The Eight Sides of Kenpo

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This is one way to organize what you should be practicing.  I attribute this literature to GM Finn because he passed this knowledge.

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These elements will maximize your abilities through dedicated training.

 

The self-defense techniques, kata, and the basics (kicks, strikes, and stances) are non-negotiable in how they are taught and practiced.  There is no exception because there is one standard for the preceding three.  One of the most important things you will note is people attempting to remove elements from the techniques, the kata, and the basics.  This issue occurs because people have incorrect information about the techniques; the katas take too much time, but this is not negotiable and should never happen.  It should be crucial for everyone to keep the original system, as far as what we know, pure.  Mr. Tracy was adamant about the concept that anyone has the right to add to the system, and no one has the right to take away from the system.

We have the warrior side, the scholar, and truth,  with an understanding that the warrior and scholar can never rise above or become even with the truth.  Therefore, there will be no voice above truth and no ability to change the original technique.  If a problem exists, it will depend on who taught you, who taught them, and so forth; thus, a martial artist might believe they have the truth.

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The formula from 1st to 5th black

1. Know The Original - For the self-defense techniques, you have the original technique as written and passed on.  

2. Articulate a Defense for the Technique - You must have the skill to defend that technique as written and taught.

3. Re-Evaluation - You have the skill to reevaluate, which means you need to slow down the technique, Kata, or basics to appreciate how it works, and if something happens, course correct.  As an expert martial artist, you make the technique work as written when demonstrating it.  

4. Customization - In an actual situation, you must be open to change and move to the 4th block, customization, while keeping the original technique.  

5. Theory - What can you learn from these belt techniques (theory, original movements, etc.) that could apply to the whole system; use the formula.

 

Side 4: Contact

The fourth, fifth, sixth, seventh, and eighth sides represent something the studio should offer their students, whether in private or group classes.  As coaches, we have a duty to our students who claim that this is “self-defence” and that we at least acknowledge that these other areas are essential to their training.  Side five is physical contact, including striking using the techniques, kickboxing, continuous fighting, sparring, etc.; physical contact is critical.  Practicing your techniques on people is an option that no one has an excuse not to do; therefore, practice self-defence techniques. So if that’s your only form of contact, this was done by the masters that have preceded us, so we understand the value that this brings to your self-defense techniques; by Brown, at the latest, this is a requirement.  Mitose stated that the advantage of Kenpo over other systems is that we can practice it without in person.  Understand that you cannot practice grappling without a person; you cannot practice Judo without a person; you can’t spar or kickbox without a person. The limitation of these martial arts is that you can only move your abilities forward at some measure when you’re in the dojo. The advantage of Kenpo is that you can practice it yourself to perform every technique, not have anybody else present, and further improve your abilities when working with an opponent.

 

The Technician 

When examining the technician, the problem is that you can practice your techniques for a long time without a person and become quite proficient; this does not mean you’re a technician.  If your techniques look better in the air than on a person, you fail the test as a technician.  To have a technician’s abilities, the techniques must look/ perform better on people than on the air.  You must understand the student to evaluate when they are ready for contact, like sparring class.  Therefore, as their teacher, you need to have an emotional IQ, which means you can sense another’s emotional well-being and know precisely when to push them and relax; if you are too hard on someone, you will drive them away.

 

Side 5: Stretching

There has to be some form of stretching, and yoga is perfectly acceptable.  This work can be done during group or private lessons, but you must offer it.   A yellow belt is at the beginning of their journey, and they have enough of a flood of new information.  This introduction to Kenpo includes a certain amount of physical movement that the student is not generally used to, presenting a new level of flexibility.  Ask your student if you know the value of stretching.  Most people will not have the right reasons.  The correct answer is about the potential they possess for someone to reach their maximum speed.  If you instill purpose to create the proper value, people will be self-motivated.

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Side 6: Bag Work

Bag and mitt work is crucial, and they can both be taught in private or group classes.  A studio needs a heavy bag, so the student can build power and balance.  Remember that speed and accuracy can come with repetition in the air, but bag work creates power and balance.  A lesson is to teach your students how to use a focus mitt to work together to improve their skills.

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Side 7: Grappling

Grappling is now a critical skill that you need today.  The art is nothing new,  and when you examine Mitose’s writings, he stated that he would strike if he has a choice.  Three categories include 1) striker, 2) grappler – locking opponents 3) grabber - opponent throws.  Mitose stated of the three; a striker is superior due to it being faster in that time is working against you as a grabber or a grappler.

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Side 8: Weapons

You can practice traditional (bo staff, spear, broad sword, etc.) or non-traditional weapons (stick, knife, club, etc.).  A martial artist learns weapons once they reach green belt; exposing them earlier will make them dependent on the weapon and forget about their other weapons (hands & feet).  A green belt is likelier to kick, strike, and use the weapon, whereas a blue belt will use the weapon and likely lose the rest of their Kenpo abilities.  Therefore, a blue belt would be better to put the weapon away.  It is very enticing for beginners to want weapons training, but our role isn’t to entice beginners; our role is to appropriately teach people self-defense.

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