kenpo.stylist

yup, stand with the white belts. If you're a beginner in our style, then that's where you stand. However, you may enjoy the ability to progress more quickly due to previous experience, but you may also have some horrible habits that we need to address...remember an empty cup is easier to fill with new than a cup filled with old.

exactly, I was going to ask if you had an inhaler. A bit of Albuterol should open your airways enough to give that test a go. What caused the onset of the asthma? Sounds like it wasn't a gradual thing so I'm thinking maybe it's just temporary...I might be wrong there though. Good luck.

nice, I get a 13.66. but I also think it;'s a flawed value. I'm 31, bench 320, 72" tall and weight is 260. all that means is that I need to lose some bodyfat.

yeah, I've seen that...I was actually training at one place for about a month and my sensei was a 3rd degree black belt, but told me that he spars at a brown belt level so he wears a brown belt to competition. My opinion is that he got his black belt because rent was due and he gave the master a couple hundred dollars for it.

I practice Chinese Kenpo as taught by GM's Chuck Sullivan and Vic Leroux, who were trained by SGM Ed Parker. See parkerlineage's post for the essentials as we're basically the same. There are a few differences though. The essential difference is the number of self defense techniques. We have 55 self defense techniques which we learn fluently on both sides for black belt grading. Yellow has 5, orange 6, purple 7, blue 8, green 9, brown 10, and black 15. As the student progresses in the ranks the techniques become more sophisticated and incorporate all of the required strikes/blocks/etc. for that level. Also as the student learns the techniques he or she is taught how they fit into the Master Form. The Master Form is the major form of our system in that it is a form consisting of all 55 self defense techniques in a prearranged sequence. Keep in mind that the sef defense techniques are multiple step arrangements designed to defend against any of a myriad of attacks including throws, pushes, grabs, punches, kicks, headlocks, etc. So the Master Form isn't just a 55 movement form, rather one that you need to complete in under three minutes on your BB test, and it usually takes most of that 3 minutes to accurately show that form with attention given to speed, accuracy, and power. There are other forms in the system, primarily the Kenpo Staff set and the Finger and Striking set, which are also found in American Kenpo systems. There is also a very basic blocking form taught at the white belt level. Circular and linear movements are used, as well as serious attention to footwork and rotation. There are many principles used in kenpo which relate directly to physics(so if you're a nerd like me, you get to have some mind candy) such as gravitational marriage, economy of motion, point of origin, back up mass, torque, action/reaction, and spontaneous acceleration to name a few. SGM Parker used his physics studies to really break down and analyze what is going on so as to be more effective at using it as well as teaching it. Invariably somebody like me comes along and asks "why do we do it this way?" to everything they're shown. So, instead of telling the student "cause that's the way we do it!", we now get to tell the student exactly why in vivid detail is we so choose. An example of the way things are broken down is seen in our most basic stance known as the neutral bow. There are 12 points to focus on in this most basic stance. If anybody wants to hear them, email me, othewise just know that we get rather picky over almost everything.

Plantar Fasciitis. Heel has been coming apart for about 7 years now...Just have to deal with it. It has it's moments. Some days it's ok, and others...well, I just have to practice my left cat more than the right.

truthfully, I couldn't tell you. I never asked. The whole time she was teaching and attending other portions of the seminar, she only had a plain black belt on. That I admire. Oh, and it wasn't frayed

Haha! That is good. I had the pleasure of training with Ms. Tanaka on a couple of different topics. One I'll never forget was the silat training we were doing and just how she seemed to really love the patterns we were working on. She seemed all to happy to be slicing throat, disemboweling, and finishing with the femoral artery. Kinda reminded me of a kid in a candy store

I'd use Miyamoto Musashi Seriously though, I would go with a very small knife, maybe a steel baton in the other hand. Primary attack with the knife, and blocking, distance striking wtih the baton. I'll take my chances against any long range weapon. Once swung, the attacker has to commit, that leaves the opening I need.

very nice. I find myself watching Kenpo forms for technical mistakes...things like poor stance, pivoting on heels, etc. You're spot on. Your ankle brace looks like mine Good show.

I'm a huge believer of the pre-emptive strike. The laws also support this. If there is a percieved threat of imminent harm, then your actions are justified.

Yes indeed it is. He's a great guy, and a masterful tactician. His dog even tried to take a piece of me when I had to use the restroom. If you ever get the opportunity to take in a seminar, I highly reccomend it. Check https://www.karateconnection.com periodically for dates and times. The last one I was at had the BKF GM's, Dian Tanaka, GM's Sullivan and Leroux, and a host of others.

keep in mind that in this vid, the opponents of the chinese practitioners were black belts. with the speed and quickness I saw, there is a good chance that it would be effective in an altercation. If only the drunken guys would have spent more time on taking targets and less time in the jim beam act, they would have fared better. Just an opinion.

it would be very interesting to see. We could also speculate on some celebrity sparring matches byt the older masters. For example Jhoon Rhee vs. Bruce Lee would be a fun match to watch...Chuck Norris vs. Ed Parker, etc. etc. etc. food for thought.

I had the opportunity to train with my two grandmasters at the home of one in California. We were doing ballistic microfights in the Blauer suits and when it was GM Sullivan's turn he turned heads. He leapt into action like a cheetah. One of our BB's was in the suit acting as the aggressor and GM Sullivan tore him a new one. Not bad for a septugenarian...man, he's at least 40 years my senior and is quicker than I am.

it all depends...if you are strength training consistently, I would advocate the use of some of the more serious supplements like creatine, although I've heard of it's use by athletes who train strictly aerobically and see decent results. In this case, doing your homewrok about each of the supplements that you are curious about will give you the answers you need. I would suggest looking around the web for info on exactly what each supplement does and decide if you may benefit from there. For example, you say you're 17yrs old, so you most likely would have much less need of a testosterone booster than I would at 31. NO2, or Nitric Oxide Boosters as they are commonly known, are simply vasodilators. Meaning they relax the blood vessels and allow more blood to flow. One very popular vasodilator is the almighty Viagra...same effect. Typically they are any combination of mostly L-Arginine(found in more than one form; Arginine Alpha Ketoglutarate, L-Arginine, Arginine-Ketoisocaproate), and other ingredients which act synergistically, creatine ethyl ester, nicotinomide, L Citrulline, etc. I personally use BSN Nitrix and have seen very decent results with it, however if you are not following the label and excercising intensely, I would think you are simply producing very expensive urine. Creatine is naturally produced in our liver, pancreas, and kidneys. Once in the bloodstream it is converted into creatine phosphate, and used by the muscle cells to produce ATP, or as we nerds who never slept through biology class could tell you is simply adenosine triphosphate...PURE ENERGY for the muscle. If you would like to build lean mass, lose that pudge in the gut, or just get more energy for your workout and reduce recuperation time, creatine is for you. Again, there are many different ways to take creatine. There are pills, powders you mix, effervescent powders, liquids, and even nutrition bars. There are also different types of creatine to be aware of. Creatine monohydrate, creatine ethyl ester, kre alkalyn which is simply a buffered creatine, creatine ethyl ester malate, etc. You have to research what each are and how they might be of benefit to you. I personally have used a bevy of creatine products, but found best results from BSN Cellmass. I'm currently using the cheapest form which is pharmeceutical grade pure creatine monohydrate powder, and am seeing decent results. Whey protein...there's a topic. If you need it, take it. If you don't need it, don't take it. Basically, if you need your muscles to recuperate and don't take enough protein in with your normal diet, it is a good idea to take some powder and make a shake. You can do all sorts of yummy things with protein powders, and they taste a helluva alot better than when I first started taking them 15 years ago You can mix berries with them in the blender, all kinds of fruit, even cookies and ice cream if calories aren't an issue for you. There are many different kinds of protein powders out there ranging from simple whey and soy isolates to complete meal replacement powders enriched with anything from glutamine for recovery, creatine, vitamins and minerals, and branched chain amino acids(building blocks for your body). Again, you get what you pay for...but it doesn't hurt to keep an eye out for a good deal at your local GNC who sometimes clearances your supplements to make room for new product. I've saved as much as 90% by keeping a keen eye on the shelves and a kind word to the sales staff. With all these products you should follow the labels...they are written for a reason. Also you have to decide what you can afford. There was a time when I was spending over $300/month on these top-shelf supplements and I've learned that I see the same results with some of the lower priced brands...but there is no replacement for knowledge...know why you take each supplement and how much you should take and when to take them. My advice would be to pick up a muscle and fitness and read read read. Also, try not to buy into the six page ads trying to convince you that you need supplementX because Joe Schmoe used them to win the 2006 muscle beach open, or whatever contest. You can find all sorts of resources online, such as bodybuilding.com, which I have found to contain a wealth of knowledge on the subject as well as good prices(no, I'm not affiliated with them, and will not profit from listing them, just thought they are a good site with a huge archive of info). Anyway, if you have any questions, please feel free to ask, and Good luck. Hope I've helped some.

I trained when I was younger, but got back into it when I was 27. You'll do fine. Trust me, 27 is NOT OLD!

Parker's Kenpo is indeed the real deal. If you are fortunate enough to train under Master "Huk" Planas, then you should jump at the opportunity. The lineage is legit. I am fortunate enough to have video of my instructor's getting 'kicked in' by SGM Parker for their 5th degrees, and the casual party afterward in the dojo. That answers any questions I ever had about the lineage of what I study. Take your time, let that ACL heal up and go hit it hard.

the guy in the gi was clearly more assertive and aggressive. The other guy seemed as though he didn't want to get hit, seemed scared of his opponent, and more worried about his pants and shirt looking straight than the match at hand. Looked like Muay Thai, but that's a wild guess based on some of the aggresor's attacks. Definitely not any kempo/kenpo that I've ever seen.