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BeldarTheBrave
White Belt
Joined: 03 Jul 2021
Posts: 4
Styles: Tracy's Kenpo Karate, Chinese Kenpo Karate
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 Posted: Sat Jul 03, 2021 8:51 pm Post subject: Returned to Kenpo After a Long Break |
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Hello everyone!
When I was much younger, in my teens, I studied Chinese Kenpo for roughly 5 to 6 years. At that time I didn't really have the interest or focus to study the history of the art I was practicing as I started when I was a kid. To me, that was just the karate that my family practiced and I loved it. Due to life events and adulthood, I ended up quitting before I was out of my teens.
Fast forward past college and establishing a career, I started to miss what I had back then. So, I started to do some research. It looks like what I studied back then was an early branch of Parker kenpo similar to, but not exactly the same as, Tracy's Kenpo. It had 30 techniques per belt, usually two kata per rank, sparring was pretty much required, etc. I really enjoyed it.
I decided to join a new dojo, regain what I lost, and eliminate my college aquired obesity that I never corrected. Near where I currently live there are at least 4 different Kenpo schools. I had a positive gut feeling about one of the Tracy's schools and I went to check them out.
It was a fantastic decision!
This dojo is basically directors cut Kenpo from people who trained back in the 70s. They train the classic kenpo self defense techniques, but my current instructor is giving a moral of the story for each one he decides to teach. He also isn't stressing the ones he feels are less effective. They are also training us in effective sport fighting techniques (in case we choose to compete) and adapting a bit of modern feeling hand and footwork.
I really think I've stumbled upon what Kenpo, and karate in general, could evolve into. It isn't modern sport MMA and it isn't fully traditional Parker Kenpo. It's a very smart marriage of the two feels and I love it.
When I was younger, I never achieved shodan.. and I want that black belt as a symbol of personal achievement. Wish me luck! My chubby self needs it. |
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Zaine
Black Belt
Joined: 31 Aug 2005
Posts: 2277
Location: Dallas, TX
Styles: Matsumura-Seito, Shobayashi-Ryu, Shudokan, Long Fist, American Street Karate, Southern Mantis, HEMA
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| Posted: Sun Jul 04, 2021 7:08 am Post subject: |
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Good luck! Can't wait to hear about how you progress!
_________________
Martial arts training is 30% classroom training, 70% solo training.
https://www.instagram.com/nordic_karate/ |
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BeldarTheBrave
White Belt
Joined: 03 Jul 2021
Posts: 4
Styles: Tracy's Kenpo Karate, Chinese Kenpo Karate
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| Posted: Sun Jul 04, 2021 7:43 pm Post subject: |
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| Thanks! I'm working hard and having fun. It's been awesome seeing how my little family is taking to it also. |
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Patrick
KF Administrator
Joined: 01 May 2001
Posts: 28753
Location: Los Angeles, California
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KwicKixJ1
Orange Belt
Joined: 13 Aug 2003
Posts: 164
Location: Texas
Styles: Taekwondo, Shorin Ryu, Shudokan, Muay Thai
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| Posted: Fri Jul 09, 2021 1:13 pm Post subject: |
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| Really love hearing about people going back to interests they enjoyed in their childhood. I'm glad you had so many resources around you as well! Best of luck to you on your journey and feel free to reach out here if you have any questions about training ideas or just want to talk about cool stuff you discover along the way! |
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bushido_man96
KF Sensei
Joined: 31 Mar 2006
Posts: 30188
Location: Hays, KS
Styles: Taekwondo, Combat Hapkido, Aikido, GRACIE, Police Krav Maga, SPEAR
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sensei8
KF Sensei
Joined: 23 Feb 2008
Posts: 16424
Location: Las Vegas, NV
Styles: Shindokan Saitou-ryu [Shuri-te/Okinawa-te based]
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| Posted: Fri Jul 09, 2021 5:04 pm Post subject: |
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Welcome to KF; glad that you're here!!
Everything will work out because you did after all return to the MA, and that's not a bad thing. Welcome back to the MA.
_________________
**Proof is on the floor!!! |
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BeldarTheBrave
White Belt
Joined: 03 Jul 2021
Posts: 4
Styles: Tracy's Kenpo Karate, Chinese Kenpo Karate
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| Posted: Wed Aug 04, 2021 11:45 pm Post subject: |
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My wife and I are getting ready to test for our orange belts. That's the first real belt for us as our school doesn't use a yellow belt. I came to learn that the older Tracy's schools didn't have a yellow belt and went straight to orange. I guess we follow that tradition as our main instructor earned his black belt in the 1970's.
We did our pretest today and our instructor tested us over the self defense techniques that he believes are most important. Kenpo I believe generally has about 30 (or 24) techniques per belt in most traditions. However, we are being tested over about 12 to 15 but the meaning and usage of each one was thoroughly explained. Basically, there is a "moral of the story" that we are learning with each of the techniques being taught to us.
In addition to those, we are being graded on basic hand strikes (the standard backfist, reverse punch, chop, ridge, etc.) This school is very, very specific with their kicks and they want perfect form and body mechanics. So, we are being tested over wheel, side, rear, hook, crescent, and front snap kicks. In addition to the kicks themselves, we are required to demonstrate shuffling and also independent motion versions of each of those kicks.
We also learned several defenses against a weapon, some sparring specific techniques, and one of our teacher's favorite takedowns. I'm not entirely sure if we will be tested on these for the belt.
Finally, we are being tested on Kenpo's two most basic kata, Short Form 1 and Long Form 1. We have been mostly instructed on stances, handwork, and proper breathing during kata.
That seems like a lot, but I can do a practice run of all of that in about 15 minutes. Hopefully we will both be good enough to make the grade! Wish us luck. |
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sensei8
KF Sensei
Joined: 23 Feb 2008
Posts: 16424
Location: Las Vegas, NV
Styles: Shindokan Saitou-ryu [Shuri-te/Okinawa-te based]
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| Posted: Thu Aug 05, 2021 9:55 am Post subject: |
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Train hard and train well. The Testing Cycle always takes care of itself; just relax. Your journey is inspiring across the board; good luck!!
_________________
**Proof is on the floor!!! |
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Wastelander
KF Sensei
Joined: 18 Oct 2010
Posts: 2733
Location: Phoenix, AZ
Styles: Shorin-Ryu, Shuri-Ryu, Judo, KishimotoDi
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| Posted: Thu Aug 05, 2021 10:23 am Post subject: |
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Welcome to the forum, and welcome back to the martial arts!
_________________
Kishimoto-Di | 2014-Present | Sensei: Ulf Karlsson
Shorin-Ryu/Shinkoten Karate | 2010-Present: Yondan, Renshi | Sensei: Richard Poage (RIP), Jeff Allred (RIP)
Shuri-Ryu | 2006-2010: Sankyu | Sensei: Joey Johnston, Joe Walker (RIP)
Judo | 2007-2010: Gokyu | Sensei: Joe Walker (RIP), Ramon Rivera (RIP), Adrian Rivera
Illinois Practical Karate | International Neoclassical Karate Kobudo Society |
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on the post.
