Kenpo Diversity
Article #1

It seems like everything these days is riddled with angst in some form or another.  From politics, to music, to just about everything in popular culture.  Even the martial arts are not considered a safe haven from the rigors negative in-fightning, animosity, and backbiting.  From statements like "Brazilian Ju Jitsu is the greatest fighting art in the world, everybody else stinks," (an actual statement by a student) to "we train in such and such, everybody else is doing it wrong."  Brings me back to a well known and over-used statement, "Can't we all just get along?"  To be completely honest and a little realistic, no probably not.  There are too many factors solidified within human nature and the nature of the martial arts in general that wouldn't allow this to happen.  There are several things that may create a different way of thinking when it comes to these sorts of evolved disagreements, yet none of them are new.  Perhaps forgotten or rarely considered, but not new.         We would like to mention at the beginning, that this section will not be about UNIFICATION OF THE KENPO COMMUNITY.  Given that some of us within Dragon Tales are, in essence, Kenpoists from head to toe, it wouldn't be too much of a stretch if we did write in this direction.  What you will find here, however, are several things that will answer the question in regards to getting along.  This will mostly involve a huge dose of common sense, and a discussion of the true power of American Kenpo.  Or, more to the point, the idea that the capacity for unification and everyone getting along is already there, it just hasn't been noticed by some.  And by all means, please don't think that we are trying to be the all-knowing, all-seeing, omniscient wiseman trying to stuff my idea's down everybody's throat's.  On the contrary, we don't really do that anyway.  We're too fond of being silly for that.  But this is a very serious subject, and will be treated as one.  With this in mind, this section will be written from the view point of some things we've found from the internet and personal experience.         The first and probably the most important factor in considering the true power and unity of Kenpo a few of our members found while on hiatus.  In fact, most people will agree that the most beneficial revelations to be found in any endeavor often show themselves when you take yourself away from them.  This idea can be summed up best in one word: Introspection         From the perspective of the author of this editorial, I am going to be completely genuine with everyone reading this right now.  After a long and fruitful hiatus I have found one thing to be true.  TRAINING IS EVERYTHING.  In this particular activity known as American Kenpo, physical and mental prowess found within Kenpo is the only thing that really matters.  Not the "my daddy could beat up yours," or "you weren't around when Kenpo started," or even "well I have to become a 100th Degree Black Belt before I can know everything."  Not that rank or being around since the beginning are bad things, nor am I attempting to be truly disrespectful.  It's just that when you use these attributes as a stepping stone over someone else, it kinda diminishes it's true meaning.  Yet all of this and more bickering complaints don't matter when you get right down to it.  All of us here in American Kenpo or any of the martial arts are participating to make ourselves better today then we were yesterday.  Or at least I, for one, would hope so.         For those of you out there that are simply in American Kenpo or anything else simply to beat the crap out of people, well then there is a wonderful place I am sure you will be introduced to very soon.  Heck, you get free room and board, your own personal wardrobe, and lots of new friends to get to know.  Make sure you hire a cheap lawyer, saves money for when you are released from PRISON.  No sense making a loosing battle even worse.  Besides, folks like that will generally get bored with their current "hobby" and go somewhere else to learn better ways to squish a person's face.  So here's to their leaving early, may your new endeavor be something great like boxing or anything similar.         For everyone else, let's examine this rationally.  I say this because the folks who are in Kenpo and the martial arts to beat people up are probably void of rational thought, and are part of the problem.  Believe me, this statement is not as much of a joke as it was meant to be, especially being part of the problem.  Now back to the point, when you are in the Dojo, studio, what have you, do you really focus on the crappy, belligerent post you read on the internet the night before?   Do you think about how much better the Kenpo you are doing is then anyone else's in the world?   Or at seminars, and we have been to a few in our lifetime, are they a huge, self-grandizing, inclusive bash party at the expense of everyone who is not in the "group?"   When you are doing a form, or working techniques, does anyone out there really go, "man, if you don't do it exactly the way I just did, then you are doing it wrong?"  I mean really think about it, when the attack is coming in, say a punch is coming straight at your nose at about 60 miles per hour, do you really think of anything?   No, of course not, you do what we are all in Kenpo to do, or you get hit in the nose.  You do Kenpo.  You transcend consciousness for just a moment and respond in the fashion you are trained.  In fact, I would bet the only time anyone actually thinks at all when working on Kenpo, aside from training itself when you are learning something, is when your concentration is broken by something.  Yet, there is still that heavy level of concentration that prevails, and the only thoughts are of the lesson, technique, form, or opponent you are freestyle fighting with.  If not, then how exactly do you get anything done?         So with that said, what is the deal?  Why is it when we get in the outside world we forget everything we were supposed to learn about respect, discipline, honor, integrity, everything that makes the perceived art of Kenpo great?  Sure, we have, on occasion, fallen into the trap of a loss of humility and respect.  But eventually everyone should return back to center at some point.  However, on the internet, and even outside the internet, we have witnessed some severely questionable behavior.  The better question is how do we get past these little moments angst and disgrace?  That is the point of this after all.  As we mentioned at the top, introspection.  We, all of us, must look within ourselves, if we haven't already, and find the true power and strength of Kenpo.  This power lies within all of us.  Mr. Parker left a part of himself within his creation, and every time we take up this endeavor he is with us in spirit.  The art of Kenpo was designed to serve the student, not the opposite.  Every student taking up the mantle of Kenpo has the right, and the duty, to make the art their own.  Yes, of course, there is the defining element of Kenpo which requires learning the art Mr. Parker created from a teacher whose goal should be to impart Kenpo to every student under their care, to the best of their abilities.  Conviction any less would be truly disrespectful to the legacy Mr. Parker left to all of us.  Nonetheless, the art of Kenpo is left to us to continue and perpetuate, to keep the stone rolling so to speak.         We must look inside ourselves to find the right path for our Kenpo training.  This is where the true power of Kenpo lies, not within a flurry of punches or kicks, or within the degree plaques lining our walls like square pieces of wallpaper;  but within those who study the art.  Sure we may not always agree with what the other is doing, but this isn't an exact science.  If it was, we would easily be able to create an instant monopoly.  So this constant "nosing" into each other's differences and need to be almost dogmatic about our choices is not only counterproductive, but rather insipid when you get right down to it.  We must decide for ourselves if the path we have chosen to follow in our Kenpo pursuits will be the correct one.  Now one can decide this for us, it simply doesn't work that way.  And in this introspection the acronyms shouldn't matter, not IKKA, AKKS, AKKI, what have you.  At this point, these are almost used more as a political stance for people NOT involved with these groups then anything else.  All of these groups have something to offer.  All of them have their own history dating back with Mr. Parker in some form.         And yes, as I write this and know that it may be read by others and checked by other folks at Martial Fusion and elsewhere, and I understand I now have a studio website and plan to finish a live studio under the AKKI, the predisposed "bad boys" of Kenpo.  Or at least this is what I have read over the internet.  So before the luminescent ray of hypocrisy is brought in my direction, there are a few things I should point out.  For one, I am the only member of Dragon Tales who was not directly brought to Kenpo in their martial arts career.  In fact, my exposure to the martial arts came from several different influences before residing under the Kenpo tent, if you will.  So I'm coming from a rather exposed viewpoint before this round of Kenpo loyalty meetings comes to order.  Which was one of the main reasons I got the chance to write the initial article for the Kenpo Diversity section.         Second, I, as well as many other's in the AKKI came from Ed Parker's Kenpo association before the organization Mr. Mills founded was official.  So the perceived hypocritical bias found within many of the internet writing's, under this perspective, holds very little weight.  All of the folks out there who think we're just making things up in the AKKI ought to reconsider.  The most abundant part of my personal Kenpo training happened under the IKKA, and for reasons Mr. Mills thought were justifiable and appropriate, he formed the AKKI.  But the fact is, we were doing a lot of the same things under the IKKA before moving to the new system due specifically because of the Mr. Mills personal perspective on American Kenpo.  The bunch of us at the Zine actually had a long conversation on this issue a couple of days ago while I was writing this article, and many open-minded truths were found.  No one does Kenpo, or any other martial art for that matter, the same as everyone else.  The physical, and literal interpretations are too vast.  So the idea that any organization is wrong because they do things differently is ludicrous.         This article and the following artwork, articles, and the like, no matter who writes or creates them will have nothing to do with association bias.  I, myself, believe in the path I have chosen with the AKKI for my own reasons.  Most of which VERY few people know of, because I don't talk about it.  However, I also don't try to force the belief I have in the AKKI on anyone, for it is a personal belief.  Defend the AKKI and what the fine people are doing within it from any outrageous attacks, certainly.  But never truly force what we do in the AKKI on others.  Heck, I personally don't even go into AKKI concepts and training methods when training with the boys and girls at Dragon Tales out of respect for them and the association itself.  I refer back to base IKKA principles and concepts because I don't want to create a preconceived disposition.  I want everyone to choose their own path.  Of course, when I get my own studio off the ground and register it with the AKKI, I will teach whoever wants to learn within my own "house" for lack of a more interesting term.         But for now my own introspection has shown me the path I have to take, and it is up to each of us to find our own way whether it be Kenpo, or any other art for that matter.  Maybe then we all can find peace within ourselves.  Either way, it is our decision to make.