White Tiger Kempo VS. Tae Kwon Do

[KarmaMom]

My son is a Jr. Black Belt in White Tiger Kempo. He loves it but we're thinking of changing schools. The prevelant ones are TaeKwonDo...What differences should we expect? He also loves JKD but I was told TaeKwonDo will undo any JKD training he has had. All help would be appreciated! Also: we think training in different styles is a good thing and a good change & will probably be an exciting change from the boredom we're unfortunatly currently experiencing. Thanks for any help!!!!!

[Andy Murray]

Between JKD and TKD there is a big difference in training mentality.

You really need to try classes in both to see if either suits you.

There are also good and bad exponents of each system.

Do let us know how you get on though please.

[KarmaMom]

Thx for the info andy! I think there are pros and cons to every style. MY son enjoys the principals of JKD but is TKD less versatile?

[Andy Murray]

Originally posted by KarmaMom
Thx for the info andy! I think there are pros and cons to every style. MY son enjoys the principals of JKD but is TKD less versatile?

You're kind of putting me on the spot there mom :D

JKD can be a more versatile approach, but just because it says JKD on the door, doesn't mean it'll be any better for your son than what might be an exceptional TKD school across the road.

TKD is an excellent discipline and produces many wonderful junior students, while JKD is, or should be focussed on cultivating the skills of an individual across all the ranges required for personal defence.

Please research both.

[Bigfoot]

Why change schools when you write that your son loves the Kempo he is currently training? Are you dissatisfied, or is your son? You write in your profile that your son is young. Are you sure that changing schools is a good idea? If he goes to an other style, he will most likely have to start as a white belt again. Can he handle that?

If you decide to change schools you will experience many differences. Although I cannot point out detail for detail, as I have not trained with your son's instructors, I can tell you that most Taekwondo schools are predominately kick oriented with the emphasis of kicking techniques somewhere between 50 and 90 percent of the curriculum. Most Kempo styles are more hand oriented. If the school your son currently trains at is very modern in their training, he is most likely accustomed to very fast combinations where he simultaneously uses both his arms/hands and legs/feet. If not, he should at least be proficient in the use of his hands. This might be a problem at the new school or it might not be, depends upon how the instructor teaches and which aspects s(he) emphasizes. If your son is not accustomed to kicking high, as with most Kempo schools, this might also be a problem area.

Jeet Kune Do can very widely from school to school. It really depends upon what is being taught and how. I am a firm believer that JKD should be reserved for those that have already, as a minimum, achieved black belt. I am, however, not saying that beginners or others should not be allowed to train JKD, but rather that if it is being taught as a style, then it is not JKD. JKD is a way of expressing oneself through combat. A process of chiselling away the un-useful and expanding the effective. Is your son ready to do that? There must be established a strong base, before you can chisel anything away from it. I would not recommend training JKD at a young age. Learning from JKD, however, can be beneficial in all stages of training.

As you state, cross training is a good idea, however, the term itself implies that you train two or more styles at the same time. If your son drops Kempo to train something else, he will not be cross training, he will be switching styles.

Do you want to teach your son that just because something gets tough or boring (how can it be boring if he loves it?), that he should quit and try something else? Would it not be better to encourage him to follow through with what he started? If there are no problems with the school that your son trains at, why would you want him to change schools/styles. Do you believe that he no longer can learn from his current instructor? Black belt is where you start learning. The coloured belts can be compared to primary schooling. You learn everything you need to, to be able to understand what is being taught at college. Graduating High School is not where you stop, it is where you begin. The same applies for your son; becoming a black belt is not where you have learned everything there is to learn, it is where you begin learning.

I hope that you do not take my comments as an attack on you, or your thoughts. I am merely trying to point out that “If it is not broken, don’t fix it.” If your son is enjoying himself and learning something useful (self-defence, self-confidence, self-discipline, manors, respect, coordination, increased memory, focus, teamwork, better; balance, flexibility, conditioning), then why go and risk his happiness and his personal development?

[KarmaMom]

Hi BigFoot! Wow! I must comment back to you AS I read. Thank you so much for your insight...the problem IS the school--- the atmosphere has DRAMATICALLY changed....instructors show no excitment to teach the students....IT IS BROKEN! :) There has been a rapid decline w/in a years time. We have eben part of this organization for years now. It has changed. Teaching has changed...& altho yes my son loves the style.....now that he is a Jr Black Belt & let me add........it is amazing to watch him...he is THAT good...(so I am told by others!! Parents, instructors and other students as well).......he hasnt learned much. As for JKD, it has been incorporated to a degree. He is above average for his age-group & like you said the use of JKD is soemthing that needs prior expertise in any style. Where there used to be respect, honor, discpline & manners------there IS NO MORE. You would come in and observe a clas and think you were at the circus. See my problem now? <laugh>

[Bon]

Hiya,

if your son is too young to do his own research, then I dare say he's the victim of a McDojo. Find another school, a real school where they don't hand out belts to students.

[Bigfoot]

I am sorry to hear the quality of your school has declined so much. Thank you for your candidness in clarifying your situation.

Now comes the tough question; "What do you do now?"

If I may be so presumptuous as to make a suggestion, I would recommend that you (not your son) went to the different schools in your area and sat in on a lesson or two to see what the atmosphere is like. Don't worry about the quality of technique, as this can be tough to determine (as it is a new style and there are different types of techniques), but the qualities of the instructors should be immediately evident. Talk to the other parents or even the students to find out what they think of the school. I suggest that you, rather than your son, check out the schools as he might be more occupied by flashy or new-types of techniques. When you find a school or two that you feel meets your expectations, then take your son along for a trial lesson or two before deciding which school.

Don't be afraid to be honest regarding your dilemma with the potential instructors, they will (should) respect this. Be also honest with your son's current instructor as to why you are leaving. It can be tough confronting his instructor, but it might help the school in the long run. It was, after all, a good school at one point. I don't detect any animosity towards your son's instructor(s) (personally), but rather towards the general atmosphere at the school and how the instructor’s lack of charisma/excitement is negatively affecting your overall experience at the school.

When starting at a new school, the biggest problem I can see will be how your son takes the change. It can be very hard for a young individual, who has worked hard for many years to achieve 'status' at his old school, to start at the bottom of the totem-pole again. Talk with him and prepare him for the change. It would be a shame for the martial arts community to lose him because of vanity. Although many say that the belt level is not the important thing, he has earned his and should be proud of it. Just because he has to start over doesn't take anything away from his accomplishments, it just presents a new challenge to him.

Do your best to motivate your son and encourage him to take the new challenge. Don't forget to warn him either. He is a black belt, with the abilities of a black belt. When he trains with the other beginners, he will have a greater responsibility not to hurt them. He must show control, not that he is better then the others and able to hurt them at will.

I hope you find happiness and satisfaction at your son’s new school.

Good luck.

[KarmaMom]

Thx Bigfoot, My plan has ben exactly that; to first check into other schools and watch a class or two, sans my son. Decide & interpret the quality then to bring him back to meet the GrandMaster & to join a class or two. The "charachter" of the school we are at has been marred; due to the lack of charachter of the, shall I be so candid in saying the instructor's. Unfortunately there is alot of animosity & it has been discussed repeatedly. The "status" is what I am heartbroken about. He helps instruct classes where we are now (time permitting; depending on which instructors are present on any given day), but with all new things, they should be exciting and provide eagerness to future accomplishments. I am sure he will be flexible. As far as I am aware tho----Jr BB's or BB's in general; their rank status is typically somewhat recognized at the next dojo. Testing in Kata and self-defense provide the school with the prospective student's abilities. Happiness is KEY :)

[kempocos]

Hi, KarmaMom I am glad you are not taking the school change liightly and looking for input.
I feel it would be a shame to throw a way all that he has learned. There are good KEMPO schools that would enforce his JKD interests. From my knowledge of TKD he will have to adjust much of what he has learned, this will be in approach to sparring style and self defense. The KATA/FORMS will be an easier transition since they are just that forms.
did you have a chance to look at any other Kempo schools in the area as discussed in the thread from the schols section?

[KarmaMom]

Hi Kempocos!
Good to see a post from you/hear from you. We're definately not taking the change lightly, it is VERY important to us & to my son; most of all. As discussed in the past; Kempo schools...I cant find too many around here--but I will be checking out the one you suggested!! I did eMail them/him & ask about sitting in on/watching a class or two. I think I should do this first w/o my son, then he should take a class or two. It is truly a heartbreaking situation, but we shall prevail. Who really likes to "have to" change what they are (but were) comfortable with.
<Smile>

[inacan]

Would the grandmaster be Grandmaster Otto Simon?

[kempocos]

If this is addressed to me , then no. The dojo is located in on the siuth end of central New Jersey.

[pknox]

Originally posted by kempocos
If this is addressed to me , then no. The dojo is located in on the siuth end of central New Jersey.

kempocos-

I'd be interested in hearing of this dojo, or any others in the area you know of, as I am in Edison and also looking for a kenpo/kempo dojo. Feel free to PM me if you don't feel comfortable stating the school names publicly.