Arrowhead Martial Arts Studio Blog

Martial Arts Training Tips, Ideas, and Random Thoughts

About the Author: Ryan Wheaton has been teaching American Kenpo since 1991 and is the chief instructor at Arrowhead Martial Arts Studio in Salt Lake City, Utah. He is an internationally certified 6th degree black belt and personal student of 10th degree black belt Paul Mills. Ryan sits on the Board of Directors for the American Kenpo Karate International (AKKI) and is also a regular seminar presenter at AKKI National & International events.

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4/26/2008

March 2008 AKKI Camp Photos

Filed under: Martial Arts Events — Ryan Wheaton

WELCOME TO MY MARTIAL ARTS BLOG! Keep up to date on all the latest news, tips and ideas from Arrowhead Martial Arts Studio by subscribing to my RSS feed or you can receive email updates right to your inbox. Thanks for visiting! -- Ryan Wheaton

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Good news! The photos from the March 2008 Paul Mills International Kenpo Camp in Las Vegas Nevada have been posted. Thank you Mr. Leonard for taking these and sharing them with everyone.

Check them out at the AMAS Flickr gallery!

4/3/2008

March 2008 Paul Mills Las Vegas International Kenpo Camp Recap

Filed under: Martial Arts Events — Ryan Wheaton

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It’s great to be back from the camp and I’m still trying to process all the information! It was an exciting time with so much knowledge and insight being freely disseminated by the senior black belts in our association.

Mr. Mills did four seminars all of which were inspiring and educational as usual. At 61, I still think he’s faster and hits harder than when I met him in the early 1990’s. He made a lot of good comments and ideas regarding velocity which we will bring back to the studio and integrate into our training.

All of the instructors did a phenomenal job relaying the concepts, principles, and theories in the AKKI. We covered everything from Yellow belt on up… from stand up to ground… joint locks to weapons… forms to techniques… Kenpo freestyle to spontaneous drills… it was all there!

Thank you to those that came to my seminars on Centerline, Wedging, and Intercepting as well as Reflexive Response Training Drills using the AKKI’s internalization patterns. Special thanks to Mr. Gough, Mr. Thomsen, and Mr. Leonard for helping me out by attacking me so well!

The colored belt test on Friday had four of our students testing and passing for their next belt levels:

  1. Josh (Green Belt)
  2. Jessica T. (Purple Belt)
  3. Nate (Orange Belt)
  4. Jessica J. (Yellow Belt)

Congratulations to those that tested! Thanks to Mr. Padigimus for pushing everyone in the technique lines during the colored belt test to perform at their maximum action potential!

The black belt test was amazing. I loved that the test group did basics then went right into techniques then forms/sets instead of doing the sets and forms first. This kicked the energy level and intensity WAAAAYYY up! Read more about the black belt promotions here.

I think this sums it up:

“Everyone who got to see Mr. Wheaton’s (students) could see he has set the bar very high in his school. All your guys put on an excellent test. Your energy and motion were a 10. Always good to see the next wave coming up it motivates us Senior to keep training hard to stay ahead of you. Congrats!”– John Herman, 6th Degree Black Belt, AKKI S. Nevada rep.

Thank you Mr. Herman and to all the AMAS students who attended and helped make this a great camp.

The September 2008 Kenpo camp will be in our back yard in Mr. Mills home town of Evanston, WY. This should take place the fourth weekend of September and will post the date when it is officially made available.

Help me in congratulating all those colored belts that tested by leaving a comment below!

3/11/2008

March 2008 Paul Mills Las Vegas Kenpo Camp Schedule

Filed under: Martial Arts Events — Ryan Wheaton

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Good news! The schedule has been posted for the March 2008 Paul Mills International Las Vegas Camp.

Download the camp schedule here! (PDF)

As always, you decide what you go to and work on. If you need recommendations, please let me know!

I am honored to be teaching two seminars this camp:

“Maintaining Your Edge: How to Use Intercepting, Wedging and Centerline Control for Tactical Advantage” and “Tapping into the Spinal Reflex Arc Utilizing AKKI Internalization Patterns.”

Don’t feel obligated to go as we can cover this stuff in class. I recommend that you go check out some of the other topics offered to see what you can pick up from Mr. Mills other senior students.

Learn more about the Las Vegas Camp.

So who else is excited about the camp? Let me know in the form of a comment below!

2/21/2008

March 2008 AKKI Las Vegas Camp Update

Filed under: Martial Arts Events — Ryan Wheaton

This just in: March 2nd is the room reservation cut off date for the March 2008 Paul Mills Las Vegas Kenpo Camp. If you haven’t yet made your reservations, and are considering going, I encourage you do so now. You can always cancel later. If you don’t make your reservations by then, you won’t get a discount and the rooms will be released to the general public and will go fast.

March 27-29, 2008

Sam’s Town
5111 Boulder Highway
Las Vegas, NV 89122
1 (800) 634-6371

HOTEL RATES:
Sun - Thurs = $49.99/night
Fri - Sat = $120.00/night

Don’t know what the Las Vegas AKKI Kenpo camp is all about? Get caught up to speed here!

1/4/2008

March 2008 AKKI Camp Dates!

Filed under: Martial Arts Events — Ryan Wheaton

The Paul Mills Las Vegas International Kenpo camp is March 27th-29th, 2008 at Sam’s Town Casino. I will be there and teaching at least one seminar.

The seminar schedule won’t be out until closer to the camp. Be sure to book a room early as they tend to sell out fast!

Don’t know what the Las Vegas AKKI Kenpo camp is all about? Read previous posts about the biannual camp.

More soon!

9/4/2007

September 2007 Camp Cancelled

Filed under: Martial Arts Events — Ryan Wheaton

I have some bad news to deliver: The 2007 September AKKI Camp has been cancelled due to severe health issues with Mr. Mills father, “Dub” Mills. Here is the email direct from Mr. Mills:

Dear AKKI Members,

It is with deep regret that I must cancel the September AKKI Camp. My father is very sick at this time and I must devote all my energy towards my family. This decision has not come easy for myself or my family as we have never cancelled an AKKI camp before. With the severe demands on myself and my family’s time, I reluctantly make this choice.

I know that many of you have already purchased tickets and put aside other financial priorities in order to attend this camp and for this, I am deeply sorry. It is our hope that we will be able to make up this camp possibly this December with an AKKI camp in Evanston WY. Or, we may have to wait until Las Vegas March 2008 Camp. We will let you know of the details as soon as they become available.

You, the members, have always supported me in my endeavors with the AKKI and to that I am grateful. During this critical time, I hope that you all can understand that this is what I need to do for my family and support me in this decision.

Thank you for all you do.

Paul Mills

Please join me in supporting Mr. Mills during this difficult time for both him and his family. If you have any questions, please bring them to the class and I would be happy to answer them.

6/28/2007

September 2007 AKKI Kenpo Camp Dates

Filed under: Martial Arts Events — Ryan Wheaton

I am happy to announce that the September 2007 Las Vegas International AKKI Kenpo camp dates have been announced!

September 20-22, 2007

Class schedules, times, instructors and room information will follow as soon as it is made available.

Don’t know what the Las Vegas AKKI Kenpo camp is all about? Read previous posts about the biannual camp.

3/20/2007

Download the March 2007 AKKI Camp Schedule

Filed under: Martial Arts Events — Ryan Wheaton

For those who don’t yet have a copy of the Las Vegas Camp schedule, here is a copy:


Paul Mills Las Vegas Kenpo Camp Schedule (March 22-24, 2007)

For more information on the Las Vegas Kenpo camp, please visit the official March Kenpo Camp webpage. There is a great video of Mr. Mills there you don’t want to miss!

3/2/2007

5 Money Saving Tips for the AKKI Las Vegas Camp

Filed under: Martial Arts Events — Ryan Wheaton

Going to the Las Vegas Paul Mills American Kenpo Karate International camp March 22-24th? Here are 5 money saving tips so you can spend you money on taking as many seminars as you can:

1) Car Pool - Not going to fly? There are other people who are already driving. Ask around in class and see who you can ride with to save on gas. Save $150 by driving.

2) Share a Room - This is where you’ll be able to save the most, next to not having to buy a plane ticket. You can save over $200+ here alone.

3) Eat Wisely- Sam’s Town offers several great food options including a buffet. They also have McDonalds, Sbarro, and Panda Express that are all low cost food options. There is also a cafe there with low cost breakfast, lunch and dinner menus.

4) Don’t Gamble! Or just set aside a small amount of money to spend. Set a limit and once you reach it, stop.

5) Forgo a Show - Instead of dropping a $100 on a Vegas show, cut back and just go see a movie. There is a movie theater at Sam’s Town. with all the latest movies.

For those that haven’t yet heard here is additional information on the camp:

DATE

March 22-24, 2007

ROOM DISCOUNTS

Be Sure To Ask For “The Paul Mills American Kenpo Karate International Group” To Receive Discounted Room Rates.

Sun - Thurs = $49.99/night
Fri - Sat = $120.00/night

Sam’s Town
5111 Boulder Highway
Las Vegas, NV 89122
(800) 634-6371

DEPOSIT POLICY

Sam’s Towns requires at least 14 days prior to arrival to guarantee a room. AKKI Members can send their deposit to Sam’s Town or charge it over the phone. To receive a full refund on a cancelled room, it must be made 48 hours in advance. No exceptions. Saturday check-in requires Sales Office approval.

CHECK-IN PROCEDURE

All guests will be required to present picture I.D. upon check-in. NO ONE UNDER 21 YEARS OF AGE WILL BE ALLOWED TO CHECK INTO A ROOM. Deposits are required to place long distance calls and order in room movies.

If rooms are sold out, please try the following neighboring hotels:

Arizona Charlies: 1-800-342-2695
Boulder Station: 1-800-683-777

CAMP Schedule

Will be posted ASAP.

10/1/2006

Vegas Camp Photos

Filed under: Martial Arts Events, Studio News — Ryan Wheaton

I just uploaded some new photos of our group that went to September 2006 Paul Mills Las Vegas International Kenpo Karate Camp. You can order prints of any or all of the photos. Thank you Jess Leonard Photography for taking and providing the photos!

Flikr Photos

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