Page 31 - Martial Science Magazine Dec/2014 #6
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So, that combination of factors made for some derstood exactly what he did. It made total,
pretty serious, high intensity, very painful tra- instant sense to me and I wanted to learn to do
ining, both physically and psychologically. We that so badly I couldn’t stand it. I was hooked
didn’t think it was abusive at the time. We just for life from that one ‘flip,’ which I later lear-
thought, this is martial arts – take it or leave it. ned was the throw, Ogoshi, the major hip throw.
Basically, almost 50 yrs. later, I’m still that kid
DO YOU HAVE ANY MEMORABLE MO- who got flipped in the school balcony. I still
MENTS FROM YOUR PAST TRAINING love it just as much now as I did then.
YOU WOULD LIKE TO SHARE?
WHAT DIFFERENTIATES KENPO FROM
Of course there are many, many. My very first OTHER MARTIAL ARTS?
day in Judo, in Jan. of ’67 is quite memorable
for me. The class was offered as an extracurri- One of the most important things to understand
cular activity at my Junior High school. The about the various arts that use the name Kenpo
first day I went, the teacher wasn’t there yet. or Kempo (both are correct), is that they were
The students from the previous semesters were not developed by warriors or aristocrats, they
there practicing. It was in the upper bleacher were not for royalty or bodyguards, and they
section of the basketball gym. I thought they were not specifically created for battlefield
looked so cool in their uniforms, doing their combat.
moves.
Kenpo arts were developed either by peasants
So, I went onto the mat to see if I could get any or monks. They are arts for regular people:
information. A fellow by the name of Michael farmers, fisherman, priests, clerics and such.
McGee, wearing a green belt, asked if I wanted These are people who cannot spend their lives
to join the class and I said yes. He said, “Well, training all day. They have families, jobs, or
let me show you what we do here.” He then other duties. They are not professional fighters
‘flipped’ me onto my back. I landed very hard or soldiers and their arts are not intended for
and got a sharp pain in the lower spine. I went those purposes.
to the side and sat and watched the rest of the
session, part of me wondering why he did that. Also, virtually all Kenpo arts are a combina-
tion, a blend of techniques taken from a wide
Two things came from that experience. One, variety of other arts, then put together to fit a
I didn’t figure out until nearly ten years later, particular group or situation. This concept is
that the reason he did what he did was pro- an integral part of Kenpo and still exists to this
bably because, in my ignorance, I had walked day.
onto the mat with my street clothes and shoes
on. I had no clue what the rules were. Most li- This means that a central fact of the Kenpo
kely, he was not amused and was trying to send world is that, everywhere you go, the art will
me a message. appear somewhat different. Kenpo practitio-
ners invariably adapt the art to their circum-
However, the other factor was, I thought what stances or abilities. They also readily add,
he did to me was pretty much the coolest thing change, evolve, and incorporate new ideas,
ever in the history of mankind. It felt like I un- principles, and techniques into the art. They
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