Toy show circuits is Nightstalker Customs. I actually thought he was BSing, because some of these stories get far-fetched sometimes, but then I saw the check...those were alot of zeros and the new Scions in his driveway sure don't hurt either...uh ohh...the overtired ramblings come out. Good night, it's past my bedtime, and I have to open the school at 4, so it's off to beddiebye I go.

man, that was a total eruption of geeks!!! it was pretty cool.

...and after digging around a bit, I see that the one I'm referring to is in NV, and you are in OH. You're safe from the sham

the on;y farnsworth I know of is the Al Farnsworth tht is a supposed master of white tiger kenpo. Well, maybe he is a master, but the art just isn't that impressive...who knows? One of his tapes turned up in our school, and he has one of his students demonstrate the black belt form...oh man, what humor. we refer to it as the mat-slapper. He also demonstrates some self defense techniques in which he deadlegs, has poor transitions, and weak/improper stances. Now, anybody can have those, but he calls himself 'Master Farnsworth." A 9th degree BB in White Tiger Kenpo. Hmmmm...smells fishy to me. hopefully this isn't the same farnsworth that you learn from. It sounds like it isn't. In the tape, he never mentioned the mix that you mention.

the same amount of time it takes a person to be a good mechanic, or a good mathematician. Good is a highly subjective term. How proficient a person is at any given subject will be directly related to how much effort is given toward mastery of that subject. That being said, I don't think a person can outright claim that you can be a good boxer after (X) amount of time. An example: I have been training in the martial arts for the last 13 years. Do I consider myself good? Sure, but what is my basis for comparison? What is my control? Somebody who never trains? Somebody who dabbles? Further than that, in my 13 years of training, have I mastered it? Of course not...I learn daily how little I actually know. Now, the persons that I consider masters of my art I would think of as being 'good.' Am I of their caliber? Again, of course not, but I still think I'm good...however, in comparison to them, I am inept. So, you have to consider the huge variability of the measurement 'good.'

you say to try them if I have strong arches...do they lack arch support? I need something with good support due to my plantar fascitis. I'm currently using Vans Tony Trujillo lowtops...very nice...comfy and breatheable. I'm also a night nurse, so they get plenty of exercise in the wee hours of the morning. Most days, I walk the 3.5 miles back home instead of driving, and after all of that, my feet still don't hurt with these shoes. Plus, they look cool they're crackle painted blue and white and have a funky pattern on the bottom

amen brother

Kung fu means energy time. In and by itself, it has no connection, as a phrase, to Chinese martial arts. It relates as a term to anything that takes time and energy to learn or get skillful at doing. Gong fu (kung fu) means skill acquired through hard work. Only in recent times has it become related to any meaning associated with martial arts. Both of these terms have come to describe any of the various methods of empty hand combat. Chuan Fa or fist law(method) is what has come to be known as Kenpo/Kempo. This is also primarily an empty hand combat form. Since both of these styles, Kenpo and Kung Fu, are empty handed and descended from China, there is really no difference between the two. Why isn't it called Kung Fu? I couldn't tell you that. I can only assume it has something to do with the Americanization of the art. We know that the term Karate is Japanese...so why did the Chinese art end up with an American and Japanese moniker? Again, I couldn't tell you...My guess is that it has something to do with marketing and what terms were popular in America in the 60's and 70's.

Very well stated...I'm afraid that if I were to add to that, I would only end up detracting from it.

more info please!

jujitsu wouldn't be a bad way to go...Kenpo is fairly kick-butt as well. I think most people you talk to will tell you that their system is built around street defense. Try some out and see for yourself.

just food for thought. And the $1000 pricetag makes it rather accessible...more so than a year's worth of MA training. info taken from USA Today's website. http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2002-09-25-botulism-1acover_x.htm Good day.

oh, no doubt. if you do the research, you will see that it was in china for eons before it ever came to the us. It was chuan fa or fist law. Parker just applied scientific principles to it and made the learning process much more systematic, so the typical attention starved american mind could learn it quickly enough.

that's ok, I like red X's

http://www.completemartialarts.com/whoswho/halloffame/images/edparker.gif Blackbelt Magazine's 1979 Instructor of the Year Blackbelt Magazine's 1976 Martial Artist of the Year Senior Grandmaster Ed Parker, 10th degree black belt, a man that accomplished what ten men could barely dream of doing. A scholar, teacher, author, master practitioner, innovator, actor, student, father, promoter, and international leader. Mr. Parker revolutionized martial arts concepts and skills application to fit our modern needs. A countless number of movie stars, famous martial artists, and international celebrities have all benefited from their association with this famous 'Father of American Karate'. His intensity of philosophy, deliverance of knowledge, sincere humility, and true appreciation of his students saw him fulfill a very demanding schedule the world over. Mr. Parker was one of many firsts, a 'doer', a man of missionary conviction. He will never be forgotten for he lives in the hearts and minds of the thousands he touched throughout his productive life. Ed Parker's Kenpo Is Unique KENPO is pure intelligence of thought and motion. Mr. Parker added concepts, theories, principles and innovations, not yet employed by other systems. This is what makes his KENPO system unique, practical, logical, realistic, and applicable. It has often been referred to as the "University of Martial Arts". It employs linear as well as circular moves, utilizing intermittent power when and where needed, interspersed with minor and major moves that flow with continuity. It is flexible in thought and action allowing one to blend with confrontations one may encounter. Mr. Parker has written over 15 authoritative books about Kenpo and his experiences related to establishing this unique karate system. After years of experimenting, discovering, teaching, and sharing, Mr. Parker has unified his Kenpo knowledge in each of the books he authored this information taken from http://www.completemartialarts.com/whoswho/halloffame/edparker.htm

good job! just one more belt left to get through. what kenpo do you do?

Ed Parker

he was one of the originals in the Pasadena dojo(may be misinformed here, so apologies where needed), and after degreeing, made changes where he saw fit. I can't say it's superior or inferior to Chinese Kenpo, American Kenpo or any other descendant of chuan fa. From my knowledge, his system contains all of the priciples and movements, so what's wrong about it. I've also seen Master Tracy in action, and I can say that it's the real deal from my perspective.

happy to say that we only have 55 to remember . But all of the original concepts are contained in those 55, so we don't need 180+ or the original 300+ techniques. Parker said he would rather have one technique that works for him instead of 10 that work against. what he was getting at was that the fewest possible movements to get the job done is best...economy of motion. yeah, we have those too, but we aren't that different.

all i can say is that the more you do it, the less it will bother you.

The luminous ball or pearl often depicted under the dragon's chin or seen to be spinning in the air, pursued by one or two dragons is thought to be a symbolic representation of the 'sacred pearl' of wisdom or yang energy. Pearl symbolism, like lunar symbolism arises from Daoist roots and the connections, are extremely complex. This pearl can be said to stand most often for 'truth' and 'life' - perhaps even everlasting life which is made available to those who perceive the truth and attain enlightenment. The dragon's pearl can also be thought of as a symbol for universal Qi the progenitor of all energy and creation. The dragons seem to be depicted in attitudes of pursuit. He is seen to be reaching out eagerly to clutch at the elusive object, mouth open in anticipation and eyes bulging with anticipation of achieving the prize afforded by clutching the pearl. In connection with the dragon the pearl has been called the image of thunder, of the moon, of the sun, of the egg emblem of the dual influences of nature, and the 'pearl of potentiality'. The pearl is most often depicted as a spiral or a globe. In some paintings it is sometimes red, sometimes gold, sometimes the bluish white of a true pearl. The pearl is often accompanied by little jagged flashes that seem to spark out from it, like flames; and it almost always has an appendage in the form of a small undulating sprout, not unlike the first young shoot from a bean. In Daoist concepts the moon, pearls, dragons and serpents are inextricably linked. Like the snake that is reborn when it sheds its skin, the moon is reborn each month, and both are symbols of immortality. Like the dragon, the moon is always associated with water; its undeniable power over the tides is believed to extend to all liquids on earth. The dragons that lived in the sea were said to be inordinately fond of pearls and collected them and watched over them in great submarine palaces.

hey there. Welcome!

I know nothing of your system, but have been able to find some info on it...please tell me if this is an accurate portrayal of your style: this is taken from http://www.omeishan.com/omei_system.htm

true that, and he only got the opportunity for movies because he was a champion.

I'd stand up and laud it from the rooftops. This issue goes deeper than we think...even congress has passed laws keeping women from fighting at the lines. Sexism is alive and well in this country. I feel that if we are all basically built the same (two hands, legs, etc.) then we can all do essentially the same jobs, be it paperwork, driving, nursing(male nurse speaking here), and yes, fighting.