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For those that missed last nights class, you missed one information packed evening!
We explored the connections and principles found within the the yellow belt curriculum and how the techniques, sets and drills are all related into one information packed - and interrelated - belt. Nothing in yellow is done without a reason and teaches the master key movements, patterns, and principles of motion. Hopefully it gave all in attendance greater insight into this fascinating art of AKKI KENPO and how useful and purposeful it really is.
And, thank you for all of the great feedback on the class and the material. However, it is Mr. Mills who gets ALL the credit. He’s the one who came up with such a well thought out martial arts system! I’m just fortunate enough to have learned it from him and am grateful I am able to share it with you.
My reminder to everyone at the end of class was simple: Don’t miss a class as you never know what you’ll miss. For those that were there, I’m sure they can attest to the what you missed. Frankly, I don’t know when I’ll cover all of that information again in that manner. You just had to be there to get it.
See you in class!
Many of you know that I first started my martial arts journey in Tae Kwon Do when I lived in Ann Arbor Michigan.
A friend of mine, Jeff Smith, was in it and so I gave it a try and loved it. I have longer legs so kicking always gave me an advantage. However, when I first moved to Utah, I couldn’t find any local Tae Kwon Do (TKD) dojos so I decided to take a martial arts class at college. They offered “American Kenpo” and I remember thinking “how different could it be?” So I signed up and went to my first lesson.
WOW! What a difference!
I felt dumb not knowing how VERY different another martial art could be. TKD is known for being a sport oriented art (it’s in the Olympics) and having a lot of kicks. Kenpo, in case you don’t know, is the exact opposite. It relies more on hand strikes with supplemental kicks and is oriented for street smart self-defense.
I was amazed when the chief instructor, Doug Anderson, demonstrated some basic Kenpo techniques. I remember seeing “Five Swords” and thinking … how could you defend against that?! It wasn’t about winning points in the ring. It was about keeping you safe in the parking lot.
Everything had a name (all in English) … it was built around modern day self-defense… you didn’t need to be flexible to execute the moves in the system… it was (and continues to be) a modern system of motion with logical, practical and direct application.
I knew the second I saw Kenpo in action that it was the martial art for me. Nearly 20 years later, I still think back to how easily it would’ve been to just continue to do what I was doing. It wasn’t a hard choice when it came down to it because I didn’t care how much time I invested in the other art. American Kenpo made more sense to me and I wanted the best for myself. It’s not a slam on TKD, it just wasn’t right for me once I understood the difference and determined what exactly I wanted to get out of taking a martial art.
So, if you’re interested in seeing what American Kenpo is like, I encourage you to come in and check it out. You might be pleasantly surprised at what you see.
Just a quick update - I’ve added two new black shirts to the AMAS store. Be sure to check them out!
Have you ever wondered if black belts have to register their hands as deadly weapons? If there are really techniques that can stop a persons heart? Find out in this article from Black Belt Magazine.
Martial Arts Myths and Misconceptions
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