Kempohands

Excelent post AnonymousOne. I completely agree with you. Practicing kata is a great way to make yourself a better martial artistist, it opens one's eyes to the many different concepts of fighting. I could spend an entire class going over kata interpretations with my instructor (although I know very few fellow students my age in my dojo that would agree with me on that). As for the first movement of a kata, I believe that is has spiritual meanings as well as combat applications. For example, bowing with a covered fist in front of your chest (this is called "front position" in my dojo) could be interpreted as a wrist lock counter to a grabbing your own wrist/hand. This thread could go on forever though, there are so many ways to interpret kata it's amazing.

That's exactly how it works in my dojo. Your first few classes should be all about having fun and learning the basics, don't stess anything you don't have to. Just go in and have a good time.

Again, if you just started up I don't see anything wrong with asking your instuctor to explain the general testing policies or the fees. It won't make you seem impatient if you ask it that way, just be careful not to make it sound like your asking to know when you will test.

It sounds like you just started training at this dojo. If so, I don't see anything wrong with asking your instructor about the testing policy/fees of the school. However, I've never found myself asking "when will I test?" In my opinion, that will make you seem impatient, but asking for the school's general policy is another story.

At the dojo where I train beginners are taught techniques first, then they are taught the principles/concepts inside the technique once they can perform it fairly well or are of age/rank (we don't usually teach the younger children the priciples of techniques). With the advanced students, the technique is taught and then one of the main concepts is pointed out to the student. Also, since there is almost always more than one concept/principle inside of any givin technique, instructors will ask the student to explain why they believe the technique works or something similar (i.e. "Why strike here instead of here?"). I agree with this method of teaching because I personaly believe it would be very difficult to teach a principle/concept alone without some kind of set technique as an example. However, I also believe it is pointless to teach someone a set technique w/o explaining the reasoning behind it.

Exactly, the best stance to use in combat is usually the one you find yourself unconciously taking. After training for a while, your body becomes used to the "stances" you train in. In addition, if you regularly train for fighting situations in your dojo your body will learn when to use which stance. One should never worry about what to do in a combat situation, it makes things more complicated than necessary. Just let your body and reactions take over.

I am currently only training in one art: White Tiger Kempo. wtKempo is a style of Kempo/Kenpo that combines other styles of Kempo/Kenpo (mostly Grandmaster Nick Cerio's) and jui-jitsu principles. I have been training in this art for 8 years and I achieved the rank of Shodan after 7. Also, because of the fact that the head of my system needed an instuctor, I've also learned a little bit of Kajukenbo (Sijo Adriano Emparado could now be considered my Master's instructor since he's the one who promoted my Master to 8th Dan). Also, a few of my instructors are training in Pekida-Tursia (pronounced: peck-ee-da-ter-see-ah; sorry if I killed the spelling) so I've learned a very little bit of that. Although I've only really trained in one art, I consider myself open to other styles' concepts and techniques and I hope to train in other systems when I get older.

A good way to build kicking speed is to stretch. The more flexible your legs are the quicker your kicks will be. Also, practice chambering your leg repeatedly as fast as you can for a set amount of time. The speed of a kick depends on how fast the leg is prepared; the extension is easy, chambering the knee (for mid to high kicks) is what slows people down (from the little I've seen at least). Hope this helps

Thank you for all of the warm welcomes. My instructor is currently training with high ranking blackbelts in Kajujkenbo (such as Grandmaster Bautista and Professor Powell). His instructors in Kempo have all passed away and there was no longer anyone who could promote him. Since he is technically the head of the system, he could have promoted himself, but he felt he should get to know a master of a similar system. That's how my instructor met Sijo Emparado. Sijo promoted my instructor to 8th Dan. My instructor now teaches us the alphabet techniques as well as other kajukenbo priciples. I have found that kajukenbo is slightly more linear and strength oriented than Kempo. Kempo has more of a balance between circular and linear as well as hard and soft movements while kajukenbo (at least what I've learned) seems more hard and linear. That's just my observations though.

Hello, I'm a student of the martial arts and I thought it would be a great thing to have a place to discuss my opinions outside the dojo. I'm 14 years old and have been studying white tiger Kempo under Professor Rich Fescina for 8 years (yes, I admit I started to young). I earned the rank of Shodan in April 2003. Due to the fact that the styles are so similar and the head of my system (Professor Fescina) needs an instuctor (he can't just promote himself through the ranks) I've also learned a few Kajukenbo techniques and principles and had the great privilege of attending a few seminars and meeting Sijo Adriano Emparado. I love the martial arts and I hope to continue my training for years to come. Well, that's it for now. Hope that was a long enough introduction!(a habit of mine, I'll try not to write so much when I post in the forums)