Sunday, March 17, 2024

They will call anything Kempo these days


These AI generated images are really getting dumb. I thought AI was supposed to be smart.

It literally got nothing correct.

Horrible neutral bow stances, no heel to toe alignment, hand placement is debatable, and for some odd reason they are all looking over into the corner of the room instead of up front.  

There are a couple of brown belts in front of the black belts, (black belts should be up front), I don't see any black gi's anywhere, and what is up with the aikido lady wearing her hakama?

This is not kenpo.

Monday, March 11, 2024

Kenpojoe's kenpo patch collection (explanation and update)


A fun video by Kenpo Joe Rebelo going over his kenpo patch collection. 

He has probably well over 100 patches!

Wednesday, March 6, 2024

Bruce Lee with Dan Inosanto


One of several photos of Bruce Lee with Dan Inosanto taken for the magazine Kung Fu monthly.

It's cool to see Mr. Inosanto representing in his Kenpo gi with the IKKA crest.

Friday, March 1, 2024

Seems pretty sketchy - "Ultimate American Kenpo Karate"

I'm going to call BS on this one. What do you want to be this was written by some AI computer or something?

Buyer beware, not all kenpo books are written the same!



(from Amazon.com)

Are you ready to immerse yourself in the captivating world of American Kenpo Karate? Journey through centuries of rich history and evolution as you uncover the secrets and techniques of this dynamic martial art. Renowned martial arts expert Zhang Wei Ming invites you to embark on an exhilarating adventure that will transform you into a master of American Kenpo Karate.

In this comprehensive guide, you will trace the roots of American Kenpo Karate and witness its remarkable evolution. Explore the visionary founders who paved the way, with a spotlight on the legendary Ed Parker, whose innovative contributions shaped American Kenpo Karate into the powerhouse it is today. Discover why American Kenpo Karate holds a unique and significant place in the world of martial arts.

Prepare to dive into the fundamental principles that form the bedrock of American Kenpo Karate. Flow seamlessly and harmoniously, like a river carving its path through the land. Embrace the stability and resilience of a rock, finding balance and strength in every movement. Discover the art of economy of motion, maximizing your efficiency and effectiveness. With each chapter, you will delve deeper into stances, footwork, strikes, and blocks, unlocking the true power and potential of your techniques.

Experience the thrill of mastering offensive techniques as you unleash advanced striking combinations. Hone your precision targeting and timing, delivering devastating blows with expert skill. Explore the art of angles and distancing, utilizing these strategic elements to gain the upper hand in combat. Real-life scenarios and examples will illustrate how to apply these techniques efficiently, ensuring you are well-prepared for any situation.

No warrior is complete without a formidable defense. Learn the secrets of effective blocking strategies and discover the art of redirecting and countering attacks. Unlock a repertoire of techniques that will leave your opponents stunned and powerless. Through practical examples and scenarios, you will witness the efficiency and effectiveness of these defensive techniques. Escape and release from grabs with ease, ensuring your safety and dominance.

Dive into the intricate world of joint manipulation and locks, where precision and control reign supreme. Explore the power of pressure points and master the art of wrist locks, arm bars, and flowing lock sequences. Witness the seamless flow of these techniques and discover their practical applications in real combat situations.

Expand your horizons with the way of the empty hand and weapons training. Learn how to defend against knife attacks and disarm your opponents with confidence. Immerse yourself in the beauty of traditional weapon forms and discover the art of improvisation and adaptation in weaponry.

Unleash the power of your mind with mental focus and conditioning. Develop resilience and mental strength through breathing techniques, visualization, and meditation. Enhance your combat skills and tactical prowess through controlled sparring sessions, where footwork and timing are paramount. Witness the importance of effective strategies and draw inspiration from the parable of the wise swordsman.

As you progress on your journey, you will encounter advanced training methods that will push your physical limits. Build strength and endurance with targeted exercises and stamina-building techniques. Cultivate discipline and perseverance, setting goals and tracking your progress along the way. Embrace the philosophy and spirit of American Kenpo Karate, embodying its principles in every aspect of your life. This comprehensive guide, accompanied by a glossary of key terms and a bibliography for further exploration, is your gateway to mastering this revered martial art. Embark on this thrilling journey today and awaken the warrior within. The path to becoming a true master awaits you.


About the Author

Zhang Wei Ming is a renowned master of all martial arts, with over 40 years of experience in the field. He began his martial arts training at a young age, studying various styles such as Shaolin Kung Fu, Wing Chun, and Wushu. He later discovered Tai Chi Chuan and was immediately drawn to its graceful movements and philosophical principles.

Over the years, Zhang has trained with some of the most respected Tai Chi Chuan masters in China, and has traveled all over the world teaching and sharing his knowledge. He is known for his deep understanding of Tai Chi Chuan philosophy and his ability to communicate its principles in a clear and accessible way.

Zhang is also a certified instructor in various other martial arts, including Karate, Judo, and Aikido. He believes that studying different martial arts can help to deepen one's understanding of the principles that underlie all martial arts.

In addition to his martial arts practice, Zhang is also a trained acupuncturist and herbalist, and has studied Traditional Chinese Medicine for many years. He incorporates this knowledge into his teaching, emphasizing the holistic nature of Tai Chi Chuan as a practice that benefits not only the physical body, but also the mind and spirit.

Zhang currently resides in Beijing, China, where he teaches Tai Chi Chuan and other martial arts to students from all over the world. He is committed to sharing the beauty and benefits of Tai Chi Chuan with as many people as possible, and hopes that this book will inspire readers to continue their own Tai Chi Chuan journey

Sunday, February 18, 2024

Rules in Kenpo, why we have them, are they written in stone?

(recently posted on Mr. Tatum's Facebook page)

There are rules to govern progress in the early stages of learning Kenpo. For instance, one rule states to never turn your back on your opponent. This a good rule for beginners to always face your work and that you are not fighting more than one person at a time, but as you progress through the ranks you then can transcend this rule, by adhering to another rule, depending upon circumstances.

All rules have an exception which then can force one to transcend a rule by adhering to another rule.

Another rule of kenpo is too not to cross your opponent's center line without taking a target with your block or strike, such as in Shielding Hammer. (you take the nose of the attacker on the center line).

Another rule is don't have both hands on one side of your opponent's center line.

Yet we learn to do just that in Five Swords. So, what rule did we break to stay within the rule of safety?

Well, we traveled across his center line and reached the arc of his punch before he could use his other arm. Now depending upon the angel of the block it could create an angel of cancellation by directing the block (strike) in a downward angle causing his height to break and twist the left side of the body away from you.

This is also used in Defying the Storm. But the timing to cancel his width must be timed long before he has reached the apex of the circle of his wielding club.

In Ram and Eagle, we can turn our back for two reasons, one we occupied the rear attacker with a back knuckle then we traveled further from him as we engaged the front attacker. We then turned are back from the front attacker to cover for the rear attacker, but the front attacker was occupied with a Hammer Fist during this action of turning.

So, by adhering to a rule of how to cover properly, we transcended the rule of never turning your back.

Another rule early on is to always have your hands on top of your opponents, (the dominant position) and a good rule of kenpo.

This is illustrated in how we check our attacker's grabs, holds, etc.

In a technique like Scrapping Hoof, the rule is to check height, but when you are outside of his center line you check the width.

Crashing Wings, you are on the inside side, so you check height with two downward elbows until you get to the outside of his center line you then check his width by positioning yourself around and behind him, and then the outward elbow strikes continue to keep his width in check.

The paradox in kenpo is you need rules for different stages of learning, but every rule is made to be broken depending upon the circumstances, as long as you adhere to another rule.

Now by our moral compass in a civilized society, this may not stand true, but the Kenpo compass teaches that there are indeed times to break a rule.

One such rule you keep is to protect your family and loved ones at all costs, (all cost is a very broad brush).

In short, Kenpo teaches discretion in all encounters, and won't ask you to level your moral compass, which in the end depends upon your self-worth, your self-esteem, and your conscience to back any decision.

Be careful in defining another person by your own rules.

Wednesday, February 14, 2024

Some good advice from Mr. Hale

(recently posted on Mr. Hale's Facebook page)

During my journey of over fifty years, I've often been asked how someone could become a better martial artist.

Well, here's the best advice I gave myself a long time ago.