I see no kenpo here.. Well now there is :)

[delta1]

Has anyone heard of Richard Plantas?

 

Richard ('Huk') Planas- anyone that does American Kenpo for long, and most Ken/mpoists, have heard of him.

 

A Fillipino-American, he learned FMA's as a child. Was introduced to American Kenpo by some of his high school friends, and is one of the most respected AK seniors today, by both AK and other systems seniors. AK immediatetly was adopted as his base, but he still cross trained in other systems, especially FMA's. He was promoted to 7th by Mr. Parker. He was promoted to 8th, sanctioned by the World Wide Kenpo Karate Association, headed by Joe Palanzo. Mr. Planas was aproached by some of his senior Kenpoists to be promoted to 9th, but he balked because he's allways had an aversion to rank chasing. The story is he never asked for any promotion, but was allways promoted as instructors and seniors recognized his ability. Mr. Planas said he'd consider promotion only if sanctioned by signed petitions of the seniors. He recieved an avalanche of petitions from not only the senior Kenpoists, but from seniors in other systems as well. Bill Wallace administered the cerimonial kick at his promotion. That in itself (in more ways than one!) would qualify anyone to any rank!

 

Most of this can be found in the book 'The Journey', in which 24 of the most influential Kenpoists are honored. Mr. Planas' section starts on page 134.

[47MartialMan]

Yes, I have met him (Richard Planas) a few years ago. He lives nearby. A guy a work introduced me. This guy I worked with, very arrogant, he kept saying, Kenpo was great this, great that. When he "found out" that I was a MA, the guy wouldn’t leave me alone in the work place. Which is why I have a policy not to disclose that I am.

 

Anyway, he took me to see Mr. Planas. Mr. Planas was very excited to talk about Kenpo. He spoke of Kenpo was great this, great that. He said “Kenpo the world’s greatest fighting art”. He did some demos. Very interested, I had asked if I could study. Mr. Planas said no. He had turned me down. His reason: “I don't teach previously trained martial arts. They would not learn. They will be in conflict with Kenpo".

 

To which I had replied: " Sir, I can understand what you mean. but to a certain degree. True, I have been to many systems, but each time I had studied something new, I did not do a comparison while training. My mind was "fully opened". You should not compare me to any one else. I am a different person"

 

Mr. Planas may have come across training someone, whom was a martial artist before training with him. I can just picture it because the scenario had presented itself to me with a "new-arrival student" My new student would say: "I (he) didn’t do this at....I (he) did this at.....This is not good....." So on.

 

Now, without training in it, how could I understand it? I wrote this story down, as I have written anything to do with MA. I have always written in a diary, a journal on MA. On my MA observations, experiences, and/or encounters. Do make a long story short; when I was very young, my writing/reading skills were poor. It was my mother whom put me in my first martial art class/school. (Not for a need to learn how to fight/study, but for discipline) To have me practice reading and writing, she threw notebooks at me at demanded that I start a written journal. I look back at the journal(s) and I see the transitions of my changes. I still laugh re-reading some of it.

[Red J]

Interesting. I don't know the man personally, but I have seen that he does many seminars in the Parker style. He is considered an authority in Kenpo. BTW, where do you live and what MAs have you studied?

 

The journal idea is something that I started doing a few years ago. It is a great tool for reflection.

[delta1]

47MM, forgive me if I'm a little skeptical, but that just doesn't match with what I'v heard about Huk Planas. He himself started in other arts, and continues to cross train. Why would he refuse to teach another stylist? Except, of course, that as far as I know, he's only done seminars for years. I've never met the man, and from the sounds of it you may not have either. Are you sure they aren't just pulling your leg? Or, maybe who you met was, after all, R. Plantas. I don't know...

[47MartialMan]

Yes, it was him. I came across his pic in a martial art mag shortly after the meeting. I had studied, instead, with a student/instructor of his. I still have the written training outlines and familiar patch.

 

I am not saying he(Richard) is bad. I am saying he was a little conceited. Perhaps, at that time, he did not have time to train anyone else. This was a time that maybe he had a different mood or perspective. I don't know.

 

I met him in a town called Metairie, Louisiana. But this incident, was years ago. You can look up his whereabouts/residency. If you find someone else that knows him personally. You will find that he had lived in Louisiana, or still lives there. Right now, as the moment I write this, I am looking through my contact log to find his address and phone, at least what it was years ago. This contact info I had saved in a personal phone book I mis-placed somewhere. My wife has a habit of moving things on me and forgetting to tell me.

 

Does this all make sense now. Research any associates of his and you will find out that he lived in Louisiana. As soon as I find his info, I will contact him again to see if he changed his "outlook". Afterall, I would not mind to continue Kenpo with him.

[doubletwist]

KERRY'S KENPO KARATE Kerry Hatley 10520 ECR 109 Midland, TX 79705 (432)685-0586 , im about to check it out this week ill let ya know how it goes sounds very promising tho .

 

Awesome! Yeah let me know what you think, and I'll see if my brother is interested enough to go to Midland to learn.

 

DT

[47MartialMan]

Here are a couple of questions, though I may know the answer:

 

What is the difference between Kenpo and Kempo?

 

And what are their detailed origins?

[Red J]

Well they are pronounced the same "kempo". I don't know the translation rules but it is accepted that either an "N" or "M" will suffice. Literally translated it means "Fist Law" or "Law of the Fist". The major American kenpo/kempo systems can trace their lineages to Hawaii to William K. S. Chow (Kara-Ho Kempo). From him we get American Kenpo, Kajukenbo, Shaolin Kempo, Shaolin Kenpo, Tracy Kenpo and many more.

 

Check out this link for a more detailed perspective.

 

http://www.urbin.net/EWW/MA/KF/

[47MartialMan]

Thanks for the link....

 

Anyone else?

[Wickedwayz]

 

Awesome! Yeah let me know what you think, and I'll see if my brother is interested enough to go to Midland to learn.

 

DT

 

Personally , im hooked as a former shotokan student (or current depending on how you look at it ) ill be going as often as possible and look forward to mastering chinese kenpo , kerry is a real cool guy too.

 

not as strict on form as my last instructor , these guys are big on sparring,I like that , ive seen people get thier a$$ kicked in good form before =D its the nitty gritty that matters , a bit softer than shotokan but that is good id imagine as i was thinking of takeing shaolin 5 animal , or mantis as a complimentary to my shotokan .. tell your brother to come on down ... pm me if he cant find it or whatever ill set em straight. gl to yall.