New "Teachings of Bruce Lee" book

 

“If you never attempt anything hard, the first time something hard happens to you, you will be knocked down and not know what to do. Or you might want to curl up in a ball and cower on the floor. So try to look upon frustration as your teacher. Try to listen to what it has to say about you, your capacity, your beliefs, where you need to stretch a bit, what you really want and love, let it guide you to fully understand yourself. Over time, your life will open up and you will start to feel more powerful and free.”

“We’re not aiming to adopt a rigid stance toward anything. Life is not rigid either. We need to make space to allow all of life’s twists and turns, ups and downs, while learning to be flexible, sentient, natural and unstoppable in the midst of it all. Learning to maximize your potential and flow in your total being is not going to happen overnight, and the first time you get a taste of success and think that you’ve got it all figured out, you’ll stumble in the face of a new challenge. All your old conditioning will raise it’s ugly head, and frustration makes you want to pound your fists against the wall. And in this moment, you have a choice again, to either shut down or grow.”

 

“People have to go through skillful frustrations, otherwise they have no incentives to develop their own means and ways of coping with the world.” - Bruce Lee

A current of energy

(recently posted on Facebook by Mr. Larry Tatum)

"There is a current of energy that runs along the ground, this is another part of unification between your feet and the earth. 

I gather the elements about me when I move, too many to address in one lesson. 

But this one I use. Your body can push down on the ground displacing the energy like stepping on a puddle of water but that force bounces back upwards through your feet and then escapes out of your weapon or weapons being used."

Some of the originals

 Another photo from the old days.

Top row: Mr. Hebler (2nd from left) , Sterling Peacock next to Mr. Parker.

Middle row: Mr. Leonard Mau (2nd from left), Mr. Roy Nishita, Mr. Dave Powell, Mr. Phil Conti

Bottom row: Mr. Jim Daugherty, Mr. Dan Inosanto, Mr. Jim Grunwald, Mr. Bob Gioia

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The picture was taken at the 2nd school, across the street from the first school which became a embroidery store. Had tatami mats, I dragged them across the street to the 2nd school, which became the Cherry Pit, the school that had the red Coke cooler at the front door. The 3rd school was built next to the 2nd school in a vacant lot, then the 4th school was built after the fire.

Stirling Peacock, Phil Conti, Grunwald, Leaonard Mau, Deon Steckling, Inosanto, Ben Otaki, Hal Parks, Dave Hebler, trying to put memory on faces, oh well, the candles on the birthday cake takes it toil. - Mr. Michael Pick

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I started with Ed Parker on June 1, 1959. Chuck started 3 months before me. So, for what it's worth, Chuck is the most senior kenpo stylist in the world and I am second to him. There may be others who say differently and they are entitled to their opinions but I stand by what I just said. - Mr. Dave Hebler

A big year for Elvis fans

 The official trailer for the upcoming Elvis movie has been released. (follow the link)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vzNTHEXlw3o

Also, a new book by Elvis bodyguard and kenpo legend Mr. Dave Hebler.

Vintage Bruce Lee and Taky Kimura photos

 

Definitely some kenpo-ish moves in there. 

Kenpo Sports stores in Brazil

I don't see any kenpo gear anywhere.

Phases of learning and "what if's"

(posted on Facebook by Mr. Ron Chapel, January 2021) 

Mr. Parker’s quotes on the Three Phases Concept of Learning and the ever-present overworked and misunderstood “what if."

As you analyze a specific technique, the study is best begun by dividing your efforts into phases.

Phase one of the analytical process mandates you commence with an “ideal” or fixed situation. This means that you are to select a combat situation that has been structured with a prescribed sequence of movements and use this ideal technique as a base.

In this phase, the term ideal implies that the situation is fixed and that the "what if" questions required in other phases are not to be included.

Using the ideal technique or model situation as a reference point not only refers to the defensive moves you employ but the anticipated reactions of your attacker as well. Technically, then, it is the prescribed reactions of your attacker that completes the ideal technique, not what he might do, but what you force him to do.

Therefore, the ideal techniques are built around inflexible and one-dimensional assumptions for a good purpose. They provide us with a basis from which we may begin the analytical process, like any control model in any reliable scientific experiment. Prescribed techniques applied to prescribed reactions are the keys that make a basic technique ideal and fixed.

In Phase I, structuring an ideal technique requires selecting a combat situation that you wish to analyze. Contained within the technique should be fixed moves of defense, offense, and the anticipated reactions that can stem from them.

"This so-called ideal or fixed situation when analyzed and formulated properly should effectively take into consideration minor alterations of combat to make Phase One significantly able to stand alone."

The above Ed Parker quotations are taken from an I.K.K.A. Green Belt Manual and are an area of massive confusion. Mr. Parker was not speaking from the position of the student or even most teachers. He is speaking to those who desire to create their own techniques and style, and the process they should employ while utilizing his conceptual system as a base starting point. Ed Parker Kenpo is supposed to teach you how to create your own style. When you create techniques, “what ifs” take on significant importance. In the learning process, however, students do not, and should not have the luxury of entertaining such infinite possibilities.

Therefore, “what ifs” should not be introduced into the process until you have mastered all of the first phase of learning. To do so would be like trying to spell a word that requires a letter in a part of the alphabet, you haven’t learned yet.

So-called “what ifs” are not actually “what ifs.” They are supposed to be different techniques with a similar offensive theme. These questions are covered as you move upward in the levels of training. i.e. “Broken Ram” answers questions similar to “Charging Ram.” In other words, the true “what if“ is not what he might do but understanding “what he will do when I interact with him.” Or simply, “what if” is not an action, but a re-action.

It is important, however, to recognize Mr. Parker wrote this before he decided that the Ed Parker Kenpo Karate System would have to be the first level of instruction for the masses, due to his inability to be in one place, drill basics, and teach a defined and rigid structured first level personally.