American Kenpo Forum

Shootin', from the hip.

Kenpojunkie — Thu, 30 Oct 2008 05:20:00 GMT

This one was not planned and doesn't have a video except for the one that is playing in my head.

ANyway, ataking to Clyde back in I think it was 1997 or '98, we were talking about his analogy how your arms are tools, and your hands are the weapons connected to those tools, AND, the tool chest you put all that stuff into. We talked about how a tool is useful for certain jobs, and when you understand how that tool is used properly, you then try to find out how it can be modified to other jobs. This method, the method of refining your tools so that they are more versatile, can and will lower the number of tools you have in your tool chest.

This evening, Jack and I worked on a CR concept, the unifying of the Foundation Pivot and the Control Surface Edge of the two feet, a subtle stance refinement that preceedes a lead hand back knuckle. We worked on gaining power through our lead back knuckle by shifting our weight in a NB with our rear heel up while our lead foot & knee are pressing forward. The major factor in the stance and the power it generates comes from the hips, being almost over the lead foot. This is a tool that can be used in training, not something you would seek to affect while you are in a sparring match or should you be fighting for your honor,, principles.... you get the idea. So what we do when we examine the pivot points of our feet is to refine the prime tool in our tool chest.

For many years I have listened to discussions on the Neutral Bow. What is it? Why is it important? Is it Neutral? What is a neutral stance? A NB is a tool, a tool for pivotting, minimizing, balancing and unbalancing, and so many things that it is the prime tool for EPAK practitioners. Sometimes the light went on for me when MA's from different systems questioned what a NB is. It's that kind of question that makes one look at aspects of our tools with fresh eyes. Now, Clyde will read this and say that it is either time that I ask these questions, make these observations and refine my skills and tools. He would be right, but, I been thinking about this for many years now, and well, I'm just a little slow about some things and that's my story and I'm stickin' to it!

The light went on and the AHA moment hit me tonight. To teach is to learn. Teach what? Power that shoots from the hip! Hence the name of the blog you see........

If your NB is flat footed, even if it's just one of your feet, you give away alot of power when you extend your strikes and kicks. I watch alot of technique videos and have seen a serious lack of stance transitions, even when the technique is performed in slow motion, and then it gets worse at the dreaded blazing hands of death speed. I guess a rooted NB is the best platform (oops, borrowed that one) for all that wonderful speed we see in techniques. Add to that, by observation, the tendency to strike numerous time through the same height zone while not affecting stance changes, and the over reliance (on video) of the ideal phase of defense.

Me, I trudge along. Years pass without an AHA moment in sight. But when it happens, I wonder why I didn't see it all so clearly. Then I remember, "To teach is to learn". I, your humble AKF gym rat, seek audience with your basic premise of the prime tool called the Neutral Bow. Are you open to examining such an elemental stance? Think on it, and get back to me. For better or worse, I'll be here, thinking about it also.

Clark D. COle SI

WE ARE AKF KENPOBORG......................WE DREAM IN COLOR, most of the time.

Snapping Twig revisited

Kenpojunkie — Mon, 20 Oct 2008 11:44:00 GMT

Due to excellent feedback (and some not so excellent) I promised to redo the videos for Triggered Salute Snapping Twig.

In this video I talk about the formulatio of Alternating Mace and how the two techniques (AM and TS ST) are similar.

(Please visit the site to view this media)

As you saw, the Ideal, CR slow and CR faster sequence is intended to step through each phase of the technique.

In this second video, Triggered Salute Snapping Twig itself is seen, the video is formatted in the same manner as the Alternating Mace video.

(Please visit the site to view this media)

Again, there are distinctions in how the technique is performed. Ideal, CR faster & CR Intense.

Whatever question there might be about HOW intense the techniques are shown, just a fair warning, if you're in a technique line with Jack or I, bring your 'A' game, 'cause we bring the heat when we attack. Everytime I do techniques with Jack, it hurts somewhere for a day or so. If he can stop my mass, focus his strikes by utilizing his legs properly, then it's damn good enough for me. He's giving away 135 pounds to me, and he can stop me whenever he feels like it. Doesn't look like it on the video, so remember, to feel is to believe.

So, if you're in Anaheim and want to work on your Ideal Phase defenses, call us.

Clark and Jack Cole

We are Contact Resistance Kenpo

Not a job, not a hobby, it's a calling...

Uncle — Sun, 19 Oct 2008 04:19:00 GMT

Recently, I learned that a certain "master" (lower case intended) had told several people in his circle that I, and several other of my friends and peers had 'stolen' our belts and that Mr. Parker NEVER gave us our ranking. In my case, Alva Tracy while a student and Black Belt of Edmund Kealoha Parker, awarded me my 1st. degree Black Belt (only his third) and that made my belt 'illegitimate' according to him. I've had a difficult time finding the source of this lie and while I was mentioned only in passing, I was still mentioned. I've now located him and sent him a notice (called a challenge in my day) to put up some evidence that from 2nd to 7th ALL of my Dan ranks thatcame from our SGM were not legitimate. If he did not, the next time I was in his area I would gladly put my plain Black Belt against his intergalatic Golden Showers belt and he who walked away would be considered 'legitimate'. Now this gentleman is of my age, much thinner though I've only seen him once in 30 years and I'm not sure about that either, but I doubt he has had the blessing of training with some great, great martial artists that I've had. Plus, I also doubt he's done the "business" while I KNOW I have and have the broken body to prove it! The story is to illustrate something that gets forgotten these days with all the fast pace jockeying to be number one, and some sort of "master" (see earlier comment above). That is, some of us are such a part of the martial landscape that for the system that to be without us would be like some company razing a forrest to put up a parking lot. Something would be missing. It may help to realize, as tradition has taught for centuries that there are two pulls in us, one upward towards transcendence, ambition, success, progress and keeping it Kenpo, intellectual clarity. Another downward, into indivudual, vernacular life. The first is obviously magnetically inspiring, while the latter is much more quietly and subtly satisfying, but its challenges at times, dull even lacking any sort of inspiration. Yet we stay attached nonetheless to an idea, way or thought that seems to fill our days with comfort and fear. You see, if any part of a long journey diminishes in our memories, or if we forget a name, time, class, etc. we see ourselves lacking the attachment to the past which all humans are inclined to, rather than the future. The attachment to people, places, things is preferred to a detachement away from such things, and in that way we feel not so quick to move on to the inevitable. Many of my generation are passing away, and some others are ill, some seriously. What sustains my remaining 'warrior' ethos is that fact that I've chosen this art as a calling. In doing so it feeds my soul, my spirit and especially my desire to pass it on in my own way. I am saddened that it is so maligned this path, with those who wish only to take from it, and not serve it's future and destroy it's past. I am saddened a lot these late days, and I wait for that soul work that inspires me to face all the challenges that life brings, even those from a Golden Showers intergalatic belt master who only speaks to a fear and lonliness of spirit, that I thankfully do not have just because I have "The Calling". Moreover, I still have two or three good kicks and four or five great punches left in me, and boldly I say, he wouldn't have look farther than the tip of his nose to see it all. Its good to be writing again...

Catalysts of Snapping Twig

Kenpojunkie — Tue, 14 Oct 2008 05:36:00 GMT

Hopefully the topic on Triggered Salute Snapping Twig is worth one more post.

Catalysts, altering the ideal phase of the technique, and how perception (or the lack of it) will alter the stance changes and foot work to be used. If your feet know what they are doing, the rest of you should be able to deal with un-ideal attacks WITH the ideal phase defense using the equation formula or Even If as your method.

In the first video, Triggered Salute Snapping Twig and the swinging gate, the fact that you can see the attack when the fingers touch is shown.

(Please visit the site to view this media)

Tipping Point and Tipping Point Reversal are two terms that I use to relate what students are looking at. That attackers tipping point is common in ideal phase defenses. How we exploit the attackers tipping point will determine how much cancellation of their HWD zones that we achieve. The crucial factor is that of time. If you have the time, make sure your attackers lead arm, torso and hips are turned with the initail NB stabilization. The attacker can actually be pushed back with a solid NB while his mass is turned and deflected.

In the second video, Triggered Salute Snapping Twig Shove Catalyst, we try to anatomically collapse the attackers arm into their shoulder.

(Please visit the site to view this media)

Time, the precious commodity that can bite you in the, you get the idea. What is the Forward bow good at? Bracing Angle. You knew that. So why would you rely on a stabile NB when you didn't see the attack coming, or, it started with the attacker up close and in your face. I learned many years ago from Bob Harris that my goal when fighting was to GET DOWN COLE!!!!! I hated it, it wasn't easy, but he was right. Now I apply that memory when moving backwards as well as forward. One of the early versions of Break Stance relied on the term Downforward. Seperately not functional, but together, works like a charm. I couldn't get low and stay low, I'm to tall for wide stances, unless you want to run into my reverse punch but that is another topic. Anyway, Downforward becomes Downreverse. The catalyst of a shove is of greater intensity and changes the ideal attack to an un-ideal attack. If you're going to talk about the defense, give me some intensity in the attack. Attack like you mean it, or, "The spirit of the attack." Famous Kenpo guy said that a few years back. Don't see too much of it lately. Contact Resistance to the rescue!!!!! LOL

WHen I see Triggeres Salute Snapping Twig, I see Alternating Mace. Why? Because when I first learned Alternating Mace, I was shown how to alter (delete, who cares,) the NB for a Forward bow that sunk the punch down and in to the attackers body. Downforward, 5 years after I learned it for sparring, and a truism throughout martial arts.

Okay, the Shove Catalyst is an un-ideal attack that is a time stealer. You don't have the required time to get to the NB. You can play with any technique as much as you want, but, don't lose sight of the attack.

Tripping point return shove. I guess we could rename TS ST Returning the Shove. But I would rather not. Your forward bow is the mechanism (the stance chage) that collapses the arm into the shoulder (jams it up into the shoulder socket) while sinking the attackers mass into their front foot. A concussive type of stance change while your hands elongate his arm.

There is no one answer to the un-ideal attack, the un-ideal catalyst always alters the response, it's a matter of using the time factors, position recognitions, environment & correctly formed weapons to be successful.

I'm Clark D. Cole, that's my story and I'm stickin' to it!

Cole Family Kenpo a Contact Resistance Method of EAPK.

Better Kenpo drills for the 21st Century!

Article 2, The Attack Pivot

Kenpojunkie — Fri, 10 Oct 2008 04:17:00 GMT

Article 2, The Attack Pivot

The Attack Pivot

The Attack Pivot. That point on the outside of the bottom of your foot at the point where the little toe meets the ball of your foot is also called CSP1 (Control Surface Point 1) There is a Dependent CSP1, and an Independent CSP1,

Dependent CSP1 Attack Pivot – the way in which the directional force achieved is tied to the rotational force of the Stabile Heel Pivot. In order for the upper quadrant to be synchronized with the lower quadrant, the heel/ball micro step must be perfected. For there to be an attack, there must be interdependence on the ability of the lead foot to transfer weight efficiently. Type 1 AP.

Independent CSP1 Attack Pivot – when the focus of a stance change is such that it does not have combat application, an attack pivot is considered to be an independent CSP1 attack pivot. This type of attack pivot is a training method found superbly in the EPAK sets Coordination Set 1 & 2 (CS1/CS2). Students are encouraged to understand HOW a stabile heel pivot/micro step and an independent CSP1 attack pivot are used at the basic level of weight shifting that places the feet, knees, hips and shoulders into a 12 o’clock orientation. Type 2 AP.

(Please visit the site to view this media)

The two types explained

Type 1 Attack Pivot: rear leg roundhouse kick

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FlUovQLUn28

a) LNB (left neutral bow)

b) Raise the ball of the LF (left foot) and pivot counter clockwise on the heel of the foot (CSP3 with increased knee bend in both knees) as your right hand does a vertical punch to the opponent’s forward pectoral muscle.

c) The punch is timed to the micro step, which indicates that the punch started before the foot pivoted on the heel.

d) With your mass above the lead foot, rock your hips on the x & Y axial and pivot on the ball of the front foot. The emphasis of the pivot is on the outside edge of the ball of the foot (CSP1), but the entire ball of the foot maintains contact with the ground.

In step d, depending on the distance that was covered before the kick hit the body, the entire foot should be firmly planted to the ground prior to the point of contact with the target.

The punch and kick straddle the conceptualized horizontal line that separates the top and middle of the three horizontal zones. This is a typical ‘Overload’ example of striking/kicking. By concentrating your attacks to a prescribed area, the goal is to make the opponent concentrate on defending a small area.

You will see and feel that Type 1 Attack Pivots will always have two micro steps when combined with a stabile heel pivot.

Type 2 Attack Pivot: twisting in and out

e) LNB, raise the heel of the front foot and increase the bend of both knees.

f) Rock your hips on the X Axial as your front foot pivots (counter clockwise) on the CSP1 (micro step) while the heel of your rear foot rises. Inplace Rotating twist.

g) Your left arm should anchor to your body with the hand up by your head while you tuck your chin down toward your left shoulder. Anchor your right elbow also near your right hip. This is a cover position that keeps your arms close to your body should you be forced to the ground.

Type 2 Attack Pivots are Independent of the Stabile Heel Pivot. Once the micro step is accomplished, Type 2 Attack Pivot lines up the rear leg you’re kicking (knee foot & shin), utilizing the arms for covering your vital targets, rotational leg/limb destruction when rotating out of the twist.

Clark D. Cole SI

Better Kenpo drills for the 21^st Century

Article 1, The Stabile Heel Pivot

Kenpojunkie — Fri, 10 Oct 2008 02:10:00 GMT

Article 1, the Stabile Heel Pivot

The Stabile Heel Pivot

Two new terms will be introduced in this blog, the Stabile Heel Pivot & the Micro Step.

Stabile Heel Pivot – by using the heel to pivot into and out of your stance changes. The most stabile point of the foot (the heel as Control Surface Point 3) allows for Micro Stepping.

Micro Step – a micro step is the approximate length of your foot as weight is transferred toward the ball of the foot and away from the heel. The Micro Step converts rotational force into directional force when attacking.

Stabile Heel Pivot (CSP3), its primary task is to maintain the vertical head/hip/heel line of the twist stance. The secondary task is to allow for weight transfer into the ball of the foot (micro step movement). So, when the ball of the foot is raised in a twist stance, we achieve stability through the movement. As the weight is transferred to the ball of the foot and the heel raises we achieve the length of our foot as extension and increase our directional force through the attack.

(Please visit the site to view this media)

The Micro Step is any time the heel pivots more than 45 degrees and transfers weight away from the heel and toward the ball.

Clark D. Cole SI

Better Kenpo Drills for the 21^st century

Article 3, The Foundation Pivot

Kenpojunkie — Thu, 09 Oct 2008 22:23:00 GMT

Article 3, the Foundation Pivot

The Foundation Pivot

The Foundation Pivot can be best described in one word, Options.

The Foundation Pivot (CSP2) gives you options on how to utilize your foots’ pivot points, depending on how you are going to use your feet, AND, their specific tool sets. Be it a kick, a stance change or foot maneuver, the Foundation Pivot (CSP2) borrows the features of both the Attack Pivot and the Stabile Heel Pivot.

Watch closely how the foot twists. By twisting the foot toward the inside of the ball of the foot (CSP2)

(Please visit the site to view this media)

By borrowing the best features of the other two pivot points of the feet, CSP2 lets you excel in three important attributes that will increase your skills as a student of Kenpo Foot work, and those attributes are,

a. Stability; CSP2 remains stabile while allowing your upper quadrant to rotate all three planes of the body. By raising the heel slightly, there is no weight transfer yet the body can change posture (by rotating the sagittal, coronal & transverse planes simultaneously) without sacrifice stability. Attribute a then is, Stability.

b. Weapon alignment & formation; CSP2 aligns the foot toward the target WHILE forming the weapon to be used (ball of the foot kick). While still on the ground, your foot forms the proper impact position for the kick, without having to shift weight or betray the intention of the raised heel. Attribute 2 then is, Weapon alignment & formation.

c. Maneuverability; CSP2 is capable of any logical change in direction. By using CSP2 you are improving your ability to tailor how much friction your feet encounter on vastly different surfaces. This implies a greater stability during foot maneuvers and better attack postures that appear to be stance changes. The increased ability to close the gap while the heel is raised, as well as the potential for lower limb destruction is increased. Attribute 3 then is, Maneuverability.

Let’s look at the attributes again,

Attribute 1 – Stability

Attribute 2 – Weapon alignment with formation

Attribute 3 – Maneuverability

Thus ends the series of Control Surface Points of the feet.

Mass Attack Fallacies

Kenpojunkie — Tue, 07 Oct 2008 20:49:00 GMT

This blog was originally posted on 3/18/08

How Catalysts alter what we do.

Three Fallacies of Demo Mass Attacks

This video details how we can use the attackers intent to determine which technique is viable. As the attack intensifies, the position you find yourself in, as well as the "What's in ya' - On ya' - Around ya' formula is examined. After talking to my son Jack, we put this video together as an example of how Contact Resistance deals with UN-Ideal Phase attacks that become the catalyst for Wings of Silk, Scrapping Hoof and Encounter with Danger.

(Please visit the site to view this media)

Fallacy #1 Your attackers will wait patiently for their turn to attack and knock your block off.

What is the purpose of a mass attack (or just a couple of attackers)? The showcasing of the person in the middle as they exhibit their skills against armed and unarmed assailants. For a mass attack demonstration to effectively portray what the person in the middle will actually do is quite the opposite of the choreographed demo. If you have seen video of how gang members are "Jumped In' to the gang, you see where there are no perfect circles of attackers, and the attacks come from everywhere to inflict damage. There is NO AIR kENPO in a mass attack.

Fallacy #2 The circle of attackers.

I cannot predict what a mass attack is going to look like, I can say that the perfect circle of attackers is unlikely, nor that the attackers will be stepping through with punches, clubs and knives. Trained martial artists afford the person in the middle the needed time for each and every attack to be dealt with in an Ideal Phase method.

When an experienced fighter wants to hurt you, they will use boxer style punches that keep them close enough to you to do damage. Boxers do not use step through foot maneuvers when they strike. Another type of experienced fighter will try to knock you to the ground and then pummel you (along with his buddies) while you are on the ground. And here is where the soccer style kick is used to keep the attack up and away while stomping and kicking repeatedly.

For a mass attack to happen, many people are needed to collapse toward a central point with fists firing off. There is no magical perimeter that keeps your attackers from prematurely crossing over from out of contact into within contact range, simply waiting their turn to attack. The assumption that one attacker is going to wait while you destroy one guy in the group is a fantasy.

There are drills that can be practiced by students that raise the level of awareness and stress that can show how when dealing with a possible mass attack, you don't need to focus on one individual and get blind sided by another. Drop the drills that have one person in a circle while the instructor calls of a number and someone attacks. That circle is a crutch that will make Ideal Phase techniques unworkable.

I drill using close proximity. Three people with their backs to one another, arms hooked. It's a triangle drill that enforces proximity and the need to use mid and short range weapons. Tell them to unhook their arms then, GO(!), they turn and start fighting. The distance between the defender and the attackers is always within contact range. This is a two on one drill. It can be altered to two on 4, 3 on 6 and so on. Of utmost importance is to have senior rank members who are able to project voice and command to break up any fight

How Catalysts alter what we do.

Three Fallacies of Demo Mass Attacks

that might go too far. Safety is of utmost importance, due to the nature of the fighting and the closeness of the combatants.

Fallacy #3 Your skills are enough to get past the first guy and hurt anyone who is attacking you. The Flight/Fight/Freeze stage.

The ability to hurt someone is not determined by the trained skills of your weapons. The availability of targets is a major factor, the distance involved (time factor); positioning and attitude determine you ability to process and react to the attack. All of these considerations combine to create a switch that will create one of three reactions. Flight, Fight or Freeze. What you have learned is not as important as whether you can use those tools when needed. Accept that it can happen and deal with it accordingly.

That acceptance can be paired with an examination of Un-Ideal Phase Attacks that will help you determine how to handle an attacker that has or will get close enough to hurt you. There are tipping points during a punch, a series of motions that are involved in a grab, and plenty of examples to be examined in the future on You Tube to back up my opinions.

Now, we can train the ideal phase technique against the ideal phase attack, but, what happened before we were put in the locks? As in the video, a possible attack catalyst is the two hand shove from the front. You try to get into Parting Wings but the attack was sudden, aggressive and unexpected. Jack was startled and his arms did the natural thing, they prepared for the possibility that he would wind up on his ass. I caught him and applied the locks of Wings of Silk keeping him from falling to the ground.

In this possible catalyst, the front two hand shove put Jack into Wings of Silk. The shove was the Un-Ideal Phase Attack. The attack has very little in way of a telegraphed motion. It also is a Dead Motion attack.

When we talk about Un-Ideal Phase Attacks, we are talking about placing the dummy in different clock positions to find out how a technique is adapted at the point of the attack, not after the technique is engaged. Move the dummy from 12:00 to 1:20 and it can be a horizontal forearm, a clothes line strike, one that might be responded to by trying to use Delayed Sword.

When Jack and I train the Un-Ideal Phase Attacks, we will either turn the defender, or, have the attacker roam into odd angles within the defenders peripheral vision that make the Ideal Phase defense temporarily unworkable. The point is not to formulate a new technique, nor is it to change to another, we try to use the Ideal/Even If/Ideal formula to focus on defending against close proximity attacks.

Clark D. Cole SI
Jack D. Cole AI
Sage E. Cole assistant

Contact Resistance Kenpo Blog from March of 2008

Kenpojunkie — Tue, 07 Oct 2008 06:57:00 GMT

Blog 1, first published on Monday March 8th, 2008. As time passed, my understanding of how to format a blog page crept along until it is the mediocre skill you can see today over at http://contactresistancekenpo.blogspot.com/. The purpose of this blog was to learn the software, its limitations (very unlike a word processor), its features and the how the content within the finished blog would look. I am trying to explain what Contact Rsistance meant back in March of 2008. Not a great start, but a start nonetheless.

Clark D. Cole, 10/6/08

Contact Resistance?

Hi, Cole Family Kenpo is happy to introduce a method of learning Ed Parkers American Kenpo that will increase your ability to defend yourself.

My name is Clark Cole. I will be your instructor. If you have never taken any kind of Martial Art, this will be an eye opening journey. If you already study a form of Martial Art, this might clear up some of those gaps in your training. I believe that if you know there is a way to accomplish something, then it is up to you to apply it.

Any one who is currently learning American Kenpo or KaJuKenBo will be familiar with the basics and techniques that I describe in this blog. What is Contact Resistance you ask? A good example of it would be found on the recent Fight Quest episode that featured two prominent KaJuKenBo studios in the San Fransisco area.

Contact Resistance uses aggressive and focused attack postures for realistic training models. Each training model, also known as self defense techniques, are combinations of basic motions that are assembled into logical sequences. These techniques are not sport based. Their most important aspect is not to just learn the sequenced movements, but, to learn what the technique teaches.

Ed Parkers American Kenpo is a combative system of American Martial Art. The method reinforced is that for every attack there are many possible response. "A grab is a push is a punch." That saying is indicative of how EPAK approaches the linear movement of single hand attacks. Through the use of foot maneuvers, body maneuvers and environmental awareness, the EPAK student learns to apply functional models of defense that are easily learned and understood.

Here is an example of what techniques in EPAK look like when training, (Moving the meatbag)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FAdCTCUN4go

That is myself and my son Jack working together. Interesting comment from a viewer, with a great suggestion thrown in.

Contact Resistance training makes what you learn applicable right away. However, when a technique is learned, the opportunity to use it, to recognize the validity of its component parts, is no good without a scenario based system of training. When I teach someone a technique called Delayed Sword (from the EPAK System), I make sure the motions within the pattern are done correctly by the student, then I add a scenario to the lesson. Each technique has a catalyst. Each catalyst creates the technique used. Delayed Sword has as it's catalyst a right hand grab to your lapel (jackets and coats) or your training Gi (uniform). Once the Ideal Phase of the technique can be shown by the student, the scenario is the added training model that completes the lesson.

Scenario one (Ideal Phase), has the attacker standing within three feet of the student. Attacker grabs the lapel of the student with his/her right hand, in order to pull the student into a left punch to the face.

Scenario two (unIdeal Phase) the attacker has his/her back to the student (as if the two were in a line at the store, bank or stadium) then turns around and grabs the student. The visualization is simple, you as the student is standing in front of someone with an attitude and a big mouth. They say something that makes the person in front of the student irate and they mistake the student as the big mouth. Well, what are you going to do? Delayed Sword! Maybe not all of it, but as much as needed and environment dictates.

Scenario three (Explosive unIdeal Phase), Where you find yourself faced with rowdy maybe drunk patrons at a stadium, tavern or any other public place serving alcohol. Student faces 4 to 6 individuals looking to intimidate or rough up someone for whatever stupid reason is handy. One attacker has 4 guys behind him and is being encouraged to throw blows with the student. One of the gents pushes his buddy toward the student and he swings a wild haymaker at the students face. WAIT A MINUTE! The student only knows how to defend against a grab THEN a punch. Not a problem. The Equation Formula is the answer for the unIdeal and the Explosive unIdeal Phase of training. By inderstanding the component parts (the motions called basics) any part of the technique can be used in almost infinite combinations (along with gettin' the heck out of there) that are created by the catalyst of the attack.

Where can you see these phases of attack and defense? The Internet is a reliable resource for information on locations and names of studios. I encourage you to find and look in to an EPAK studio or a KaJuKenBo studio in your area. Your face might thank you at some point.

Clark Cole Senior Instructor Ed Parkers American Kenpo
colefamilykenpo@sbcglobal.net

Royal Family Kid's Camp: Why give a crap?

Dave — Sun, 29 Jun 2008 19:33:00 GMT

Are you strong enough to look at Big Uglies, not turn away, take it in, and remember it? To avoid the convenience of looking away or banishing the unpleasant from your minds? Are you compassionate enough to make yourself a little uncomfortable, so that someone not as lucky as you might have a shot at experiencing something good in life?

I worked in the group home system as a Child Care Worker for a bit as one of my college jobs. I initially took the job because it involved working nights and weekends, which left my schedule open for school. It was unpleasant work in a combative and hostile environment...the position I worked had rapid turnover. You get bombed from the kids (testing limits is a way to pass the time for them, and each new worker is fresh meat to carve), and bombed from the admin (coprorate types...they think something should be easy to change or implement, but aren't the ones on the front lines with at-risk youth). I stayed as long as I did for the kids.

Neglect (to the point of being locked away from food, toilets, etc.); abuse (pulled from their homes by protective services to get placed in an alternate home, just as bad or worse than the one they were pulled from...regular physical and emotional abuse; beatings, beratement, and shaming); molestation (parents, caregivers, or their friends taking sexual liberties with children who really SHOULD be more worried about Care Bears than getting venereal warts burned off, or sexually sold to friends in exchange for drug money for the parents of these children....their obligatory protectors becoming the most visible perpetrators and conspirators of their torment), and similar crap aspects of life defined their experience to date. Even the folks assigned to protect them often join the list of abusers, sometimes in easily recognizable ways, sometimes in subtler ways, re-injuring these kids by meeting them in power struggles over misbehavior, rather than getting that these kids act out because they are hurt or scared.

Life is hard, and expensive, and there isn't a lot of discretionary income floating around much nowadays. And the idea of doing without some lifestyle preferences to send a kid to camp for a week seems distant and unlikeable to many. After all, what if you aren't religious, but the camp is? What good can a single week at a camp do to help these little derelicts, anyway?

For many survivors of abuse, healing begins with the realization of possibility. Children see worlds in black and white. "Abused now" means life will always be abusive. Being mistreated by adults now, means all adults have ulterior motives behind any apparent kindnesses they offer. Being treated with love, kindness, compassion, and no strings attached, the kids at these camps will have a first-time experience of someone not wanting to strike them, touch them sexually, lock them down for some trivial infraction, or compete with the for daily power positions over chores or school requirements... Kindnesses many of us take for granted, they have never seen. The idea that people can be kind; that not every moment in life has to suck; that there is hope on the horizon for better days; that misery may, in fact, have an end; these become moments of learning that can take seed in a childs psyche, becoming reference experiences in thier personality that empower them to motor on in an otherwise horrifying life. To be open to the good in life, and enjoy brief respites from hell-on-earth as they occur.

Seed moments are laid down at camp. Counselors committed to bringing nothing but caring to this week in a childs life continually get blown away at the moment of revelation children reach partway into camp. For many of these kids, it is the first safe place -- and first safe moments -- they have ever known. So they open up, speak freely to listening ears, and shed layers of mental garbage that's built up over their short, hard little lifetimes. They are provided craft activities...an opportunity to make something with their own hands, and look with pride on something they have done...a first, for many. But a helluva significant lesson in applying will and craft to create a feel-good yield. They are inundated with stories of endurance, love, perseverance...provided with examples of caring, both experientially, and in the subtle guiding form of myth. They are given grand-parently adults who will hold them in thier laps to help them cry, and dry their tears in warmth and acceptance, instead of reaching down their pants.

Lifelong martial artists typically have a warrior archetype thing going on. But for most of us, the biggest thing we'll ever have to battle are the invisible bad guys in our heads as we train techniques and forms, or the bigger guys in sparring class who hit harder than we're comfortable with. Part of my own warrior mindset gig is to "Fight for what's right". Little old lady getting mugged on the side of the road? Darned skippy I'm stopping to get out and intervene. Even when I know it could cost me. Because it's about doing the right thing, not weighing the risks and staying out of the fray cuz I might get hurt. Or inconvenienced. Well, there's something going on, and there's something you can do about it.

Everyday, children around the country are being shuttled around "The System" for their own protection. The System itself is a hideous place to be; scary, uncertain, cold and corporate. Constantly battling cutbacks and shortages, ill-equipped to give kids the corrective emotional experiences they need to start healing. The invitational tournaments themselves do little for the kids we hope to help. Most won't ever even know what happened to raise the awareness and monies necessary to get them off to an RFKC kids camp. But they DO serve as a focal point for fund-raising. It gives the communities around them a reason to learn about the issues surrounding these children, and an interaction point for them to donate money, time, or services to get more kids in the system to camp. They serve as "Service Interaction Points", where individuals, families, businesses, or churches can focus their resources to champion kids who have no champions.

But organizations like the Royal Families Kids' Camp have the resources to turn the money we raise as a community, and turn it into life-changing, worth-affirming experiences for children who would otherwise never know a kind word or supportive hand in their formative years. If you have a little extra cash you can part with, send it...we'll make sure it goes to supporting these kids in a week they will never forget, and always cherish. If you don't have cash, but do have time, spend it...helping with the pre-event fund-raising, showing up to help out as a referree or judge, or assisting with the snack booths on the day of the tournament. Send some friends who might be better off than you financially an e-mail discussing what we are doing, why, and how they could help. Help recruit karate schools in your area to go to these tournaments; they aren't to line the pockets of the promotors or school owners, or to aid association agendas. They are to help pay to get kids to a weeklong experience that could give them the mental and emotional pats on the back they need in order to get through the rest of their lives.

Regards,

Dave

Thoughts on practise.

Uncle — Wed, 21 May 2008 16:10:00 GMT

"Always practice with a purpose. Practicing without a purpose is like a broken pencil: pointless" These words by guitar virtuoso Scott Tennant ring true in just about everything, but for me particularly in Kenpo. You need a clear idea of what you need to practice. Organize the hierarchry of items you want o improve upon. Some are long term goals, but within those long time goals are smaller goals (like improving your strength) that can be accomplished in one or two good practise sessions. Actually, if you think about it you have two choices: to improve or to go downhill. If you practise without getting anything done, you've either not concentrated hard enough or put too many things on the menu for the day. Next time, focus on smaller goals. Allowing your self to make even a bad technique, basic or form pass muster without taking steps to correct it is not acceptable. Any chance you waste to train something well is a step downhill, for there is always something on which you can improve, no matter how small, whenever you begin your practise. So, there is Practise and there is Training for "it". The common thread between the two is the simple discipline we cultivate of striving for that little glimmer of excellence.

Quotes from a long Kenpo life...

Uncle — Tue, 11 Mar 2008 01:42:00 GMT

In an attempt to resume writing without the doom and gloom of my recent mood, I offer some quotes I've found through reading, listeniing, remembering and even a few of my own. Don't know why or who'll care, lets call it a catharsis of sorts, K? I'll gladly give credit as memory serves. Ed Parker: "Are you really going to do it like that?" "You're not what you think you've become" (ouch!) Paul Pearsall: "Go ahead and give up. Perservering is not the only way to demonstrate strength. Strength can also mean knowing when to engage in enlightened surrender, willingness to give in and move on" " Settle for second (or third or sixth) best. In any life endeavor there can only be one number one. Relax and enjoy being one of the thousands who fall short" Maya Angelou: (Paraphrased) "People will not remember how they met you or what you said to them, they will remember how you made them feel" Diane Spaulding (My only true love in the 10th grade) "You want me to do what?" (comic relief here, awaiting laughter) Me: "Most advanced martial artists that I've seen, abandon their basic training. Advanced training is certainly necessary, but not at the expense of the explosive, devastining, basic instinctive training" (Seminar 1992) Gosei Yamaguchi: "learn to crawl, learn to walk, learn to mature, learn to grow old with Karate" (Friday not open sparring to all styles, sometime in the 70's) Jimmy LaFond: " I guarantee you, when that martial artist drops into his deadly stance, I've cut him four or five times" (Paraphrased) Me: (to an arrogant M.A. kenpoist at a seminar) "You are more interested in a visual presentation of your slappity-slap - slap than the pracitcal application of the movement that you've never felt in combat. Your theatrical perfomance does not instill fear in me nor confidence in your ablity to take my worst punch on the worst day of my life" (all said with no profanity btw..) Me, and lastly for this offering:" Don't be all that you can be, if you look to attain that, then that's all you'll ever be, do what you can and enjoy what you can become" Many, Many more for another time perhaps....

How to teach a seminar, a syllabus

Uncle — Sat, 09 Feb 2008 05:31:00 GMT

I was asked today on how or if I prepared for my presentation at a seminar. I sort of answered the question but in an effort to get this gentleman to start looking at AKC, I thought I'd share, briefly, my way of doing it. Equipment: Uniform, Belt, groin guard (for the white belts that think you have iron balls or can block anything). ACE bandages, lots of them, tape, knee guards, both for support and ground work, ice bag, flexall, ibuprofun (vicodin if I can get it), gloves (in case I think I REALLY can still spar), notes from previous seminars, which I never look at, Power bars, TUMS, since most promoters think I can eat a ton of ribs, burgers, nacho's, chachos, twinkies, ho-ho's, hee-hees (for breakfast of course), Alka seltzer for the constant beers I'm expected to drink but can't. Material: Depends on the crowd, but it will always, always start with warmups, a few basics, and a lecture on real time fighting and survival. Iron worker ethos always at the front, can't hit him hard, often and deeply, what's the point? Watchmaker principles next but not too complicated, make the student actually feel what I'm trying to put across and bring in the essence of what I think the SGM was conveying. Flow: Lots of time for questions, suggestions (while staying in control) but much sweat, me too, and lots of ideas put into play but in a logical setting. Q&A time at the end, usually history stuff or what kind of dirt do you have on Kelly, Planas, Sepulveda, etc? I always answer, about as much as they have on me....next question! How I prepare: (seriously). six weeks prior, if I can, cardio, weight training, mostly for direct power and explosion, lots and lots of bag work, ground work mostly for escape and conditioning, back to stand up. Also I use it for follow up to failed techniques. Go over three techniques for each class I teach, have yet to really do a complete three, one seems to open questions to other methods/concerns. Read over notes from my Police days and Academy teaching. Go onto Police sites for the latest of how this Officer was attacked, what went wrong, if he/she expired, how to avoid it. People like to hear this, in my opinion it speaks to their deep seated fears of being attacked. After action: Bed of ice, ibuprofun/vicodin, call home, sit with old friends and tell war stories, listen to their concerns about the system, have something to eat an hour or two later, take a shower, go to bed, wake up the next morning saying: "why the hell didn't I go over this!!??" or "why didn't I answer that question like this?" I'm a bigger critic than most who take my seminars. That is how , in a nutshell, a 65 year old kenpo student prepares to pass on his take on this wonderful and most elusive, everchanging system. I cannot do justice to the feeling of doing a seminar, it will never be good enough for me (or others), but I cannot quit. Too stupid, or just don't know how..... So, there you are sir. You say you have 25 years in the art(s). Then you can see between the lines of the 47 adult years of learning, and what had to change as time marched along. You asked for advice, I give you a quote from Maya Angelou (I think). "people will not remember what you said, nor what you did, but they will always remember on how you made them feel" My advice? Make them feel the reality of it and they'll always remember you and the progress they've made... Good Luck!

Some ramblings on various crap...

Uncle — Tue, 05 Feb 2008 06:00:00 GMT

Hope: Ah yes, to have hope, what a wonderful idea. It's one of those 'self-help' mantra's that ring throughout all the private therapeutic sessions, the political campaigns, the medical people who when one is stricken with a life ending disease, are told to repeat it over and over. It might be a good idea when were in trouble, but it's not the only idea... is it? Like some Kenpoists, it can be just adopting a forced illusion, and we must ask if it's the only way we can make an effort to improve our situations. Hope is usually offered when things aren't going well, so I heard alot about it during various trying times in my life, both martial and personal, one being related to the other. Was I deceiving myself with forced positive thoughts thinking it was really helping me? I dunno, maybe. I know that I was afraid that the constant "hoping" might cause me to sacrifice today for the possibility of a better tomorrow. Maybe, just maybe if I had studied the way to a better Kenpo mousetrap, I could hope to be famous. If I challenged the best Kenpo fighter to a bare knuckle contest, win or lose I could hope to have a 'tough guy" reputation, that way I could hope to be a legend. I don't think I'm addicted to hope, but I might be. Addiction is not a fact of life but a description about how we are choosing to live, so says Bruce Alexander. Now a days, I just hope I heal enough to try Kenpo one more day and learn or pass on some sort of reality to myself or the student who asks the questions. Is that misleading thinking? It might be helpful for me to do a little less hoping about the future and pay more attention to the present and to life by being fully engaged in all of my emotions and those of those around me. It's not job, it's not a hobby, it's a calling. I can't "hope" myself to a glorious and honorable end, I can only work (and very hard) to achieve it. That's the beauty of the calling, it's just keeps on...calling...

Vee Arnis Jitsu vs. American Kenpo: A conceptual comparison

KenpoJuJitsu3 — Thu, 24 Jan 2008 02:21:00 GMT

Earlier today I posted a link to a Vee Arnis Jitsu interview on AmericanKenpoForum.com. I mentioned that when I look at Vee Arnis Jitsu I see “Easy Practical Applied Kenpo” or EPAK. An “old friend” of mine from NY apparently read that, watched the clip and gave me a call. My friend is a Vee Arnis Jitsu practitioner. At any rate the extent of the conversation was a comparison of VAJ t o AK. My friend was under the impression that the Checklist and “10 commandments of self-defense” mentioned by Shihan David James were nowhere to be found in the base system of Kenpo. A little history of the “friend”: This person is a former Kenpo practitioner who became disillusioned at a few of the local Kenpo schools in Baltimore. They ended up moving to NY for business purposes and “converting” to VAJ based on its “superior practicality” to American Kenpo. So here is my conceptual comparison. Disclaimer: Results may vary with instructor and location.

State of Readiness: This is described as being ready for the situation. In Kenpo this falls under 2 parts of our cycle of considerations, acceptance and attitude. We must accept the possibility that danger exists and possess the attitude to do something about it: A state of readiness.

State of Explosion: This is described as when you decide to do something, do it explosively and without hesitation. In Kenpo this falls under Explosive Action and Explosive Pressure: Using aggressive action that keeps constant force on an opponent, thus preventing him from getting set and retaliating.

State of Control: This is described as controlling the individual through three steps. Interrupt the vision, interrupt the breathing and interrupt the balance. The Kenpo systems techniques are already formulated with this in mind through many concepts and applications. Most simply through actively striking the eyes, throat and lower carriage. On another level we utilize Zones of Obscurity (blind spots), Object Obscurity (blinders), Control Maintenance (sustained pain compliance holds), Control Manipulation (maneuvering opponent off balance or to a strategic position) and Control Release (takedowns, creating distance after engagement).

The 10 commandments of self-defense

Evaluate the Situation: This is covered in many ways in Kenpo. For starters it is ranked #2 or #3 in the cycle of considerations depending on where you learned it. It is defined as being cognizant of everything in you, on you and around you. A known Kenpoist, Clyde O’Briant has coined an acronym ARMM (Adjust Regulate Monitor Modify) as an application of Kenpo’s equation formula to combat. Another useful acronym is MACE (Monitor Act Control Escape) utilized by myself.

Three Foot Rule: This is defined as the space where a person can realistically harm you and vice versa in VAJ. In Kenpo we cover this with several concepts not least of which is the “four ranges of combat” concept: Out of Contact, Within Contact, Contact Penetration and Contact Manipulation. We also cover this in more specific ways with the Dimension Zone Concept, Zones of Sanctuary, Quadrant Zone Theory and Outer Rim Concept.

Start from a Non-threatening Manner: This is covered very simply in Kenpo. The vast majority of the self-defense techniques start from an attention stance with the hands in one of two places: down and hanging naturally or up framing the face in the “I don’t want to fight” posture. Technique Examples would be Piercing Lance, Circling Windmills and Intellectual Departure.

Control the Focus – Eye to Eye Contact: This is #1 or #2 on the cycle of considerations and falls under attitude. Attitude is defined as not only the psychologically status of the individual in conflict but also their physical posture as well.

Motion causes Motion – Biomechanics: The entire system of Kenpo is founded on this principle. Each technique, motion, strike or manipulation causes a range of possible reactions and through training we become conditioned to these reactions. We become able to read and anticipate these reactions as well as capitalize on them through follow-up maneuvers.

Element of Surprise: Strike when the opponent is not ready. Professor James demonstrates talking to the aggressor and then striking mid-sentence. In Kenpo we term this under a few headings. Most notably: Purposeful Compliance, Purposeful Defiance, Zones of Obscurity, and Angles of Opportunity. Technique Examples would be Triggered Salute and Lone Kimono.

Strike from the closest point: If you haven’t learned this yet and are passed yellow belt immediately seek other instruction…you are being misled. This is covered in Kenpo under economy of motion which is most often mentioned as “using smaller circles” and “closest weapon to closest target”. I’ll take this further. It’s using the smallest EFFECTIVE circle and using the closest EFFECTIVE weapon to the closest EFFECTIVE target. A punch to the top of someone’s skull from an inch away with a baby circle is not economy of motion because it is not effective.

Changing the Focus: This is defined as getting the opponent to stop focusing on you so that you have the opportunity to use your techniques for the purpose of disabling the threat and/or escaping. Again this is covered by utilizing Pain Compliance, Object Obscurity, Explosive Pressure, Zones of Obscurity and Sequential Flow.

High and Low Concept: This is described and demonstrated as striking the opponent in high zones and low zones with some degree of alternation. We utilize this in Kenpo by breaking and/or canceling the height zone along with the width and depth zones. In short it’s part of our Dimensional Zone Concept and utilizing Diversified Targets. Technique Examples would be Detour From Doom, Five Swords and Delayed Sword.

Faster Forward/Slower Backward: This is described as the defender utilizing constant pressure on the opponent to get them to back pedal. This takes advantage of the fact that human beings are not designed to walk/run backwards and cannot see behind them to coordinate their steps. This is again covered in Kenpo’s concept of Explosive Pressure along with Cancelling the Depth Zone and Occupying the Opponent’s Space. Technique examples would be Attacking Mace, Circling Fans and the freestyle techniques.

Hopefully this gave you a gist of Kenpo as compared to another noted and effective self-defense art Vee Arnis Jitsu. On a side note I wholeheartedly agree with these commandments of self-defense. If you are not learning ANY of them at your Kenpo school….seek other instruction immediately, you are being misled.

Master of Violence

Uncle — Thu, 13 Dec 2007 15:56:00 GMT

In my martial life, I've had the good and bad fortune to train with, learn from and even leave a lasting impression on many a great teachers. I remember so well maybe four or five that changed my thinking and perception of the journey most, but not all of us have taken and it's instruction into the real reason we do all of this "stuff". My 'Master' who really introduced me into violence was named Johnny B. Lifetime thug, gangster BIG chip on his shoulder and hated cops and the fact that I was white added fuel to the fire. Four or five encounters with him none of which were peaceful, the last retired me and he went to prison soon after. He had no concept of his height and width zones, of his power principles, of his combinations or his ghost imagery. He didn't know the Kenpo creed, but he knew his own creed which changed daily to fit the situation. Johnny B. could really hit and hard. He could, though impaired with alcohol and drugs, keep fighting until the sun rose if you let him and it always took a bunch of us to subdue him. He is just one of many in my life, most out there in the Kenpo world have their own. But it occurred to me (again) that what I've really been studying is "violence" first and martial arts secondly. Violence is crippling, more so than just plain anger. Of course they are sympathetic bedfellows, but violence is the act of engaging in behaviour that has the intent to damage, hurt or kill. The power of a "Master of Violence" can be overwhelming both emotionally and of course physically and can leave inner and outer scars that last a lifetime. Even when this 'MofV' is overcome, the memory is haunting and sometimes removes a large part of the confidence and self esteem that the victim had. I've made this subject long enough, we could go on forever with it, and maybe someday there'll be a great Kenpo "potlach" where we'll trade, buy and sell, or destroy legends, myths, info or the latest and greatest moves never seen before. But I'll leave with these little tidbits of coping skills of things that I don't do, or try to amend to face the reality of life and the true study of violence. 1. I don't subscribe to the "Be all you can Be" ethos. That is a true path to burnout and assumes that if I am (or become) all I can be, that's all I'll ever be. I am all I can be right now, but I do have some energy in reserve. 2. "What goes around comes around" Nah, people that are total jerks or evil people often get all the good beaks. Being nice guarantee's nothing and sometimes, things just don't work or balance out. 3. Love conditionally. Healthy, lasting love is conditional, not unconditional. Throwning around the "Love you's" "I love you man" and so on are nice platitudes for comforting yourself and others. But real love for a person is earned and not neccesarily something I deserve (with a few exceptions). 4. Instead of correcting my faults, I try to enhance my inner strengths. Then it seems, my 'faults' peel away since I'm more aware of them and they are crutches to hide my laziness to making my strengths greater. 5. Savor life. It ain't all that bad! Yeah, you get your butt kicked but after a while and if you don't go running off to hide and cry, you learn to move your butt or block it successfully and come out the wiser for it. If you are truly a martial artist, Kenpoist or any other follower, then you should be a Student of Violence as well as a student of motion. I've tried for 47 years, to change that order of words and thoughts but life continually brings me back to the truth...

On being a traditionalist....sort of..

Uncle — Thu, 22 Nov 2007 23:33:00 GMT

"The greatest enemy of truth is not the lie-deliberate, contrived, and dishonest, but the myth-persistant, persuasive, and unrealistic" - President John F. Kennedy The traditional approach to a martial art has become a bit of a pariah today, but it is also called upon when one needs a bit of self helpism to get through the rougher parts of their training. The application of violent movement upon a being much like you is in itself a dark venture into your own belief system.We seem to be more and more 'guilt ridden' in our society today. We are addicted, lonely, obsessed, lipo-ed, peeled, and in search of that elusive "self-esteem" that has escaped us throughout all of our lives. We are told that we have 'repressed memories' that is why we don't do well, are full of guilt or shame or both, and that unless we buy the bazillions of self help books, go to the mountain to seek the answer, or talk to the guru that taught all the other guru's and has done Oprah several times, we will never realize our own destiny and happiness. So, many go back in time, in some form or another to see how the Elders did "it" and overcame the massive changes the the art went through. The old days of punch and kick Kenpo, when the highest form was short #3 and that was a big "HUH?" or "WTF," suddenly seem relevant again, and in being in this comfortable place, where we know we'll not stay for long, still gives us the respite we need to refocus.. So for me the "sort of" comes in this form: Guilt is a good thing sometimes as it is essential for making real changes. It canlead to a more thoughtful consideration of life, how we lead it, and how we influence other lives. According to Dr. Paul Pearsall, without guilt, we become self-absorbed beings, maybe even sociopaths. Also, you're not a victim, unless you have been physically attacked, been in an accident, or some such thing. Most arn't a victim of anything except thinking they're victims. Listen to any group of people talking about daily problems and you will hear the victim mentality, even if they arevictgims of something as rudimentary as the "world today". Movement is the answer. Both physically and emotionally. That has been a traditionalist mantra forever. It still is and though the sophistication that permeates the arts today has a good and worthy place in exemplary martial arts, and artists, the traditional approach of "remove your comfort zone" and find the truth about your training and spirit. Discard myths for survival, but use them to dream of what might be, and where you could place in that dream. Never let your spirit lag behind, always keep it to the forefront of your movement. Dreams can be crushed, the spirit must never be... There you are my Kenpo son and for you my Kenpo daughter, should you return...

The Body follows Belief

Uncle — Mon, 22 Oct 2007 14:40:00 GMT

I got a familiar question this following weekend. A person asked me "how do you know if any of this works?" The most predictable answer to the most asked question would be "You don't until you use it". The puzzled and painful look on this persons face who was looking for a non-contact way to resolve a physical conflict was also text book. But an old saying that I read, heard or in some way was given to me and placed in my memory banks for use just in these situations was simple. The Body follows Belief. To believe in what you're doing and that you're doing it to the best of your ability is a step towards emotional security. But the saying includes the caveat that you cannot just think or will it to a successful end, you must live it and feel it. Segue to a statement from a large, heavy handed Hawaiian gentleman who taught the same thing....

Ritual? Does it makes us better or not? Part 2 of 2 (Long)

Uncle — Wed, 26 Sep 2007 15:00:00 GMT

So, continuing on this subject and to clarify a bit more on the term "Death of Kenpo". Much of the modern bias to any form of ritual is contained in the thinking that the 'mythical' symbols would lend some sort of superstitious character to the acquisition of Kenpo skill. Sort of an unhealthy climate of escapist dreams. Archaic and meaningless trappings of training that would create a "practicing" rather than a "believing" practitioner. In other words, a student blindly walking through the Kenpo with glazed over eyes doing what the ritual tells him to do, rather than really knowing from hard application what his potential truly is. We all know that this is true, and it will not disappear in our lifetimes. But should it? It seems to me that the more the symbols of the origins of our art were discarded or altered to make Kenpo "relevant", the more irrelevant it became. Each alteration in any form, conveyed the message that any form of ritual was meaningless and should be discarded. But in fact what changed was that new symbols and rituals appeared and the flood gates of confusion were opened. The answer for some of these "reformers" was that if you held onto an "old" tradition, symbol or ritual your training was somehow subverted. This thinking broiught out the "change agents" and there seem to be a crisis in identity of who was in charge, who was marginalized, who was the new leader, etc. Functionaries appeared to lead us from the ritual and tradition to the new ways of doing Kenpo. Some, with wonderful ideas and flexibility for others thoughts, some, mired in the world of change and becoming what they feared the most. So, as my thoughts wander on, I'll wrap this up for you to think on. One of my favorite authors was Mary Douglas. I remember reading her book "Natural Symbols" and liking it very much. I did so when I was having my own issues with ritual and tradition and though the book is long lost, and my notes are very illegible, I put my own memory down for perusal. The decline of ritual retards social organization, and the group tends to slide toward chaos and disintergration. An absence of rituals, grand or minor, are necessary to place the whole weight of the community behind particular values ." They allow us to comprehend the world we have chosen, to give precision to our feeling of it, defines our emotions which in turn enables us, morosely or joyfully, grimly or cavalierly, to endure the world we must face, especially the horror that exists in it." (paraphrased from Clifford Geertz). The rejection of the traditional ritual places the individual outside his community and is hence an alienating experience; it tends not toward an increase of happiness or meaning but the reverse. Ironically, although the Kenpo avant-garde talk much about community, in the end they reveal themselves as radical individualists, unconcerned about whatever community exists or existed. I do not believe in wallowing in rituals for their own sake, but I do believe that the rituals and traditions lend a strength and direction towards my own improvement as practitioner and teacher. The completeness of the system doesn't lay in just changing ideas of application solely, but also in the pride of belonging to something ancient or old at least, that has transcended time and objection as well as realistic projection. It is your fight, physical, spiritual, emotional. It's not you rising to the occasion, it's you rising to your level of training and belief. This is only opinion and it works for me.....

My Personal Martial Journey: An Application of the Principles of War

KenpoJuJitsu3 — Sat, 22 Sep 2007 01:08:00 GMT

When I first began martial arts it was in 1986. I was 6 years old and wanted to learn it because it looked fun and amazing. I trained at a school that did a little of everything....TKD, Kung-Fu, Ju-Jitsu, Kickboxing, etc. As I became older my motivations changed. I still thought it was fun and looked cool, but now I also wanted to be able to handle the bullies. As I got even older (my early teens) I decided the best way to beat the bullies was to bully the bullies. I got into (and instigated) lots of scuffles with the local hoods. I won some and lost some but got enough "rep" to not be messed with "on da regular". At this time I talked to my grandfather and my father (who both served my country and grew up in the ghettoes of Baltimore and Virginia) about fighting, war and combat. They both mentioned to me "the principles of war", but it never really stuck. Probably because I like details and they just mentioned them...they didn't explain what they were.....they left it for me to find out. I started Kenpo Karate in 1998 (about a year or two after my grandfather passed) and saw an article in Black Belt magazine on applying the principles of war to martial arts. Again, the principles of war came up. It didn't fully hit me though until I put it together with MMA. I'd lived in the ghettoes of the city with the nations worst murder rate, been in countless fights, been shot, been stabbed and seen countless fights, assaults, muggings and a few mur...you get the idea. But most of these were by untrained people. MMA gave me regular exposure to trained people fighting it out with techniques I was familiar with and it just opened my eyes so to speak. Something flipped in my head and it all made sense combined with what my dad and grandpa told me. A "little voice" told me.... "Fighting/Self-Defense is a war. Your life or the life/lives of those you care about are the spoils of this war. If these spoils are valuable to you then follow the principles of war like you follow the principles of martial arts. So my motivations changed again...looking good wasn't even a factor now so out went some of the more outlandish stuff I did in TKD and Kung-Fu. Those 540 degree spin kicks I used to do? Forgotten. Kenpo and Ju-Jitsu became my moniker to reflect the path and arts I was choosing to carry me through the wars ahead. But what about those principles of war? Well I applied them and continue to do so. This is my personal journey ....may you find benefit in my sharing part of it with you....

MASS - Applying sufficient force to achieve the objective.

Well, mass involves force. Force, as in sufficient force, is often determined by the size of the object relative to its acceleration from a physics standpoint. When I was ranked to 1^st Black in Kenpo in 2000 I weighed 138lbs. I had difficulty with guys over 200lbs who were also skilled. Why? Because they had more mass to use to achieve the "sufficient force" they needed for their objectives. A mere 200lb man had 60lbs on me. That was 43% of my body weight. This didn't account for the strength that often accompanies that extra bulk. I applied this principle by changing my workout routines, my lifestyle and my diet. I now hover at about 190lbs (I'm only 5'7") instead of 138lbs. It's not all muscle (if I "cut up" again I'll drop to about 180lbs) but much of it is. Now the 200lb guys that gave me trouble only have a 10lb advantage. That's only 5% of my body weight. I managed to increase my speed, instead of decrease it, with the increase in weight as it took me a while to get to this weight (about 6-7 years of slow growth). So for striking I have more mass for that F=MA formula that is quoted so often. The increased weight has also increased my inertia which makes my base more stable and makes me harder to move around (not even counting the leg strength increase). Also for the Ju-Jitsu side of things all of the locks, chokes and holds are based on leverage. Leverage is nothing but a force/weight multiplier on the physics side of things. The more force you can put in the more you can get out....exponentially. I'm heavier and stronger so I have more force to apply to the levers my Ju-Jitsu technique creates. I can now better utilize the MASS principle of war for sufficient force by using the increased mass of my body to make it easier to generate sufficient force as well as increase the maximum amount of force I can generate. There is another added benefit as well. When I was growing up there was a joke that went around about loving thick women because there was "more cushion for the pushin'". Well, "more cushion" applies to combat as well. I have more durability due to the increased natural armor (muscle and the accompanying increase in bone density to support the extra muscle weight and tensile strength). Blows that hurt like hell back in 2000 don't even register as much now. A 38% increase in body mass will do that for you. That's why pro fights have weight classes. Size and strength matters. Think of techniques as the vehicle...you've got to have the fuel or in our case attributes....things like size, speed, strength, agility, flexibility, coordination, timing, etc. In short I started actually conditioning my body besides just toughening my striking surfaces.

OBJECTIVE - Define a decisive and attainable objective for every military operation.

I talk about this when I teach constantly. When I ask people what their desired objective is in a fight/self-defense scenario they always answer in the same ways: "I want to defend myself", "I want to prevent him from hurting me", "I want to finish the fight". I tell them this is akin to saying "I want to win the war". This just states the obvious and doesn't cover the important aspect of HOW they are going to win the war. HOW is the objective. For my personal Kenpo (personal in the sense that it's what I do not necessarily what I teach) my attainable objective is to get to the opponent's neck/spine. The reason for this objective is that it offers varying levels of finality as well as a nearly unmatched point of access to and control of the opponent's body, position and reactions. My personal Kenpo is trained to be able to get to this target from any position against any attack. This is the objective for me. This is my roadmap to finish the war. I don't merely want to defend myself. I want to defend myself by getting to his spine/neck. I don't want to prevent him from hurting me. I want to prevent him from hurting me by getting to the control point his spine/neck offers. I don't want to finish fight. I want to finish the fight by getting to his spine/neck. My objective has two prime components; Finality and Specificity. I know exactly what I want to do and I know that when I do it. the war is almost certainly over. Also, like any military objective there are secondary objectives that lead to the primary objective. These objectives can lead the way or be bonuses depending on how the battle goes. My preferred secondary objective is to gain control of an arm. The reason being is that the arm is 1) a control point in and of itself, 2) is also a weapon and 3) is almost always presented by being utilized to strike, grab or employ a WMD (Weapon of Man-made Design). By seizing it I have seized a major weapon and a major control point. This control point also just happens to serve as a nice path to the final objective...the neck. This is how I train to win the war and I train it constantly and consistently. As long as I live my attackers will be human, they will have necks and their necks will provide varying ways of ending the war. My road for every war is specific and final to increase my probability of surviving and winning the war.

OFFENSIVE - Seize, retain and exploit the initiative.

Offensive. Defense is great; it will delay the enemy from achieving his objective(s). However, offense is final. Offense is what allows us to use the mass we have worked on to achieve the objective we have set. For my personal Kenpo I am offensive minded, and NO I don't mean I always strike first or intend to. My defensive movements are adjusted with an offensive purpose in mind. I don't block much in my personal Kenpo. I parry a lot to lead the opponent into positions I find favorable while increasing the extension of his weapons. This increases his reload time while at the same time extending his defensive capabilities beyond the effective range of defending my final objective...his spine. When I do block, I block on angles that inflict damage and/or maneuver the opponent into positions of advantage. My blocks are almost always "striking parries". I favor parries because of their yielding nature (Ju-Jitsu). It factors into another principle that will be discussed later...actually a few. Now that we've covered offensive defense let's step into the realm of offense. When I strike, I strike decisively. When I grab and manipulate I do it decisively. Decisively in the sense that none of it is arbitrary or based on mere target availability, it's target availability with a purpose. All offensive strikes, holds, locks, etc. serve the purpose of either A) advancing me towards my final objective or B) completing my secondary objective en route to my final objective. Also each offensive maneuver is trained to lead into the next so as to press the advantage I've gained. Each move I make should not only advance me closer to my objective but it should also make it increasingly difficult for my opponent to regain his initiative. This is where the manipulation aspects come into play. The "Strike! Strike! Strike!" mentality or the "Always use Kenpo's Kinetic Impact" mentality allows the opponent too much maneuverability to regain the initiative and restart his offensive should our blows not have the desired effect due to missing the target or not generating enough force. If he is free to move, he is free to recover. When I grab, I prefer not to let go. It's a constant grab-hit-grab-hit....and each grab is not a mere grab, it's a grab with a purpose. It's a lock, a choke, a manipulation, a push, a pull. If I check it's with an ACTIVE check. My checking hand is doing something. There is no room for mere "positional" checks in my personal Kenpo or at my level. Cancelling a zone to prevent his maneuverability is only momentary, especially with strikes. Manipulations have a much greater duration of effect and offer more options for regulating and escalating the force as well as changing to a new option should one fail.

SURPRISE - Strike the enemy at a time and/or place and in a manner for which he is unprepared.

Surprise is getting the opponent with something he is not ready for. The way I personally approach this is by having a variety of tactics and angles for acquiring my primary and secondary objectives. Therefore, I have a myriad of techniques. I have the Kenpo, the Ju-Jitsu, The Kickboxing, etc. I believe in having as many tools on my belt as possible so that I am more likely to have the tool I need. I also train to have my tools interchangeable and inter-connectable so as to be able switch to them as the situation dictates. I train to strike from a variety of positions and postures. I train to grapple and manipulate off of positions where many people just strike from. I work on creating obscure zones to strike from to prevent the opponent from fortifying target zones. I work on creating damage from seemingly innocuous grabs. I work on transitioning to my preferred "key positions" from all other positions on the map (map being the opponent's body and immediate environmental area) and all conceivable angles. In this way I have a path of least resistance available in most situations as well as the option to "brute force" it up the path of most resistance since many aren't prepared for that. Throughout history there is always an arms race going on with countries developing new weapons and trying to conceal their capabilities from the enemy. In my personal war plan my arms race is learning as much technique as possible. My method of concealing my capabilities is by doing that which I have little intention of repeating. I strike to get to a grab. I grab to get to a strike. Pure Ju Jitsu guys often grab, to grab, to grab and pure Kenpo guys often strike, to strike, to strike. Part of the surprise is that I switch methods constantly on the way to the objective.

ECONOMY OF FORCE - Focus the right amount of force on the key objective, without wasting force on secondary objectives.

Remember what I mentioned about my primary objective and PREFERRED secondary objective? Remember where I mentioned that secondary objectives are bonuses? My objective is the neck/spine. I don't try to get the arm to get there. I want to get to the neck. The arm is destroyed if it is presented. I don't have to destroy every weapon on the map to complete my objective. If I can circumvent them to reach the objective then I will do that. But that's only part of it. My system of "parries over blocks" ties into this. I need the opponent to be in certain positions for me to do certain things. There are three ways to achieve this. He can move, I can move or both. Now of these three ways there are two ways it can occur...on my initiative or his. To stick with the offensive principle I would have to move him, move myself or both. The parries work on both. As I parry, I place him in the position I need to advance to the objective. At the same time I move myself to an advantageous position and load one or preferably several weapons. By parrying I allow him to discharge his weapon, increase his reload time, move his defenses away from my objective, improve my position on the map and load my weapon(s)....all while conserving the energy I need to actually apply the mass principle en route to my objective.

MANEUVER - Place the enemy in a position of disadvantage through the flexible application of combat power.

Remember the sections on parries? Then there is no need to repeat them as they were heavy on maneuvering. Another aspect of this is my own maneuvers. When I step, hop, jump, leap, shuffle, twist, turn, bob, weave, flip, duck, dive, etc. I do it with a purpose. The purpose needs to be offensive in nature. When I take evasive action it is still with the intent of improving my position on the battlefield (environment). When I back-step it is not merely to evade. It is to evade AND draw the opponent in AND get him to extend his defensive capabilities AND get him to create targets. This is all offensive as opposed to dodging solely for the sake of not getting hit. All maneuvers are trained with this in mind. Yet another aspect of this is manipulation via strikes or other methods. As mentioned previously each weapon/attack I expend has a purpose for achieving the objective. Often times the weapon deployed cannot end the war on its own. Therefore, it is used to maneuver the opponent the opponent into position for another weapon that is even more effective than the one before it. Weapons ARE NOT to be deployed to maneuver the opponent into position for a weaker weapon. Kenpo example: people using major blows to set up eye slices and flicks. It should be the other way around.

UNITY OF COMMAND - For every objective, there must be a unified effort and one person responsible for command decisions.

Simply put....focus. There is only one objective for me and I am the only soldier in this battle. I have to remain resolute in my obtaining of the objective and once the objective is seized it must be utilized by me immediately. There can be no waiting for backup to arrive, or allowing other thought process to intrude on my combat mindset. It's me, the war, the objective, period. When the threat is neutralized I must then look for a path of extraction that is again dependant on and decided by me. No other persons or thoughts are allowed to interfere. The targets are marked, the battlefield is examined, the objective noted, and the war plan is already designed. This is a solo mission, carry it out according to the plan, finish it, and go home to the spoils of war I mentioned earlier. Everyone has a plan until they get hit. Plans change, but the objective in this war remains the same...it is the surest way to a final, achievable and desirable outcome. It is the best way home for me.

SECURITY - Never permit the enemy to acquire an unexpected advantage.

We've discussed this before. Each movement, maneuver and/or attack made is to get closer to the objective WHILE AT THE SAME TIME increasing the difficulty for the opposition to regain the initiative for their objective. All preferred checks are active, "positional" checks are only in-between points of reloading. Zones are cancelled by manipulation wherever possible. Manipulations can transition to other areas with greater speed and efficiency than ballistic strikes can. The opponent is to be attacked in such a way that each attack 1) leads the way to the next attack, 2) clears the way for the next attack and 3) disarms or redirects the opponents attack options. Each attack should have a higher degree of success than the one before it. And by each attack I don't mean each strike or each lock. I mean each BEAT. There are often times where multiple strikes/holds occur on a single beat. Each beat is to make things tighter than the one before. The attack should be an ever tightening vice until the opposition is crushed. This is also why I prefer not to let go once a viable grab is secured. There is a reason why it is called SECURING a hold on something in the first place.

SIMPLICITY - Prepare clear, uncomplicated planes and clear, concise orders.

My plans and objectives have been clearly outlined. My tactics have been clearly outlined as well. For a recap the tactics are: Parry whenever possible, Manipulate to strike, Strike to manipulate, achieve "key positions" and control points, disarm/disable weapons ONLY when possible, disarm/disable weapons ONLY en route to the primary objective. My orders are simple: secure the primary objective by means of the trained tactics. My actions are all trained to create an intermeshing series of maneuvers all of which are multi-function. Therefore my movements, my objectives and my plans are as simple as possible. This is my Kenpo Ju Jitsu, this is the path I'm on today...tomorrow may be different....