MMA Grading

[SoulAssassin]

I heard there are actual MMA schools that teach multiple arts but combined in one. Is this true? If anyone knows of this, what would they call their 'teacher'? Sensi? Sempi? Mr. Bob? Do they have actual names for ranks/strips? Kyu, Dan? Just wondering if anyone has the answers, Thanks!

 

[Edit: I know it says MMA in my styles but my main study was Tang Soo Do - I learned other styles from training with a private instructor and a friend an his dad]

[Luckykboxer]

well I am in American Kenpo Karate..

 

It is a progressive art, meaning it is constantly evolving and bringing in new aspects.

 

We cover all ranges of fighting.

 

we teach sparring techniques in all belt ranges, and it goes soemthing like this....

 

beginner belts learn point sparring techniques.

 

intermediate belts learn some trickier karate sparring techniques and get into Boxing techniques

 

the next step for the advanced is kickboxing techniques.

 

and as you get farther int he advanced ranks they teach grappling.

 

kind of a natural progression to a natural fight int he streets.... distance... in close..... on ground.

[Vito]

lucky- im curious. is american kenpo karate the only style youve ever learned? ive only had limited experience with anyone doing kenpo, but it didnt seem to be taught the way youre describing it. what organization are you affiliated with, and how many others are actually professional fighters as you are?

[Luckykboxer]

I do cross train in Muay Thai, and Jiu Jitsu.

 

My instructor was a student of Brian Adams, Jim Mitchell, and currently Ernie George. Ed Parker himself sat on several of my instructors testing boards.

 

My Instructor has advanced the system as Ed Parker himself had done to the point of his death.

 

One major bonus my intructor had training with those three different students was that each student worked primarily with Ed PArker in Different Decades.

 

the 60s, 70s, and 80s, so he personally saw how each instructor moved differently, a direct result of Ed PArkers advancement of the system.

 

Over the years, My instructor has altered some of the techniques, and has added curriculum into the system.

 

He has made completely sure not to remove any of the main principles that Ed Parker included into the system, but when he has seen new principles or principles that were not in our system he made sure to add them to make the system more complete.

 

I have seen many Ed Parker Schools that follow the exact same curriculum as when Ed Parker Died.... actually from before.... and have not advanced or changed anything.

 

I personally dont think thats how Ed PArker wanted it, and i know some will disagree.

 

The system was designed to progress and be a living art that each student could make his own and make work for him.

 

While I dont think that any system on the planet has all the answers to all the questions, I think that the way Ed Parker set his system up allows for the growth to adapt to new principles when things change.

 

When you get down to the nitty gritty of martial arts its alot like mathematics. Ed Parker touches on this in his books.

 

for example..

 

if

 

A = an Upward block

 

B = reverse punch

 

C = backnuckle strike

 

then the if all else is equal C< A+B

 

meaning if soemone throws a backnuckle to your head, it can be beaten by an upward block with your lead hand and a reverse punch.

 

this is a very simple formula, and it can get quite extensive.

 

I guess i am rambling off topic here, but basically My Instructor has added curriculum into our system to answer the problems that different scenarios bring up. While we are an American Kenpo School, we are progressive as it was designed to be, and we may have different curriculum then some other schools do.

 

If that makes sense

[Vito]

so... it starts off like a karate class with the gis and all that, and as people progress they end up doing what youre doing now?

 

does your school have an official website?

[Luckykboxer]

No that actually isnt correct.

 

And to answer your earlier question... not many of the people under our roof are professional fighters... Although we often have Professional fighters come to our facilities and train for periods of time, both with our staff and alone.

 

We have a Professional boxer Currently who is fighting in two weeks against the number 2 contender, he has won a title in the past and after time off is working his way back up.

 

We have a couple Professional Kickboxers

 

We have several world champions in the Kenpo Karate side, there isnt really a Professional grading there, but then there are so many organizations and world and international and national tournaments and fights that its almost ridiculous to claim anything in Karate unless you are making ridiculous headlines with it.

 

Currently I am the only probably the only no holds barred fighter in our facility.

 

Now back to the main topic...

 

Kenpo Karate can be as diverse as you want it to be.

 

I choose to take my training to this level, but in my studio I am the far right extreme.

 

We teach the complete curriculum, but just because we do, doesnt mean that everyone has to go to my extent.

 

We also have instructors and classes for Boxing, Kickboxing, and Jiu Jitsu.

 

We have had a variety of Professional trainers and Fighters come into and through our facilities, and we have included applications learned from all experiences into the system.

 

Basically with Kenpo Karate like many forms of martial arts you have different aspects...

 

we have..

 

Basics

 

Sets and Forms

 

Sparring Techniques

 

Self Defense Techniques

 

Theory and History

 

Anatomy.

 

Now certain types of people are drawn to certain types of activities.

 

some people prefer sets and forms, some prefer the theory and History, or Anatomy, or like myself the Sparring.

 

Now while everyone must learn everything on the way up as they progress, everyone does not have to dive into any particular category to the degree i have in sparring.

 

I would definitely say i am the exception rather then the rule at our studio.

 

I like to think that our students can do well if they needed to, but like many in todays society most people do not like pain ... and i dont care how good you are, sparring at some point to some extent includes pain.

 

while our system of American Kenpo Karate is almost Identical to the others in regards to history and theory, and Anatomy, and Sets and Forms, we have added many moves that we call Basics that are particular to new sparring techniques we have added to our system.

 

And of course we have added and altered the sparring techniques to match the ranges i discussed earlier.

 

If that makes sense..

 

I would imagine that our studio is probably fairly similar to many other well established martial arts studios out there that have a large student base..

 

you will have the full range of society... from kids to elders, from people wanting to learn basic self defense, to people who want to have fun with their families, to parents wanting to enrich their kids lives, to people like me.

 

Every Martial Arts studio out there has at least 1 person who everyone else looks at with some awe based on his physical skills and ability to spar.... regardless of type of sparring.

 

We have an official website, I however am not to thrilled with it, it was just changed recently and I think it looks kind of cheesy. It is still under construction though I am told, so it should be interesting to see the final product. WWW.Powaykenpo.com

 

The picture on the front is My instructor, his wife, and their kids, and their Grandson.

 

This is the Mission Statement of our Facility;

Provide a community resource that builds character and develops good citizenship while offering real life skills in a safe and friendly environment under the guidance of a polite, knowledgeable staff of qualified and experienced martial arts professionals.

 

I think that overall our school is a really good example of how a school can serve all ends of the spectrum.

 

One thing I cannot stress however is that in our different classes... Boxing, Kickboxing, Jiu Jitsu, Kenpo, we have Different Head Instructors under each Art... I definitely recomend this as opposed to schools who have 1 instructor who teaches it all. /shrug

 

I hope this makes it a bit clearer, however I am thinking this may have just made it more confusing :/

[Vito]

haha yes and no. its just wierd because usually people in anythign called "kenpo" or "karate" dont end up like you.

[Luckykboxer]

ahh see thats the misunderstanding you are having then...

 

I was like this before Kenpo.

 

Kenpo has calmed me down, straightened me out, and I am 100% sure has kept from not only breaking laws, which the path i was on, but killing people, which was also a path i was headed.

[delta1]

Over the years, My instructor has altered some of the techniques, and has added curriculum into the system.

 

He has made completely sure not to remove any of the main principles that Ed Parker included into the system, but when he has seen new principles or principles that were not in our system he made sure to add them to make the system more complete.

 

I have seen many Ed Parker Schools that follow the exact same curriculum as when Ed Parker Died.... actually from before.... and have not advanced or changed anything.

 

I personally dont think thats how Ed PArker wanted it, and i know some will disagree.

 

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.

[Budderfly]

I heard there are actual MMA schools that teach multiple arts but combined in one. Is this true? If anyone knows of this, what would they call their 'teacher'? Sensi? Sempi? Mr. Bob? Do they have actual names for ranks/strips? Kyu, Dan? Just wondering if anyone has the answers, Thanks!

 

Tong Moo Do is a Korean based MMA school. We learn a combination of Aikido, Hapkido, Kung Fu, Jujitsu, Karate, Kick Boxing, Tae Kwon Do, Judo and Weapons Mastery.

 

We call each other "Sir" or "Ma'am" and also to the Instructors. We also call our teachers "Instructor ". Master Joe is called "Master Joe" or "sir" and Grandmaster Pyong-Jin Jung is referred to as "Grandmaster" or "Sir".

 

When you get your 4th dan you earn the title Master. Not sure exactly what dan you are to be called Grandmaster, but there is only one currently and that's Grandmaster Jung, who started the school. He had a Tae Kwon Do school before that, but he wanted to combine the martial arts as there was so many useful applications. He wasn't trying to create the "complete martial art", but rather the "complete martial artist". We really focus on personal development and self-defense.

 

Our ranks go like this:

 

White

 

Yellow

 

Green

 

Blue

 

Purple

 

Red

 

Brown

 

Brown w/ Yellow Stripe

 

Brown w/ Green Stripe

 

Brown w/ Blue Stripe

 

Brown w/ Red Stripe

 

Brown w/ Black Stripe

 

Black - 1st Dan +

 

We test different parts of our belt cirriculum once a month and if we pass each tests during a minimum four month period, we can test for our next belt. It takes about 5 years to earn your black belt, and that's if you pass every test.

 

Hope that helps with your question!