1st Kenpo class

[2004hemi]

I hope I placed this thread in the right place if not, sorry I am new here.

But anyway last night I took my first American Kenpo class, I learned captured twigs and delayed sword. This class was a real eye opener; the only word that comes to mind is “wow”. I am looking very forward to my next class on Thursday night.

I also have a question for any of you American Kenpo (Parker style) vets out there. From the literature that my school gave me it looks like the first year we will wear a white gi. Then the second year we will wear a blue gi, the third year a red gi, and from the 4th year on a black gi. Is this normal or just an instructors preference? Also is 4 years about right to reach black belt or is that rushing it a little.

Sorry about all the questions but I do have another. Each belt test the first year costs $35 then the second year tests cost $45 then the third tests run $55 then the 4th year tests will be $65. Is that about the going rate for belts tests?

[Pacificshore]

Not an AK person here, but I must say that the testing fees are very reasonable compared to other tiered test fees I've seen. As for the different colored gi thing, it looks more like the instructor's prefrence. 4 years to BB isn't unreasonable, yet that may also be dependent on how many days you get to workout in the week. Good to hear you had a good experience with your new dojo :)

[KenpoDavid]

Ah yes, another one hooked for life :) Kenpo <3

[kempo-kid]

Once one has found the path of kempo its all over :D

KK

[edges]

Well done,

I hope you enjoy many years of training. The coloured Gi thing is a little bit of instructor preference, our school has a white Gi untill blue belt, then you can wear black.

My preference, a bit of both. But it's just a set of clothes, fasion is not an issue in the dojo.

As for 4 years to black belt, in all honesty, the longer the better. 4 years is attainable if you train daily. It really is quality over quantity, I have been a black belt around 10 years and still consider myself at the early stages of my training.

Good luck and all the best for you future as a kenpo man

[Khallendross]

I have to agree. I've been practising Kenpo for about 5 years pretty hardcore and just recently turned purple. Course, we might just have a tough instructor (he rocks though.)

The colored gi thing seems kinda tacky, no offense.

[Bill Lear]

I've been training in Ed Parker's American Kenpo for a little over 10 years, and I'm currently a second degree brown belt. At our studio we wear white uniforms from white belt through green belt and black uniforms from brown belt on.

It isn't unreasonable for someone to get a black belt after 4-5 years at our studio as well...

[Satori81]

Sorry to intrude, but Bill Lear's comment about being Brown Belt after 10 years made me think of a conversation I had with Vic Leroux a few weeks ago.

During that conversation, he called the Ed Parker Kenpo system the "20 year System", and made mention of how Mr. Parker had a habit of continually adding material without scaling the style to accomodate it. It wasn't a "dig" at EPAK, just an observation from a man who ran the school for a while.

To be competely honest, unless you've had LARGE haitus in your training, 10 years should be at least shodan, with nidan a more likely possibility. Granted, a 10 year shodan will be amazingly knowledgeable and much more competent than, say, a 4 year shodan.

Still, I always thought with the enormous number of techniques, EPAK should be ranked similar to Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. In BJJ, black belt is reached usually after 10 years or so of training. However, Purple belts are typically licensed to teach beginners, and Brown Belts can teach up to Purple belt. Black Belt instructors are usually reserved for advanced classes or competition coaching.

This way YOU could be teaching, Bill Lear, even though you don't technically have a black belt. You would just have to refer more advanced students to the black belts. For all I know, though, this might already be the case, and I'm simply a moron.

Just my two cents.

May you achieve
Satori

[Bill Lear]

This way YOU could be teaching, Bill Lear, even though you don't technically have a black belt. You would just have to refer more advanced students to the black belts. For all I know, though, this might already be the case, and I'm simply a moron.

Satori81,

I've actually been teaching for a little while now. My instructor usually has me teach anyone who is a green belt and under. I don't, however, think you're a moron for making your comments on this subject. I think the information you provided is definately worth something.

:)

[edges]

Your dead right, I first began teaching as a purple belt and found that the extra thought I had to put in to convey ideas to lower grades actually helped me understand my practice better