Ring In 2012

2011 was nothing short of fantastic for me as a Martial Artist. I became an Advanced Student, and Gene and I opened Scholar and Warrior Kenpo Academy. As exciting as 2011 was, I have high expectations for an even more exciting 2012. In just three short months our lives have changed drastically, for the greatest! We are honestly blessed with the greatest group of students that we could ever ask for. Three months ago we didn't have a clue if this was a good idea or not, we had no guaranteed students and no idea if any would come. But we signed that contract anyway, because it felt right, and dreams aren't always gift wrapped for you sometimes you've got to plunge into them and pray they don't become nightmares. And they have not, in fact it just keeps getting better and better. This morning I observed one of our 5 year old students, who just so happens to also be the smallest, absolutely excel in class today. At five years old and only having been in class for two months he correctly executed Delayed Sword, Alternating Mace and Sword of Destruction as well as Blocking Set 1. My heart literally wanted to burst. I can't wait to see what his and everyone else's skill level will be this time next year. This is the most wonderful thing I could ever be a part of and each and every day I am reminded of how blessed we are to have this new Kenpo family. Here's to 2012, a full year of teaching and learning!

Tightrope

“Knowing isn’t enough, you have to be able to apply.” 

A few weeks ago Gene and I attended a seminar given by Mr. Richard “Huk” Planas and the above quote was his very first teaching of the day. The analogy he used was immensely powerful; everyone knows HOW to walk a tightrope. You place one foot in front of the other, you keep your balance and pray you make it to the other side. Now, DOING this is a whole different ballpark.

This is exactly why we chose the name Scholar and Warrior Kenpo Academy; you must be able to do the technique not just run through the motions. In order to make the technique work correctly you must know and understand the principles and basics behind the motion you are performing.

“The Scholar and the Warrior, come together and move forward in the battle. Fighting side by side and back to back…”

By employing only one you will only be able to perform at half of your potential. The Scholar is the wise one, the intelligence that is able to see all three points of view in the situation, the attacker’s point of view, the defender’s point of view and the outside third party’s point of view. *He is able to use these insights to take on the situation as a whole and analyze it before reacting. And this is done in a phenomenally short amount of time. The Scholar has familiarized himself with principles that the motion is founded on. The Scholar comes to you in time, you first have to be able to perform the motion somewhat before you can understand it, however you must be able to understand the principles behind the motion before you will ever be able to utilize it correctly and effectively.

The Warrior represents strength; he has no qualms about diving into the battle head first. The Warrior is obviously the physical aspect of your training and *he is who you will begin training first. In the beginning the Warrior will be clumsy and awkward but as with everything else, dedication and time will hone in his skills and make the foreign movement of before seem natural.

Mr. Planas shared so much knowledge with us that day; this is merely a snippet of what we learned in 4.5 hours. But I found this applicable not only to beginners but to Kenpoists in all stages. I know I found it very useful myself. Time to start walking the tightrope.

*He is interchangeable with she.

It Depends On You

Last Monday I had a White Belt ask me after his first class, "so do you think we have a shot at learning it?"
My response to him was this, "That depends on you. We're only with you for three hours a week. The rest of your time depends on what you're willing to put into it." Practicing outside of the class makes the biggest difference.
You wouldn't only eat three times a week, you'd be miserable, weak and pathetic. The same goes with Kenpo. You won't get very far by just practicing three times a week, you have to feed that fire. Continue to create that muscle memory, build your intensity and most importantly understand the principles and the concepts that lie within what you have learned.
Asking questions is a huge help too, I understand that after a hard class when you're drenched in sweat and all you want to do is collapse that the last thing you want to do is ask questions. That's what a notebook is good for, if you can't ask it right then, write it down and come back with the question later. Again it depends on you, I believe that every student has the potential and the ability to make it to Black Belt. However you will only get out of this Art what you put into it.

Our Scary, Overwhelming, Beautiful Beginning

A month and a half ago Gene and I began this amazing Journey.  On August 20^th in the middle of a Star Trek episode Gene turned to me and said, “I think I want to open a karate school.” We set a goal, to start researching and asking some questions and hopefully have it open by Christmas.  We began discussing a name, several different ones were proposed, my favorite being Gene’s suggestion of Kenpo Fitness Center, (That was shot down once we realized it would be KFC.) At 3:30 one morning I rolled over in bed looked at Gene and said “Scholar and Warrior Kenpo Academy.” Gene’s response was “cool,” and he fell back to sleep.  We now had a name, next was a building.

The next week we went building hunting, we had a page of paper full of addresses and contact information, but there was one building that we had put three stars next to and circled the phone number. That little building on Edmond with the rock garden in the front had stolen our hearts…that was the one we wanted.  We called the realtor the next day and scheduled a walk through. Fifteen minutes into the walk through we knew this was THE place. We signed the papers on September 6^th. We had a key and a dream, and a whole lot of cleaning to do. 

We spent the next three weeks practically living at that dojo. Scrubbing, painting and completely redoing the entire bathroom, and when we weren’t physically working on the school we were creating the curriculum, obtaining credentials, and ordering necessities for the school. It was like having a newborn, every waking second we spent working on the school.

September 26^th, we opened our doors to the public. We had two little boys; a teenage girl and an adult join us. And we were ecstatic. Wednesday night we had the same children but no adults. And the same went for Saturday…we were scared to say the least. Then the second Monday came, and we had ten adult students in class. It was absolutely beautiful. They asked questions, they were excited; they loved every minute of it. It was in that moment that I knew what we were doing was going to work.

It’s never been about making a killing off of this for us, that’s why we both have day jobs. No we do this because it’s what we love to do. And to be able to share what you love with others, is there really anything better?

To be honest there were moments when I thought “are we crazy?” We planned on it taking four months, not five weeks. But I’m glad we dove in headfirst and took that plunge. I’m glad we rolled the dice, because this is the greatest thing we have ever done. We lit another Flame for Mr. Parker, and we have helped instill a hunger for Kenpo into several people already. We’ve created a family, and it’s absolutely beautiful.  I hope we never stop!

Not Too Bad For A Three Year Old

Today is my Kenpo Birthday. Three years ago today I embarked on the greatest journey of my life. Three years ago I stood in the worst horse stance ever, clad in exercise pants and a t-shirt, and became a student of Kenpo. The beginning was awful, much like learning a language. I muddled through everything, tripping and falling over my movements. I was that kid that threw a kick and fell on my bum. I was choppy, sloppy and damn near embarrassing. But I had a fire, and intense consuming passion to learn anything and everything. I longed to move with the grace and cursive like motion of the advanced students. But for the longest time it seemed ducks had more grace than I did.

I’m still nowhere near the level of skill that I desire, and when looked at as a measurement of time that is completely logical. Mr. Rich Hale once said to a group of students and myself, “You don’t expect a toddler to walk and speak perfectly, these things take time.” One of the many examples that rank is nothing more than a piece of paper and a strip of cloth.

Countless times have I heard men that I respect and admire say, “It’s not how long you’ve been IN the Art. It’s how long you’ve been AT the Art.” I’ve been AT Kenpo for three years now. I’m still a toddler. I don’t mumble my movements quite as much as I used to, but I still have so much growing room. When I was first granted my Third Brown Belt I felt a slew of emotions. Mostly I felt undeserving. A few months into it now I am much more comfortable because I’ve come to realize that although I am an advanced student I am also a toddler.

Knowing that there is no race to the Black Belt, accepting the fact that it is incredibly unrealistic to expect myself to be a picture perfect Kenpoist has eased quite a bit of my anxiety. Brown Belt stills hangs heavy on my hips make no mistake, but only because I want to always perform to the best I can for those that believe in me.

These three years have impacted me more than any other person or activity I have ever been involved with. I have gained friendships in various other arts from all across the globe. I’ve been exposed to a fantastic world I wasn’t even aware existed. I have stood on the mat with some of the world’s greatest martial artists and have been blessed to be on the receiving end of just a smidge of their knowledge. I have visited five different states I had never before set foot in. I’ve met the person I consider not perfect but perfect for me. And I have become more confident in myself and what I can accomplish than I ever had been prior.

I have confidence that I will become a Black Belt. I have confidence that I will one day share Ed Parker’s American Kenpo with as many as are willing to call me teacher. I have confidence that I will always be a student. And finally I have confidence that Kenpo will continue to shape me for the rest of my life.

I don’t think that’s too bad for a three year old. ;)  

Motivated Through Guilt

On April 25, 2011 I was presented with my 3rd Brown Belt. I had been working towards that rank for over a year, and it brought tears to my eyes when I was finally able to wrap that piece of cloth around my waist. This is the moment I had been waiting for, I knew my techniques and my forms. I had my pledge memorized and I had even created my Thesis proposal. I felt I had earned the rank that lay before me. Now I don't know.

 The next two weekends following were Kenpo filled weekends; road trips, fellowship and Kenpo it's what I look forward to. Mr. Brian Duffy and Mr. Rich Hale both gave outstanding seminars. I'm an avid note taker, and i spent the entire weekend with a notebook and pen tucked into my gi so I could scribble notes to myself every chance I got. And the more notes that I took the more my heart sank. I was a Brown Belt now, albeit a 5 day old Brown Belt but that's just semantics. My waist told people that I knew things that my head didn't. Mr. Hale said in one of his seminars, "Kenpo is much more than just a kick, a punch or a chop. It has principles, that's what makes Kenpo so different." Mr. Hale told us that Mr. Parker never once taught him a technique, he taught him Kenpo.

I was livid with myself, I wasn't studying up to par. I didn't deserve the rank I wore, I own the Encyclopedia, the Journal and the Infinite Insights. And I have read and used them all numerous times. But there's a huge difference in reading and studying, much in the same way as there is a difference in listening and hearing. These past two weekends have been very motivational for me. I haven't closed the Kenpo Journal program on my laptop in over a week. Studying doesn't mean learning the techniques, studying means digging into the principles. What applications are found where and why. Anyone can learn techniques and forms, but principles, those are often over looked. I want to help preserve Mr. Parker's Kenpo, and I want to do it right. I still don't feel like I deserve to be a 3rd Brown Belt, but I will.

A Physical Poem Penned With Muscle and Bone

My art is what defines me, it is tangled into my being just as steadfast as my very blood.
Without it I would be incomplete.
A half filled shell.
The hollow vacant spaces of my soul would echo with need, substance.
It is a raging fire that burns a swift path throughout my veins.
A drumming pulse of passion.
Strength, need, determination.
I build myself on it, through it I have discovered who I am, what I need, how I should live.
It is my love, I am eternally dependent on it's harsh teachings.
Dry. Parched. I thirst for deep enriching insights.
Absorbing information and relaying it into a physical sonnet penned with my muscles and my bone.
A tangible poetry; words, sentences, paragraphs strung together in motion.
I dance a lethal dance, a dose of beauty and pain.
I sing a song, the chords surging through my body. A crescendo upon impact.
Elongated circles, rounded off corners, straight sharp angles, a specific geometric display, sheer brillance.
It is simple and it is complex.
This is my Kenpo, this is myself.

Not Your Typical Hobby

My hobby demands bruises, blood and broken bones.
It's as if my veins have been filled with gasoline and my hobby ignited the fuel.
You have to be willing to offer up your all, constantly.
Just when you believe you've become an expert on a topic concerning it someone wiser than you comes along and severely humbles you.
My hobby envelops my mind, it tests my stamina, dares me to push my body to it's limits, then beyond. It requires dedication, insists on a thirst for more.
The thing about my hobby is that it isn't a hobby at all, it's a way of life.
It is a part of me, it defines me, it completes me.

My Passion, My Art, Myself.

In the still of the darkest hour of the night I lie awake.
Thoughts of what I have discovered on my path and what still remains untouched.
In the blinding darkness I confess aloud to myself that I would die without my Art.
Were I ever forbidden to live the Journey than to perish would be the only consoling.
Not simply a general pastime for me, a way of life.
My very breath resonates the passion for my Art.
It is what I am; my passion, my Art, myself.

It's Not a Race

When I hear people refer to karate as a sport I have to grit my teeth and hold my tongue. Karate is NOT a sport in my opinion. There are multiple reasons for why I feel this way but I'll focus on the one that I consider the most important. It's not a competition.

Now I'm sure some readers are going to jump to, "well we compete in tournaments." I've always seen tournaments as a chance to share your art with others. Giving people that don't practice the same art as you a taste of what you do. The participant who displays the most convincing kata and who utilizes the most effective sparring technique is considered, (according to the tournament's standards), the winner. Tournaments are not competition against each other; it's a display of what each participant holds within.

I've been training in Kenpo for nearly three years and I am well aware that I'm just a baby. I have so much still to learn but all the time in the world to learn it. It's not a race; one of my biggest pet peeves is a martial artist who is rank hungry. Mr. Parker has a very poignant quote pertaining to this issue; "Although belt color may show, it is no proof that you know."

Although you are wearing a belt, whatever color it may be, that does not mean that you completely comprehend what that color and the colors below that have to teach you. This is why i have an issue with rank hungry individuals. There is a difference in knowing the material and understanding it past the physical, the mechanical.

Keep in mind when you're going for your next rank that this is not a competition. Your rank doesn't have a thing to do with your classmates, or your instructor. It's all about you. It's not a race, so there is no "beating others to the finish line" because you are the only one on the track. There is a saying that I've heard several times; "Once you become a Black Belt in Kenpo you begin learning. Everything before Black Belt is just you earning the right to learn,"

Enjoy earning your right!