Calling New Kenpoists – This One Has Retired (for now)

So, I had much fun and learned a great deal in the time I spent in Kenpo.  Unfortunately, a divorce caused me to quit classes last Spring.  Subsequently, no additional content has been added since.  I found that Kenpo opened up a world of insight to me and brought about a life of fitness I had long since neglected.  However, I do not see when or if I will pick it back up again in the near future.  Maybe I will return but not for some time.

So, with that said, if there is anyone who would like to contribute content to this blog, I would be more than happy to publish articles from such contributors.  As this blog had been the thoughts of a person new to kenpo, anyone, no matter their experience level,  is welcome to submit articles detailing their experiences.  Requested links from articles to other websites will be investigated however since there are many scammers out there.  If you are an instructor submitting an article, please provide a link to your website.  If you are a student submitting an article, please provide a  link to your instructor’s website.  I want nothing more than to give credit to all of those who are willing to share their stories, experiences, and insight in the hopes of helping others.

As it was my goal to help others, please submit any questions or articles to nerworks@gmail.com.  Thank you to all who found this blog helpful, entertaining, or useful in some way.

Martial Arts for the Long Haul

So, I’m sitting here thinking about my progress overall.  It’s only been a little over a year since I’ve started martial arts training.  Well, a year and 2 months.  Time just fly’s by.  I’ve just taken a stripe test and after hearing what my instructor had to say after our test, I’ve had many thoughts.  Granted these thoughts have been mostly concerning myself, but what I find myself considering is martial arts as an endeavor for all.

One idea that was discussed tonight was the idea of being the best martial artist you can be.  Everyone who considers entering the challenge of learning to become a black belt takes to heart the time and commitment that is involved in such an endeavor.  At some point in the classes that you take in learning a martial art, it seems one might have learned what it takes for themselves to be the best they can be.  To be a great black belt, a good black belt, a bad black belt and all levels in between, is something left for the practitioner to decide.

For myself, I’ve considered what it might take for myself to become the best I can be.  Granted, my age has some limitations, but really it’s up to me what I can do with what I’ve learned.  There are so many aspects to a martial art, even for the art of Kenpo that I am practicing.  How does one cover all aspects to become the best that they can be?  I’ve come to the conclusion that it takes much hard work and dedication to become the best that one can be.  So, with that said, here’s my interpretation of what martial arts is for the long haul.

It is something that must be absorbed by the self.  One must dedicate themselves to every aspect that is taught and cover it, practice it, and consume it ad nauseum.  I am one that believes that all should have access to learning any martial art, no matter their intentions.  However, there is something to be considered when one spends time learning an art and realizes that there is more to the art than learning a series of movements to completion.  There is something more that lays awaiting for the individual to discover.  What is this thing?

To me, this thing is the challenge of the self.  Learning a martial art brings about many feelings.  Training the body to perform specific movements can be a daunting task.  Along with that challenge comes discovery of what it is about you that limits you from performing at your best.  At least that is what I have discovered.  I have many limitations, however, I would not have known specifically about these limitation without learning a martial art and discovering for myself just how limited I am.

Every class, every practice session, every technique line, every test, is a moment in which I learn more about myself as a physical human being.  Every pain, every day I feel sore, every bruise, every ache, brings me closer to knowing more about myself and what it is my mind and my body might be capable of.  As I progress, I see what it is that I have done, what I haven’t been able to do, what I am now capable of doing, and what I hope I can do.  This is what martial arts is about to me.

It’s almost as if the body and the mind, the ego if you will, are on a journey of discovery of one’s self.  It can be so much more and so much less if that is the individual’s mindset at any given moment.  Martial arts can be broken down into simplicity or it can be infinitely expanded upon to include the unbelievable.   However, one constant that exists is what one practitioner is capable of at any given time.  That’s what makes martial arts a personal affair.

It’s crazy when I sit and think about it.  When I considered entering into martial arts classes, my mind had a mental image of what it might be like.  As time has progressed, it has never at any given time been anything but the contrary to what I had ever imagined.  I metaphorically scratch my head daily at what it is I am learning and what it is I am capable of.  Every detail that is absorbed by me becomes uniquely different than what it was that I was taught in a class.  There is a subjective teaching pattern that has emerged to me that consequently becomes a subjective learning experience.  It is not black and white.  It comes with the torment of personal interpretation to what one is willing and capable of doing with one’s own body.

It comes as no surprise to me that all that I have described, no matter how cryptic it might be, is what studying the martial arts is about.  I find myself embracing and rejecting it, all at the same time.  What keeps me coming back for more is the prospect of learning more about what I might be capable of doing.  The challenge, I guess, is the subject of obsession.  Why would someone put themselves through such a test of will and dedication?  That is a question I continue to ask myself and continue to learn more about as time passes.  Maybe it will be a question I will ask myself for years to come.

It is not an easy affair to learn a martial art.  Yes, one can absorb and learn everything that is taught throughout the course of martial arts training.  But to what level of ability and understanding does one take themselves?  It has never been more apparent to me the years that can pass in dedicating one’s self to such an aspiration than most recent.  Only a little over a year have I been training and I can foresee many more years ahead of me in this journey of discovery.

So, with that said, what is martial arts for the long haul?  It is a love for the challenge, for the seeking of knowledge to test the self.  To push the body to boundaries it has never experienced.  It is a bridging of the mind, body, and soul, if you will, into one internally connected individual.  What might be the reward for such an undertaking?  That too is a totally personal affair.  It has to fit with the self.  It has to be what one wants and desires in their very being.  There are many levels at which this can be achieved.  That too is what is left to the individual.  I am no different.  I struggle daily to know what it is I want for myself in this endeavor I have accepted.  Maybe that is mainly what martial arts is about?  Discovering what it is you want, will tolerate, and will do for yourself.  In reality, there is no other reason to dedicate such time and dedication to such a painful affair.

The amount of time it takes to be able to call one’s self a black belt or beyond is surely not an award equal to the sweat and effort required to earn such title.  Or is it?  Is it subjective?  To the practitioner?  To the instructor?  Nonetheless, it seems to be an extremely personal affair for all parties involved.  I know that when the day comes that I earn my black belt that I will have spent a considerable amount of time and effort achieving such a label.  It’s what is involved prior to that day that is the challenge of martial arts over the long haul.

Shooting Video of Yourself can be a Challenge

Since I started taking Kenpo, my instructor has mentioned off and on that taking video of yourself will help you self-evaluate how you are doing so that you can make corrections.  I’ve done this a few times, but one big problem I had was that I practice in a small bedroom and the video camera I had has a narrow angle lens.  I believe this is normal for most video cameras nowadays.  If you try to shoot video in a confined space, you’ll probably not be able to get a full view of yourself.  This is the challenge that has plagued me.

As I have yet to move furniture so I may have a larger practice area in my house, I am forced to workout in a small bedroom.  I already had a somewhat older digital video camera and a somewhat newer compact still camera that also shot VGA video.  Both of these cameras, no matter how descent they are at what they do, could not capture from head to toe what I was doing.  Granted, my practice room is probably about 14X14 ft, so it is a small space.  However, even placing these cameras on a tripod in the hallway, did not solve my problem.  It didn’t take me long to realize I was stuck with camera lenses that could not help me shoot the video I needed in the space I worked in.

So, I went shopping for a new camera.  I did not want to spend much money, however, I knew that finding a camera with a better wide angle lens may require some sacrifice in finances.  I went to Costco, as they have a descent selection of demos to try.  To my surprise, there were a few cameras with stickers on them saying “Wide Angle”.  So, I fired them up, shot a store support beam nearby to see how much of it I could get in view at the shortest distance possible.  A 25mm wide angle lens on a compact still camera that is capable of shooting 720p HD video was the answer to all my problems.  Here’s the camera I bought:

Panasonic Lumix DMC-FX35

Although this is an older model from what is available today, it’s lens was what I was after, all other features are a bonus.  Now, in my small room, with the camera setup on a tripod, I can shoot video of myself from head to toe with the camera in one corner of the room with me in the middle.  Problem solved with it’s 25mm “super wide-angle lens”.  Even thought the camera is capable of shooing 720p HD video, I usually just shoot VGA quality for my own purposes.  I can shoot and review myself immediately on one small device.

The Panasonic Lumix line with it’s 25mm wide angle lenses are a great way to solve the problem I had.  Here’s the newer model of the camera I currently own:

Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZR3/DMC-ZX3

The older model I have has actually replaced my previous video camera and still camera.  It is so compact and does such a good job at what it does, I really have no reason to lug around the other two.  Now, if my cell phone did what this Lumix does, the Lumix would definitely be sitting on a shelf with my others.  However, I’m sure that’s not going to happen for some years to come.

Although the focus of this article is to explain the challenges of shooting video in a confined space, I guess I might as well mention what I’ve discovered about my training by recording myself.  So, here goes:

**I found that I had a tendency toward bad posture.  I would lean forward with my head looking down quite often.  Like my instructor has said, where your head goes, you body follows.  Although what I feel during class and practice is quite different, to see it is to believe.  I have been able to now be more mindful of this, although I had been told so in the past.  Listening to what others say would be so much easier if one could see what they see.  Now, I can do exactly that.

**I’ve found that there is a difference between intensity in movement felt and intensity seen.  You may feel that you are moving with intensity and conviction, but video can reveal otherwise.  Witnessing this for myself has enabled me to start to get a better feel for what is truly required of myself to produce the visual outward intensity on command.  Thinking I am moving a certain way and knowing I am moving as desired are two different abilities of awareness.  Shooting video has allowed me to work on this.

**Speed and power is subjective as well.  It is subjective to what the self is feeling and what an observer witnesses.  Witnessing my own speed and power has shown me what I think is not always what I am producing.  Video shows me where I am weak and where I am strong.  Sometimes, even what I think I am strong it reveals weaknesses I had been unaware of.

**With all that I have learned, will learn, and continue to work on, I now understand how important video is for progress in refining skills developed.

Learning Breakfalls Is Good For You

After doing some techniques in the dojo that require falling, I remembered my Aikido training.  Granted I haven’t practiced breakfalls in many, many years, however I remembered enough to ease the effects of falling.  This got me thinking about how different martial arts have aspects to them that can be helpful no matter the main art studied.  So, after searching youtube.com a bit, I found some videos on breakfalling.  There are many videos on the subject, but here’s one that I believe gives a good instruction on the basics:

Just like this video shows, I remember starting from a sitting position, falling and using arms and hands to break the fall while keeping my chin tucked.  Falling straight onto your back was the first thing learned, then onto your side.  I remember being shown how to do this and then practicing it on our own many many times.  Just like anything, it takes time and practice to get a feel for falling and learning to break your fall.  It can be an uneasy feeling to fall, but with practice, it does not have to be.

If you have some sort of a mat at home, you can practice learning how to fall on your own in a comfortable manner.  If you search “breakfalls” on youtube.com, you’ll find videos of guys doing it on concrete.  The reason I posted about breakfalls is because I’ve heard horror stories about people in the dojo trying to break their fall by sticking out their hand/arm when falling.  Most stories usually detail something broken, which is an injury that could have been avoided.  Hopefully, for those who don’t know about breakfalls, this will give them something to practice to make those times when falling is necessary a safer affair.

Martial Arts Training Is Time Consuming

In my 20′s, I studied aikido.  This martial art was one in which you needed a partner to train.  Kenpo, on the other hand, being primarily a striking art, can be practiced solo on your own in the air and on bags.  Training with a partner is definitely the ideal and a must for many of the elements of the art, however one can work on a large portion of it’s pieces in private without a partner.  In fact, doing so is a must for developing proficiency.

After one year of training, I have so much material to cover, it is time consuming.  Instead of showing up to a dojo or meeting a friend to practice an art such as aikido in order to learn the art, kenpo you must practice on your own so that you are prepared to practice with others.  An art such as bjj or aikido has to be hands on to learn it seems.  At least it seems easier to practice the movements of kenpo solo than it would the aforementioned arts.  Of course I’m speculating from what little experience I had with aikido and the zero experience I have with any other martial art.  Anyway, I think my point is that with kenpo, if you don’t practice on your own, it seems you will learn the bare minimum.

Discovering elements within a martial art seems to be extremely multidimensional and I believe this is what can make it time consuming.  I believe it comes down to what a person wants to get out of their study of a martial art.  I guess it doesn’t have to be time consuming, however, from my perspective, I find myself getting lost within elements of the art during my own practice sessions.  When I say “lost” I’m referring to working on or enjoying a specific movement I may be currently focusing on.

Remembering everything that is taught is a challenge in and of itself.  Practicing everything to the point of discovery is where the time sink comes in.  Although a very enjoyable experience for myself, I do feel a bit of pressure to put the time in to make personal progress.  Some of what I practice feels awkward, some of it feels natural.  Sometimes when what feels natural shows me something I had not noticed before, suddenly, what’s natural becomes awkward again.  It’s a very strange experience, a continual sway between comfort and discomfort.

Sometimes, when I’m not practicing, I’ll be thinking about an element of the art and something will suddenly dawn on me.  Even though my instructor may have told me about it again and again, it’s almost as if my mind needed time to understand the concept and how it relates to my understanding of the art.  When this happens, I usually make time as soon as possible to examine my new found understanding in practice.  It would seem that there is a big difference between understanding a concept and actually putting it into practice with lots of sweat.  At least that’s how I view it.  How can I truly understand something within the art until I see how it works for me and how my body moves.

The biggest amount of time for me is working on my own body movements.  There are so many little details.  There seems to be, at least from my understanding, macro and micro practice.  Macro practice might be working on big picture elements of the art.  For example, working on a technique in one sequence to remember it, working on kicking and strikes to build strength, endurance, and flexibility, and running through forms and sets.  Then comes the micro practice.  This is where time can slip away from me.

This “micro” practice consists of fine examination and specifics.  Breaking down techniques and seeing what elements and movements reside within them.  Examination and drilling of those movements also exists in this micro practice for me.  Going even further, I discover what challenges my own body has with these individual elements dissected.  Imagining what would be effective in different scenarios, drilling specific responses using elements I find work best for my body, and working on weakness I may have with specific combination’s and basics.

There is really so much more to kenpo than a list of techniques, forms, sets, and basics.  It seems to be a personal journey of discovery of one’s own body, it’s capabilities, and understanding how it moves.  Actually, it can even go deeper than that if one is so inclined.  How about the psychological factor of learning such an art?  Frustration of not being able to perform a physical action within the art in what is viewed in one’s own mind as competent is a challenge all it’s own.  Having personally experienced these feelings, I now understand what it is to bridge the scholar and the warrior.  I say I understand it in concept because I now know that I cannot make progress physically if I do not place my frustration in check.  I have learned that continual focused practice with an open mind, knowing that progress can only be made over time, has helped me to see that frustration is really only a road block to achieving my own goals within the art.

So, when I feel frustration, I immediately halt that feeling and start examining what is the cause of that frustration.  Maybe it is a pause in movement.  Maybe it’s incorrect execution.  Whatever it is, I take a moment to identify the cause and isolate how I can improve in that element.  It might be something that I add to a list to work on later.  Nonetheless, it’s all a part of a process that is happening in this long term study of this art.

In many ways, it’s like being a cook vs a chef.  Anyone can read a recipe and make something delicious.  How many recipes can you follow and make endless dish after dish?  You can do this your whole life it would seem.  But how about examining the ingredients, the preparation, and the cooking methods and make different choices for what makes you an individual cook?  What about making a recipe from scratch?  After all, you have all this experience following recipes, learning about different ingredients, trying different things, why not create with what knowledge you’ve acquired?  I guess it might just be easier to follow recipes.  But how can one become a chef just by following recipes without understanding the individual elements that make up the whole process of cooking?  Furthermore, could one become a chef without putting that new found knowledge into practice?  Well, the great thing is that each of us can define for us what it is to be a chef.  I guess that’s what makes the study of an art an individual experience.

Anyway, you get the idea.  Martial arts can be as easy as following a recipe or it can be as complex as you want it to be.  However, it seems the more time you put into it, the more questions arise, which tends to bring about hours of fun making discoveries in one’s self.  At least that’s my take on it.

Martial Arts And Levels Of Fitness

When I think about my own fitness, I remember starting my kenpo training as a way to better myself.  As an observer, not only of my own progress, but of people I train with, and of people I see via videos, I’ve noticed that fitness in martial arts is a matter of choice really.  I can easily do martial arts at a comfortable level of fitness.  I can also see myself doing martial arts at a somewhat poor level as well.  But what about doing martial arts at an exceptional level of physical fitness?  That seems to be a difficult choice to consider.

In order to become an athlete at anything, hard work must be put forth.  Physical conditioning, dieting, and training regimens must be adhered to in order to succeed.  But how does one know if there chosen conditioning path is up to par?  Well, if you look at videos on youtube.com of martial artists long enough, you’ll start to get an idea of what I’m talking about.  Putting martial arts movies aside and focusing on everyday people, I’ve seen examples of levels of martial arts fitness that span the gamut.  I do not want to link any examples because that would single out individuals for scrutiny and would really only be a matter of my own opinion anyway.  However, each of us can watch videos and form our own ideas of what we might like to strive for in a realistic fashion.

For myself, I’m older, so doing flips and such that many younger practitioners are capable of is pretty much not on my list of to-do’s, nor should it be for my own mortality.  However, one thing I’ve noticed over my time studying kenpo is that there is plenty to do physically from within the art that can bring about excellent physical conditioning.  Over and beyond the subject matter within a particular art, there are exercises that can be done to help improve what is done within an art as well.  So, with those 2 aspects alone, one can work toward a higher level of physical conditioning as a martial artist without really going beyond much of what is learned in the dojo.  Heck, a years worth of kenpo knowledge can create a workout regiment that is sure to burn calories and make you drip sweat.

Although I have not been working out at 24 hour fitness like I should be, strength training is definitely a worthy endeavor to compliment martial arts.  There are even body weight exercises that can bring about similar results.  Running, sprinting, and endurance exercises can benefit as well.  Just as one might ask themselves when was the last time they ran as far as they could, when was the last time you tried punching and kicking until you couldn’t?  I guess it’s all about individual perspective and personal desires.

For myself, I spend just as much time imagining as doing.  I’m no wear near the kind of level of fitness I imagine for myself.  However, with all that imagining, I have to filter out what is unrealistic and more appropriate for my age and current ability.  Another consideration for myself is time.  Making time can be a challenge, but also choosing what to do with that time can be complicated as well.  Martial arts is not the only thing I’m interested in.  As you can tell, I enjoy writing, so there’s a time sink for me that takes away from what I could be doing physically.  However, the older I get, the more I realize that physical activity and fitness goals are never a waste of time and more important than ever.  Do I want to die an unhealthy mess or do I want to die knowing I worked toward something greater than what I was capable of the day before.  The latter seems more appealing the older I get.

Symply Too Good To Be True, American Version – A Book Review

Symply Too Good To Be True – American Version is a book written by Annette Sym from Australia.  This book is a diet cookbook written by someone who was overweight and had to learn on her own how to cook healthy recipes in order to lose weight.  Not only has Annette Sym lost weight, but she has kept it off for years by following her own healthy recipes.  What makes this book different is that it is written by someone who is not a dietitian, physician, or other credentialed individual, but someone who was overweight and spent much time learning how to live and eat healthy on her own.  Luckily for the people of Australia, she has shared her insight and recipes through a collection of books that have made her the number one cookbook author in that country.

Now, for the benefit of Americans, she has written a version of her cookbooks that includes ingredients found here in the United States.  Although the book is mostly a cookbook, she also includes tips and guides in this version on how to eat and live healthy.  Much like other cookbooks, the recipes are categorized by types of meals and major ingredients, such as snacks, salads, soups, beef, poultry, seafood, etc.  Each recipe includes a list of ingredients and directions on how to prepare and cook the recipe.

Because her recipes are designed to be healthy and promote weight loss, each recipe includes details including as fat content, carbs, protein, and more.  As an added bonus each recipe rates the recipes glycemic index, which can help people with diabetes choose recipes more adequate to their nutritional needs.  As meals that have a low glycemic index are beneficial to weight loss, this cookbook provides a great way to stay within dieting parameters.

What I like about this cookbook is that the recipes cover a wide range of tastes.  The variety of the recipes makes for a great way to avoid boredom with your dieting while giving you delicious food that is healthy as well.  I do not feel guilty choosing a recipe from this cookbook because I’m shown the details of exactly what it is I am consuming.  Entrees such as Indian Butter Chicken and Ratatouille make for a fun and delicious meal without doubting it’s weight loss and health benefits.  The directions are concise making it easy for anyone to make something that they will enjoy and remember.

Because this author is from Australia, some work had to be done to convert her recipes to include ingredients found here in US supermarkets.  As such, a few of the ingredients may take a bit of looking to find or a bit of creative translation and substitution to accommodate the recipes.  However, with a little common sense and maybe some help from the more cooking adept, this bit of frustration can easily be remedied.  As brands and names for recipe ingredients can differ greatly across continents, as was the challenge of this cookbook, so too can it across regions of the US.  However, like I said, it has not been much of a problem for me, an amateur at cooking, so it shouldn’t be much of a problem for others as well.

So far, I have been able to make what recipes I have cooked turn out to look mostly like the images in the book.  As far as the taste, it has been nothing but a delicious surprise.  If these recipes are good for me, I could eat like this for years to come.  Not only have I enjoyed eating what this book teaches, so has my wife and others.  Just knowing I can pop open this book, take a picture of the ingredients, run to the supermarket, and come home to make something healthy and extremely delicious is a relief.  Everything I have made has been fairly quick and easy to prepare, inexpensive, and satisfying beyond my expectations.

I would highly recommend this cookbook to anyone trying to lose weight or live a healthier life.  Thank you Annette Sym!

UPDATE: 1/20/10

Ok, so you’ve read my review of this book.  Well, I’m even more excited about this book after making one recipe.  The recipe was a pizza.  Ok, big deal.  Well, here’s the kicker.  The glycemic rating was too low so it made the recipe not only ideal for diabetics, but for those wishing to lose weight as well.  Guess what the crust is?  Chicken breast!  Yup, that’s right, chicken breast flattened with a meat mallet.  Never beyond my wildest dreams would I have thought to use a chicken breast for a pizza crust!  Kudos to Annette for this idea. When you place the ingredients on the flattened chicken breast, the chicken breast becomes tough enough to emulate a regular pizza crust.  However, instead of eating a crust full of carbs, you are eating a crust full of protein and low in fat and carbs.  Yet another reason to embrace Annette’s cook books.  She’s lived it, she knows what to do.  Very surprised.

Which Martial Art Style Sucks?

Imagine yourself considering starting martial arts.  Would you want to start training in a martial art style only to find out later that “it sucks”?  So, what does one do to make sure that the martial art style they are considering starting is the best of the best?  Well, rest assured, this article will provide you with helpful tips to prevent such a mishap.

Here’s what we know.  You want to learn a martial art.  You want to learn a martial art that does not suck.  You don’t want to end up being a martial artist that knows a sucky martial art style.  In the end, you want all to know you as a martial artist that is proficient in the best martial art style known to man.  Well, I’m afraid that if that is your mindset, you will be in for much disappointment.

There are so many types of martial arts styles out there, decisions can be difficult when choosing which to devote your time to.  There’s styles that focus on striking, kicking, locks, wrestling, grappling, thowing, weapons, and combinations of the above including other methods not listed.  Imagine every possible scenario you may find yourself in.  There’s no martial art that covers every aspect of fighting that exists.  So, hence, there’s no best of the best martial art. One could literally spending a lifetime learning across many different styles of martial arts.

What there is, however, are good and bad fighters and martial artists, including every degree in between.  No matter the style or styles learned, it all comes down to the individual.  So, what does that say about martial arts and fighting arts in general?  It is an individualized experience.  It all depends on what a person wants to get out of learning a martial art or fighting style.  The individual makes what the art will be for themselves.  You are the one who chooses their own path, goals, and intensity of involvement in the art.

I wonder if that’s what martial arts is really about.  If you want to be a martial artist, be one.  The great thing is that you get to decide what degree of intensity you will put into your learning of such a style or styles.  You can become a competitor or not.  You can be a casual practitioner as well.  You can be whatever it is you want to be in your martial arts endeavors.

What I do believe all martial arts styles are about is passing on knowledge.  So, my greatest concern would be who I am learning from, no matter the style of interest.  Who is your instructor and who did he learn from? What is his teaching style and does it mesh with you?  No matter what style of martial arts one dedicates themselves to, it should be an enjoyable and rewarding experience.  Attend a class to watch.  Ask the instructor questions if need be.  Do some research on the school and the instructor.  Try out some classes to see if it is for you.

One thing that I’ve noticed on forum discussions is the “X martial art sucks” topics.  These discussions always have someone who seems more mature and knowledgeable come along to mention that the art is not what matters, but the individual practitioner.  Why does such a discussion exist anyway?  Could it be that a fighter of X art beat a fighter of Y art more often?  And what brought about these facts as fuel for such a discussion?  Could it be open tournaments over the years?  Could it be the more recent popularity of ultimate fighting?  I mean, when styles of all types are finally put to the test against each other, that would finally put to rest which art is the best of the best, right?

Ultimate fighting, just like open tournaments, puts an individual against an individual.  One must remember that these individuals in ultimate fighting have chosen to compete at such a level.  They are the best of the best at what they do.  It’s not the art they practice that makes them the best of the best, but how they as individuals utilize what they have learned to achieve victory in their chosen arena of competition.  Think about all the factors that are involved to win such a competition.  Fitness, knowledge, experience, timing, and luck are just a few.  Wouldn’t such factors apply to any other practitioner of martial arts in a confrontation of any nature?  It seems it would.

So, which martial art style sucks?  In my mind, no style sucks.  However, a person can apply themselves in such a manner as to be considered a casual martial artist.  However, as I’ve mentioned before, the individual should be the one to decide what they want out of studying a martial art.  Casual or ultimate, and all degrees in between, are a path to be chosen and enjoyed by the individual.  When viewing others martial arts ability or style, it seems one should be able to respect what they have accomplished as an individual, no matter the intensity.  This would seem to be a quality expected in all martial artists.  However, reading forum posts with topics such as “X martial art syle sucks” can reveal this is not the case, which is somewhat disappointing seeing as how these posts come from martial artists themselves.

No matter the style you choose, find a good school and a good instructor.   Find what works for you and fits with your wants and desires.  Don’t worry about what others say.  Follow what your gut tells you.  I’m lucky to have found a great instructor.  I can only wish that for others as well.  Don’t be one of those people that goes to a school for a few months to make a judgment about an art.  Remember, people have different goals, interests, and reasons for their chosen path and art.  Martial arts can only be judged by someone who has spent years training in a specific art or arts.  Although, interpretation of any art could be said to be of a subjective nature.  Hence, the reason this article and the dreaded “martial art style X sucks” comments exist.

Regardless of what is said here or elsewhere, just do it for yourself.

Starting Second Year of Kenpo Training

Shortly before this time last year, I spent a considerable amount of time researching what type of martial arts I should begin.  There were several ways I went about this.  I researched written material and articles on the internet, watched videos on youtube.com, and went to the bookstore.  Then I began the search for a school in my area from a list of martial arts I might pursue.  I had the choice of an MMA school, taikwondo, and american kenpo.  It really came down to what I think I might be able to do.  An MMA focus was not something I wanted to be around at the time and lots of kicking was a scary thought for me, so I chose Kenpo.  I’m very glad I made that choice because not only did I discover I could do it, I found that I enjoy it greatly.

Last year I spent learning the basics of the art.  Now, with beginning the second year of training at purple belt and beyond, I am going to be learning more advanced applications of the art.  I am very excited about this.  I love watching kenpo videos on youtube.com.  Even the remote possibility of being able to perform the complex movements displayed by proficient practitioners showcased in many videos is beyond what my imagination can grasp at this moment.  However, being in an environment where I will be taught how to do just that has me smiling ear to ear, inside at least.

From what basics I’ve learned in my first year, I can see bits and pieces of what I know being used in more advanced demonstrations I see on youtube.com videos.  Although I am at a point where I know some these pieces, I do not know how to put it all together.  I’m like a child in grade school, so to speak.  Watching “older kids” demonstrate what they know is a very motivating factor, not only for my interest in kenpo, but in aspiring toward goals for myself in the art.

I have so many questions about the art, yet in many ways, I don’t know how to ask them yet.  I know that I must be patient and absorb what is taught to me so that I can find answers over time with practice.  There’s a mystery to be unfolded and I’m right in the midst of it.  The greatest thing about it is that this mystery is unique for me.  I am the main character and how the story unfolds is entirely up to me.  My story will be different than anyone else.  What I learn will be absorbed, interpreted, and made a part of me in some ways similar to others, but in some ways much different.  How my mind and body comes together in the coming months and years through what I learn and develop will be unique to me.

I’ve had several opportunities throughout last year to watch advanced students.  I see them moving and imagine myself doing the same.  However, my mind sees a blank space between what I know and what I am watching.  I want to fill those blank spaces with knowledge and ability so that I may be able to perform similarly.

All I can say is that I can’t wait to begin the next class.  Being able to do this is probably one of the greatest gifts I’ve been given in recent years.  I hope I’m able to do this for years to come.

Passed Kenpo Purple Belt Test

A years worth of material I was tested on.  Wow….it’s hard to believe that this year is over.  When I think about what I knew when I started and what I know now, it leaves me scratching my head a bit.  It’s hard to believe because I never thought I would do it, even though I wanted to for years.  So, here I am with purple belt in hand.

Once the holidays are over, I start the next year of training, which, for my school, happens at different times with a different group of students.  I will be working with purple belt through top-level brown belt students.  I am very excited about this.  My first year, as I’ve been told, was designed to build good solid basics.  My imagination now runs wild with what I will be learning come January.  Today, after one year of training, I have a whole repertoire of information and knowledge of basics, sets, forms, techniques, and additional skills that can easily create a training session that lasts a few hours or more.  I guess that’s one of the reasons why I say I scratch my head a bit.  There is so much information in this system after one year, that I cannot yet imagine what it is I will know by the time I am a black belt.

Anyway, the belt test was tons of fun.  Everyone in my class who tested passed.  Since beginning my training, I’ve seen purple belts awarded and have said temporary goodbyes to these students.  Now I find myself in that position, saying goodbye to lower belts and stepping forward toward another flight of stairs.  Time has gone by very quickly, so much so that I have to stop for a minute to think about all that has transpired.  When I go over my notes, it all comes back to me just how much has been shown to me.  I feel very fortunate to have learned all that I have been taught.

Not much else to say really.  I can’t wait for classes to start back up in January.