(recently told on Facebook by Mr. Rich Hale)
A common misconception in the art of Kenpo is Mr. Parker insisted on everyone understanding kenpo on a technical level. Nothing could be further from the truth. Let me tell you a story Mr. Parker told me.
A guy comes into Mr. Parker's studio in Pasadena and wants to learn about karate. Mr. Parker spent a considerable amount of time telling him all about his theories, concepts, and principles. Then the guy asks, "Is it important I know all this and be able to recite it as you can?"
Mr. Parker then says, "Let's find out." He takes the guy out of the office and onto the mat, where several students were training. He calls over one student, then another. He then asks one student to attack the other. As Mr. Parker describes it, the defender all but kills the other guy. Afterward, Mr Parker asked the defender to explain, in explicit detail, all the theories, concepts, and principles involved in his defense.
The student pauses for a moment then looks up with a bewildered expression and said, "shit" before he walked away. Mr. Parker then told me he turned to the potential student and said, "Apparently... it's not necessary."
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