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SLAYERS NEWS
“ABOUT DRAGON KENPO KARATE“ DEC 2005
In recognition of this past years efforts, in overcoming adversity, in perseverance, and in measurable success in the promotion of the home school World Dragon Kenpo, I would like to personally commend and announce the Winner of the Student/Instructor Member of the Year Award for 2005 .... (Drum Roll Please) Assistant Instructor James Patus of Sellersburg IN.
Jim's tireless efforts and "no excuses" attitude have impressed me no end and I am honored by his unfailing support and assistance in the building of our program.
Please take the time to congratulate Mr. Patus. You may contact him at the address found on the main page at www.dragonkenpo.us About>Instructors.
Great job Jim, you are truly an Outstanding Member of World Dragon Kenpo Schools of Self Defense.
Coach Ron Pfeiffer will be conducting free training on Wednesdays from 5:30 to 6:15pm for the next few months. All ages welcome however kids must be accompanied by a parent or guardian.
The lessons are being called "Smart Karate for Busy People". This is an introduction to defensive training involving the techniques of Karate, Judo, Kenpo & Kung Fu. Participants will learn the vital keys to generating a powerful effective defense to any attack, the striking points to stop any attacker and also what NOT to do in a confrontation. The methods taught have no tournament usefulness as they would get you disqualified in about 3 seconds. Also tips on over 40 fitness and lifestyle development. Everyone is encouraged to bring paper and pencil. To sign up or learn more contact Sherri Baker at the Lake Geneva Y or just show up. This informal training will be a fun and educational time for all participants.
- Coach Ron Pfeiffer
December is a busy time for everyone this is especially true for our members here in Lake Geneva.
Besides the normal holiday rush, our students are all getting ready for 4th quarter exams. These exams are going to be held at The Geneva Lakes YMCA on Saturday December 10th, 2005 at 9:00.
All students participating are asked to arrive early for check in and pre-exam interviews.
For the second year in what will (hopefully) be an annual event here in Lake Geneva is our Adopt A Family For Christmas program & Food drive, through the local non-profit organization Love Incorporated.
Last year we started out helping one family, and thanks to the generosity of all our local members, not only did our family have the largest pile of gifts, but also we had enough to help another local family in need. This year we have adopted a new family and, again, we are asking our local members to help out someone that is less fortunate.
I would also like to ask all Dragon Kenpo members and associates to find ways to help in their own communities.
If you run, or even participate at a school, try to set up a program in that school. If you are an individual, find a way to help with yourself, a group of friends, or at your work. But I encourage every one to stay in their local areas when helping. Here are some ideas on ways you can help: A food drive, clothing and/or coat drive, toy's, Adopt a Family, local charity needs, etc.
When your drive is completed, send a letter to the newsletter editor or me to be printed in the next issue.
I would like to introduce one of our newest members. After receiving an email from Dan with his request to cancel his 1 day old membership I contacted him by phone to see if I could learn a little more about him. Well after speaking with him for a short time we learned that he would be continuing as a Student/Instructor member in our "Advanced Standing" program. I was impressed with Mr. Lundberg's enthusiasm for the martial arts and once he understood exactly what World Dragon Kenpo Schools of Self Defense was about we both saw that it would be a good fit. Dan has already completed his first two levels for Advanced Standing and will shortly be moving on to Assistant Instructor. Again Congratulations Daniel and Welcome!
- Coach Ron Pfeiffer
Hello my name is Daniel Lundberg. I was born on May 9th 1968 in Fontana California and have been living in Bloomington, Ca for 37 Years. I am a single parent with sole custody of my 6 year old son. I work with the Morongo gamming agency as an officer. I have been training in the Martial Arts for a year and half and have a 1st degree black belt and certified instructor with the art of Dalan Ti Ilocano. I put in over 60 hours a month in private lessons and class lessons to obtain my black belt. I plan to continue in the art of Dalan Ti Ilocano to obtain my masters and take Dragon Kenpo and do the same with that art.
- Daniel Lundberg
Dalan Ti Ilocano Black Belt and World Dragon Kenpo Student/Instructor
At first, it sounds harmless, and maybe even a way to spread good will to our brothers and sisters in other systems. Let me explain what this means to the uninitiated.
Cross-Ranking should not be compared to Cross-Training, which is merely studying multiple systems so that the practitioner feels more “well-rounded”. For example, a Brazilian JuJitsu student might take up Boxing or American Kenpo, so that he has standing defense as well as groundwork. This is completely fine, and often encouraged; provided you actually do go through the additional system and earn your rank.
Likewise, cross-ranking should also not be confused with honoring rank. Honoring rank is where a person comes from a system to another similar system, and since they had the basic blocks, kicks, punches, and maybe even a handful of the same techniques, they would begin the new system with a yellow or orange belt, skipping the basic belts.
There are several types of cross-ranking, such as “buying rank”, where one person of dan rank would pay dues to another for rank in the others system. An example is Mr. Bob has 4th dan in Mega-Doju-Ryu Karate, and offer Mr. Carl the usual belt fees associated with a 3rd dan in Mr. Carl's system in exchange for that rank. Mr. Carl gets to show he has high ranking black belt students, has some cash and dues every month or year, and Mr. Bob gets an ego boost and another Black Belt to hang on the wall.
A person has a mid to high dan ranking in a certain martial art, lets say ABC-Ryu Kenpo, he runs into someone with mid to high dan ranking in another system, let's say XYZ JuJitsu. Now the Kenpo guy offers to give the JuJitsu guy dan rank in ABC in exchange for rank in XYZ. Suddenly, ABC guy has dan rank in two martial arts.
Sometimes this rank is given in exchange for something - I recently read a tongue in cheek thread on a message board where someone said “Well, it depends on how well they cook and wash my car..” While that was a joke, believe it or not, sometimes this is really how rank is given.
Let me provide an example of why cross-ranking is such a horrible thing, and an abomination to everything Martial Arts stands for. For the purpose of this article, I am going to create a fictitious person named Bob.
Bob enrolled in a distance learning Martial Arts class, not because he didn't live near a good school - there were plenty in his area - but because he thought he could learn this stuff faster and without paying an arm and a leg for a school. Bob wanted to learn at his own pace, and maybe cut a corner here and there.
The course was in Cheatum&Howe's Ka-razee Ryu, along with the 6 videos, walking the student from white to 5th dan black belt, it also came with a signed certificate of your new rank of 3rd dan black belt (to get higher rank, you needed to send in a note saying you really did learn the system, and a 100.00 check).
One day, while reading about the other people who had gone through the same course, Bob saw someone was a 3rd Dan Fu-Jitsu practitioner. Bob decides to trade ranks with this person, who gladly accepts the offer.
After doing this three or four times, Bob now has 3rd and 4th dan in several different systems. Bob figures, “Hey, I can create my own based on all this knowledge I must have now..”. So Bob creates Bo-Kenshin-Kai (see, Ken and Kyle were going to help with this system - they were other black belts he cross-ranked with).
Now that Bob has this new Bo-Kenshin-Kai system, he is naturally ranked as 10th dan and Soke. Well, Bob goes to some even higher ranked fellows he met at the Cheatum&Howe's Ka-razee Ryu Summer Ring Fling, and offers them 8th and 9th dan in exchange for the same in their systems.
Since Bob has all this knowledge, which magically comes to him in his sleep, with his title, Bob decides to setup shop.
Bob's Bo-Kenshin-Kai opens for business - on the web. Pictures of Bob's Dojo (which seems to closely resemble a High School trophy case and the flooring just in front of it) abound on the site. Bob is now Soke of Bo-Kenshin-Kai, 9th degree Black Belt in Jeet-Kune-Lo (a new derivative of the obviously imperfect Jeet Kune Do), 8th degree Black Belt in Splash-a-roo (a system developed completely underwater by street-fighting synchronized swimmers), multiple 6th and 7th degree Black Belts in various other systems, and since he holds a 10th dan, he self promoted to 4th and 5th dan in the systems he earlier traded for cross-ranks in his systems.
No one seems to question Bob, but let him continue to offer sage advice, and words of wisdom that only a Soke would be able to offer. This goes on for some time, until the damage is so deep, it cannot be undone. Damage? Ahh ... there is damage here.
The damage is when a young (in the arts) practitioner comes looking for advice on a particular method. In chimes the Wise One, later, no one notices that the young practitioner has not been on the boards or in contact with anyone for some time. Then, news hits the boards that the young one attempted this method the way the Wise Soke explained it, and he broke his training partners collar bone (it could have been worse..)
But this is not all the damage - there's more. All this back and forth cross ranking has made it “ok” in this group. Now people are more open and accepting of the concept of trading belts back and forth.
This is poison.
Now, Little Jimmy's mom decides that since Soke Bob has such high level credentials, she's intrusting her son to his training. Of course, little Jimmy does not know the difference, and the first (fairly harmless) thing that happens is he gets laughed out of the tournaments. “It's just that they don't know what the real thing is, Jimmy.”, his instructor would tell him. Then, one evening, he is leaving the grocery store, and is held up at gunpoint (many years later in his training), he attempts a “Panther Crawls Up The Pant Leg Of the Crane” and suffers at the hands of his assailant. Why? Because his martial arts is just THEORY. Theory practiced and taught by a phony Soke.
This is just one facet of the dangers of cross-ranking. Take a look at the well know great martial artists, and how many different black belts they have: Sijo Adriano D. Emperado (Kajukenbo), Hanshi Thomas B. Mitose (Kosho-Ryu Kenpo-Jujitsu), Professor William K.S. Chow (Kenpo-Jujitsu - later Kara-Ho), Edmund Parker (American Kenpo). Each were/are head of their respective and respected arts, and each held a maximum of two black belts: One in the art they trained up in, and the other in the art they were head of. These men needed no cross-rank to make them more knowledgeable. Sijo Emperado once said (and I'm paraphrasing) that he didn't need to read about or learn any other system - he had enough to worry about with Kajukenbo.
It is the opinion of this practitioner of Kenpo and Kajukenbo, that cross-rank trading serves only the ego of the people that are swapping belts, and can actually be quite harmful to people who would be their students.
- Rick Collette, Staff Writer
Please offer your congratulations to Mr. Christopher Barela, who has been appointed as the World Dragon Kenpo Director for the state of Utah!
Mr. Barela is the Founder and Chief Master Instructor of the World Reality Self Defense Association and can be contacted at chrissbarela@yahoo.com
Or chiefmasterbarela@worldrealityselfdefenseassociation.com.
Please take the time to send him a congratulatory email or just browse his website at www.wrsda.com!
Unfortunately, we live in an increasingly violent world. One only needs to view their local or international news to see incidents of road rage, workplace and school tragedies, along with a criminal element increasingly armed and without any reservations about using deadly force. Even among law-abiding citizens, common courtesy and mutual respect seem to be things from the distant past. Personal self-defense can no longer be viewed as a luxury; consequently, we must take responsibility to safeguard our persons, along with our loved ones.
World Dragon Kenpo
Our school, both in the traditional face-to-face instructional methods, along with the virtual video online environment, addresses the urgent need of personal defense training. Increasingly, distance and online education is gaining rapid acceptance for busy lifestyles. The key to WDK is that one can learn via high quality online videos, and receive feedback from certified instructors. You can live in Lake Geneva, Wisconsin, or in Lake Como, Italy, and still receive the same structured approach to personal self-defense. As more students are exposed to World Dragon Kenpo and its innovations, an important need will be filled. Students will become teachers to perpetuate the Art locally and globally.
Research Study: Video Learning Vs. Traditional Teaching Methods
Dragon Kenpo was founded in 1992 by Mr. Ed Hutchison, and was recognized by the United Kenpo Karate Association. Mr. Hutchison, who is a former police officer, holds a 4th degree black belt in American Kenpo, along with a Red Sash in Shaolin Kung Fu. He produced and promoted a home study video tape series of his self-defense system. Some voices in the martial arts community have criticized this approach. Obviously, training partners and hands-on instruction are fundamental factors to learn and master a martial art. However, for some of us, online learning provides an initial exposure, and/or a new tool for our personal self-defense arsenal. The power of “mirroring” or “modeling” an expert not only applies to a virtual self-defense program. When we study, analyze, and absorb the lessons of successful people who have excelled in their chosen fields, we have learned valuable teachings without direct contact with that individual.
In 1997, the original Dragon Kenpo video tape series was analyzed in a detailed research study by Professor Bobby Newman of Queens College. Dr. Newman concluded that "…Students of the Dragon Kenpo video learning system progressed at the same speed, and with the same effectiveness, as students taking private lessons with a black belt at home or in a commercial studio."
Personal Observation
As a student who has been exposed to the early Dragon Kenpo videos, along with the online program at World Dragon Kenpo, I can humbly state that our school has a higher commitment to excellence. Mr. Hutchison ignited the torch; however, Coach Ron Pfeiffer has carried the flame to broader horizons. Not merely in the actual online video experience, but also in terms of the open lines of communication that exist between Coach Pfeiffer, his certified instructors, and their students.
Advice from Grand Master Edmund Parker
Mr. Parker was the founder and promoter of American Kenpo. Although we study Kenpo for the main purpose of self-defense, there are secondary benefits. We learn how to evaluate our environment, which is the first step to self-awareness and avoidance of hostile situations. The mental approach, which we develop during our study of Dragon Kenpo, is equally important as proper implementation of the techniques. Knowledge of personal defensive techniques provides the self-confidence to determine when and if to use those skills.
"Mental discipline requires a positive attitude. Invariably, this attitude is a result of physical discipline. Like physical exercise, mental "Mental discipline requires a positive attitude. Invariably, this attitude is a result of physical discipline. Like physical exercise, mental discipline also requires constant striving toward higher levels of attainment. When physical and mental discipline become one, spiritual discipline becomes automatic. Instead of welcoming trouble, you shun it, not because you are afraid of an individual as you are afraid of what you can do to that individual.”
- Steve Amoia, Staff Writer
For more information visit Dr. Bobby Newman's research at http://www.dragonkenpo.com
Our training group in Southern Indiana has a big problem that I'm certain many of you share: Our makeshift training facility is less than ideal. In fact, it's pretty bad. It consists of a place in a college classroom building where two halls intersect at an odd angle forming a wide spot. We've been through some even stranger venues. For a while it was the sand volleyball court behind the college before it became overgrown with weeds; then there was the shuffleboard court at the city park, the waterlogged basement of an underutilized college building, and an outdoor basketball court with a crumbling surface. So maybe we've come up in the world. At least it's warm in the winter
Our makeshift dojo works pretty well for now. We have about twelve students in our group with an average of six showing up on any Saturday afternoon. All of our students are college faculty, college staff, college students, or family members of college faculty or staff so we have usurped quasi-official status. It's probably really just pseudo-official status but everyone knows we are there and some come to watch; we reciprocate by trying to be mindful of those attempting to use the halls for that which they are intended. Since four of us are full-time faculty we take advantage of borrowing college equipment for our quasi-official activity. Our access to computers and video equipment has had a huge impact on the way we train as a group.
As the group leader, I make sure that there is a plan for each of our two hour sessions, a lesson plan in education jargon. Lately the lesson plan starts with a trip to the electronics lab. Here we have computers with Internet access and the ability to project what is on the computer screen onto the wall. When the entire group has found a seat I introduce the video of the day, the objectives of the assignment; that is, what do I expect you to learn from this experience. Occasionally, I interrupt the video to replay a significant scene. The first time we used this technique one of our members logged on to dragonkenpo.us and we looked at some of the white belt videos. This gave those of us who were members a chance to point out the sound teaching methods used in the videos. (About 40% of those who train with us are WDK members and those of us who are members encourage everyone to join.) After the video there is a brief discussion of the techniques.
After the video we go back to the dojo and after warm-ups, practice the techniques from the video; then we break up into to or three groups by skill level to work on other appropriate techniques.
We make other use of video as well: A few weeks ago some students had a question about one of the orange techniques and in my current situation of dragon-with-one-wing I could not demonstrate the technique to be of any value. They resorted in going back to the electronics lab and “looking it up” by viewing the video of the technique together. They were very pleased with their results.
I don't always use WDK material. Last week we viewed Kenneth Funakoshi's Shotokan Volume 1, covering warm-ups, basic blocks, kicks, and punches. WDK members all commented on the almost identical warm-ups as presented on the WDK site. We compared and contrasted punches and blocks between Shotokan and WDK
I think we are OK with intellectual property issues: It is never a public performance; it is for members only. We do not charge admission. It is for an educational purpose. We usually show excerpts rather than an entire presentation. Legally we are on least firm ground showing WDK material because it streams a subscription site; however, part of our purpose here is to provide a teaser to get non-members to join.
Using pre-workout videos has several benefits: They pique the interest of members; keep it under half-hour for the younger members. They allow members to verbalize questions and answers concerning techniques; this reinforces learning. They break up the activities of long training sessions. They allow comparison and contrast with other styles; be careful not to confuse newer students. When students are having difficulty with a technique, a reminder of “Remember in the video how…” helps them remember and focus.
Now if we could just get a better spot than the hallway…
- Jim Patus, Staff Writer
Yellow Belt Technique I or WDK Yellow Belt Technique 6
Defense against a right step-through punch
1. Execute an inside outside block and trap your assailant's wrist with your right hand.
2. Deliver a right snap kick to your assailant's midsection.
3. Deliver a right side kick to your assailant's right knee.
4. Apply pressure with your left hand to your assailant's right elbow to either control him with an arm bar or to break his arm.
Note: Variation of American Kenpo Technique Evading The Storm
I give this technique a score of 4 on a scale of 1 to 10. Rated: Partially Ineffective
1a. Begin your defense against your assailant's punch with an inside outside block. This block is typical of the approach used by many Karate styles. The left inside and the right outside blocks are combined into one fluid motion to ensure that the punch is passed off to the side where it poses no threat. This double block is very important if you choose not to employ footwork in this phase of your defense.
If you choose to employ footwork the double block becomes wasted motion. As you step into your fighting stance half of your body will be out of the line of the attack and a slight pivot of the hips will take your body fully out of line. Use your right hand as a check to ensure that the punch is not repositioned to strike you as you move. This step reduces the impact force of the strike on your right arm and frees up your left arm for a simultaneous counter strike if you so choose.
1b. The failing grade for this technique comes from the second half of the blocking process; the catch. If you've studied the martial arts for any length of time you know that in a sparring match or a fight, no one leaves their arms dangling out there after throwing a punch. The arm is immediately withdrawn in order to throw the next strike. This quick withdraw makes it extremely difficult to catch an arm. It isn't something that even a well trained Black Belt can do on a regular basis, much less a yellow belt.
With a little bit of thought, the technique can be altered to make the catch possible. One example is to change the attack so that it is an overhead club strike. While it is easy to withdraw a punch quickly, it becomes more awkward to withdraw a downward club swing making it easy to catch. As with a step-through punch, you should step to the outside into a fighting stance to get out of the line of attack. However, a club attack has more points to check, requiring both hands. As the attack comes in, check the club to your right side with your left hand and catch the hand holding the club with your right. When the club passes your shoulder, move your left hand to check your assailant's elbow to ensure that he can't fold into an elbow-strike.
2. Your first counter attack is a right snapping kick to your assailant's mid-section. Whether or not this is an effective strike at this point is determined by your initial move. If you remained in place and executed the inside outside block or stepped back into a right front fighting stance you will remain in position for the snap kick. If you stepped forward into a left front fighting stance out of the line of attack, you've probably moved in too tight for the snap kick to reach its maximum power. This is easily remedied by delivering a right roundhouse kick or a right knee strike to the mid section instead.
3. You follow up your initial counter attack with a left side kick. No matter whether I stepped forward, back, or remained in place with the block or executed a snap kick, knee strike or roundhouse kick I find that trying to execute a right side kick is too awkward and too slow. With practice it can become comfortable, but it just doesn't flow as fast as a self defense technique probably should. Again, this is easily fixed. Switch to a left knee strike as you turn to apply the arm bar. A knee strike to your assailant's outer thigh will cause his leg to collapse just as the right side kick to the knee would, however the knee strike better sets you up to deliver more power and control to your armbar.
4. Your final move in Yellow I is to control your assailant with an arm bar or to break the arm with a left heel palm strike to the elbow. If you perform the right side kick to your assailant's knee you will need to plant your foot and then pivot 90 degrees to the right, stepping into a left front fighting stance. Again, this is a bit awkward. The left knee strike to your assailant's right outer thigh will position you just right for the left front fighting stance. Being in a left front fighting stance is very important for this technique. It provides more force and better control for the arm bar/arm break, your left leg between your bodies protects you from any strikes of desperation that they might attempt to throw towards your groin, and it allows you to spin to face the opposite direction to throw your assailant with a wrist lock if he attempts to roll out of the arm bar as taught by many martial arts schools.
Next Issue: Yellow II
- Doug Turner Jr., Editor
Steve Amoia is currently nearing completion of his WDK purple belt requirements. Steve resides in the Washington, DC area, and was a former software technical writer. Presently, he is a freelance writer and personal web page developer. For many years, he has managed a not-for-profit web site dedicated to international soccer.Steve is the author of the World Cup History Test by Brainbench, a leading online employment testing company. He also writes a monthly column for an Italian soccer school based in North America, and has published articles about Dragon Kenpo and Bruce Lee at Healing Headquarters, an alternative health web site.
Rick Collette, the Director of WDK for the State of Arizona and currently residing in Tucson. Currently a Purple Belt in WDK, and some unknown rank in Emperado's Method Kajukenbo. Currently employed by a large healthcare software company as a Senior Unix Systems Administrator, and avid collector of all things Atari.
Ken Hansen is a Lake Geneva, WI based instructor under Ron Pfeiffer. He's been in dragon kenpo for five years, with some time spent studying other styles of martial arts such as Judo, Jeet-Kune-Do, Arnis, sport stickfighting, and kickboxing.
Jim Patus, the Indiana Director of WDK, began studying Kodokan Judo over 40 years ago. He has studied Shotokan and Zokusai karate and has fenced competitively in both foil and epee. As professor of Biology at Ivy Tech Community College of Indiana - Sellersburg his teaching specialties include Environmental Science and Human Biology. His current research interests are the population dynamics of 19th century Indiana and distribution patterns of fish and crayfish in southern Indiana streams. He may be reached at jpatus@ivytech.edu.
Douglas Turner, Jr. is a Charlottesville, Va based Instructor with over 20 years experience in the martial arts. He currently works as a consultant on issues such as Self Defense, Disaster Preparedness and Quality Assurance. He can be reached at dragonkenpo@aol.com
"Slayers News About Dragon Kenpo" is to inform, to educate, to inspire and to occasionally entertain the community of Dragon Kenpo Practitioners within our influence.
To fulfill this mission, we will:
Continue to develop the online text and video training available to the membership.
Encourage members and non-members to present articles for publication.
Encourage dialogue between members via thought provoking articles.
Reward innovative ideas by recognizing contributing members and their efforts.
Educate members with topics designed to enhance and increase levels of martial art
understanding with the goal of developing the "whole person".
I am proud to announce that the Geneva, WI World Dragon Kenpo Headquarters club has donated over $1,000 in cash, cards and donations for the family we adopted through Love Incorporated.
We got a larger family this year and also took on an additional family in need.
I am so proud to be a part of this group because we have given so much donated time, effort, money and talent to make this charity event happen and I want to recognize them for their generous efforts.
--Chris Miller, Event Coordinator
Geneva Lakes Family YMCA
203 Wells Street
Lake Geneva, Wisconsin 53147
Phone: 262-903-7012
E-mail: wi_ron@yahoo.com
View this online at http://www.motionkenpo.info/SlayerNews/SlayerNews.pdf
Opinions expressed in the Slayers News “About Dragon Kenpo Karate“ are the writers and may not reflect the official positions of the managment of World Dragon Kenpo Schools of Self Defense
WDK 2005
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