I am pulling some comments I've written elsewhere and earlier this year:
"Two students did belt tests last night and I was very impressed. The orange belt testing for purple was 16. He was expected to know 60 different self-defense techniques in addition to several forms or sets (At this level in Tae Kwon Do, I had to know 15 "one-steps" and 3 forms). He ripped off one technique after another, both in the air and on fellow students, without hesitation when the names were called. He had very sharp and precise form. Sometimes sharpness and energy can be due to the student's personality or physical ability, but I believe these students are well taught because of their movements. I've seen easier black belt tests in other styles. He also had to spar a big biker-looking dude that kicked like a mule! He did well, waiting for openings and using a variety of techniques. That alone was impressive, going beyond basic blocks, kicks, and punches and using combos in sparring is very difficult, but the instructor said "We are doing Kenpo, not kickboxing."
When the students received their belts, there was an interesting ritual I have not seen before. In most schools there is a lot of bowing and a certain way to take the belt when it is offered. But this instructor laid the belt on the floor between him and the student, placed his hands on the ends and his forhead on the middle for a few seconds. This symbolizes knowledge being passed from instructor to student, and also emphasizes that you should use your head BEFORE you use karate. Then the student placed his hands on the floor and his forehead on the belt. Next the student ties only half the knot on the new belt, the instructor finishes the knot, symbolizing that the student promises to do their part, and the instructor promises to do his part as well.
So I learned a few things last night. First of all, I've never practiced much outside the dojo in other styles I've trained in. That will not fly here. I will have to study and practice at home if I want to get anywhere. This is a complex style, much more so at lower levels than Tae Kwon Do and Shorin-ryu. This is a little different than a college exam. Your brain has to understand the movement and its purpose, but your body must also learn the feel of the movements in order to pull them smoothly and quickly. Not only are there more things to learn for each belt, but each technique is more complex. Example: Tae Kwon Do = Low block, punch, kick. Kenpo = low parry, elbow strike, simultaneous knife hand chop and kick, punch, second kick, retreating footwork to safety. Some techniques can involved 20 movements (like mini-forms) and many times hands and feet are doing 3 different things at the same time. When learning something like this for the first time it's like being a fish out of water! It feels so awkard and slow. So I have my work cut out for me! But I have to say, if a young orange belt can pull off what that kid did last night, I have high respect for any black belt from that school! They didn't just serve their time, they know their stuff and can do it well. From my observation, a Kenpo student with the same color belt as most other styles as taught in the US, will have much better odds of surviving a suprise attack or dangerous self-defense situation. But he'll also have to explain to the judge (if charges are pressed) why he hit the guy 10 times before the guy hit the ground!
As you can imagine, all this speedy movement is great exercise, which is another reason I want to pursue this. There's a LOT of material to practice for exercise, and it won't get monotonous or boring. After only one class, my arms, chest and stomach felt tighter and more firm (my legs were killing me from all the lunges, squats, and low stances). This morning I noticed that my lungs are used to taking in a certain amount of air (not much), and now every few minutes I unconciously take a deeper breath. My body wants to breath deeper but it's not used to it, and it's having to adapt."
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