What are you doing?

(recently posted on Facebook by Mr. Ron Chapél)

For many if not most, everything they understand about Kenpo comes from a Modern Ed Parker Kenpo Karate perspective. That’s not a bad thing but it has some significant limitations because its origin is as much a business model as a martial arts model. The good news is both can and have been enormously successful. But, for obvious reasons, they both have significant limitations outside of the stated goals of either. Ed Parker’s Kenpo Karate from the perspective of those that came before its inception could be easily characterized as the “big compromise.”

Has anyone taken notice that senior practitioners, that trained and studied with Mr. Parker before it was created did not or do not teach it? While modern senior practitioners embrace strictly embrace the “manuals,” Esteemed Seniors like Sullivan, Hebler, Inosanto, Dimmick, etc., and the many late seniors that have left us didn’t teach it while they were still alive and thriving during the heyday of the new Modern System. So, what gives?

The reason is simple and when being candid, they will tell you. The Modern Kenpo System was based on a business plan utilized by the Arthur Murray Dance Studios and a huge and significant compromise departure from what Mr. Parker was training and teaching before. The Seniors mentioned above are from the Chinese Kenpo era as am I when training was much different.

Only Chuck Sullivan transcends all of the eras, and he too while being quite active, still does not teach it. Having insight into the multiple interpretations and changes of Kenpo perspectives changes how we view what most are doing currently with the interpretations in general, and specifically this new Modern System. No one can argue the effectiveness of the teachings of these “pre-EP Kenpo Karate” seniors and yet none of them transitioned to the “new” system for a reason. So, what gives?

Many are ignorant and arrogant enough to suggest older senior practitioners are “changing” Ed Parker’s Kenpo Karate not understanding we’re not changing something we didn’t do and are only continuing to explore and interpret Ed Parker’s teachings from previous eras, often before they were born, something Ed Parker Sr. himself strongly encouraged.

Understanding this singular fact alone should change anyone’s perspective and hopefully cause one to look at “Kenpo” with a broader more open understanding and a more holistic approach to learning and teaching. Had Mr. Parker himself not taken a more inclusive less identity-centric approach, the Modern System would probably not have come into existence.

The Modern Systems' strength is also its weakness. It is more conceptual, and open-ended, and encourages interpretations and tailoring over the old-school rigid methods of early on. Great for business because it makes room for everyone, and no one is turned away. For the diligent self-disciplined this yields positive results. However, for the more casual student looking for the next belt, pajama party participant, the results will be no better than the lackluster effort they put into their training three (3) hours a week. Genius on Mr. Parker's part because it allowed students of all ages, interests, and capabilities to settle in and study where they feel most comfortable. But Mr. Parker also cautioned when you tailor your training to your liking, you must also take responsibility for the results good and bad.

And, while many still don’t understand there is no such thing as an “ideal” in Kenpo until you create it, while they are still arguing the correct way to perform a technique in a book, real students are exploring how to survive the street attacks he suggested you explore, and expanding their understanding of all arts, and are refraining from making general statements about Kenpo other than their own.

Old School Kenpo was ridged in structure and drilling basics were everything. Now, there are so many ways taught to do a technique with so many moves, students don’t know what to do and it shows in real life. Teachers are as much in the dark as students. Many have resorted to a form of “kick-fight” sparring, bringing everything back to a common denominator dictated by sport application rules and cross-training aerobics.

Ed Parker’s Modern Kenpo Karate gives students and teachers alike a lot of freedom to develop. Unfortunately, most are not interested in studying what’s there. They’re so busy memorizing material for their next belt, they don’t have time to learn it.