Instructor certification classes

From June 15th to July 15th we are going to have Kenpo Instructor certification classes, for anyone that interested. Please contact me and make your reservations now as they are filling up fast.

Why learn Kata

Kata has been used to teach the Martial Arts since the dawn of time and in most styles of Kung Fu you would learn a Kata or form first then once you have mastered this form (which could be as long as 20 years or never in some cases) you were then taught the self-defense application of the kata. In the art of Kenpo you are taught the self-defense techniques first then once you have learned those techniques you will then learn the Kata. For example the techniques you learned in yellow belt will then be applied to your first Kata in Orange Belt, Short 1.
The White Tiger Kenpo forms are divided into segments: short 1, long 1; short 2, long 2; short 3. These are considered basic and intermediate kata and are then followed by the more advanced forms and kata’s such as Short 4, long 4, Mass Attacks, Panther Set, Tiger & Crane, Darkroom Staff and Skylight Staff.
White Tiger Kenpo students are not simply taught the basic kata movements, we teach the students the kata meaning and what is to be learned from the Kata. In other words you are not just memorizing the motion and then performing the kata, you should also understand what you are doing and why. By doing this it will give value to each movement, and offers a better understanding and appreciation of the kata. You know you truly understand a Kata when you can do the kata in any direction or even blind folded, or on any terrain. In other word it should not matter which way you face the Dojo or where you are ask to perform the kata or under what conditions. If you truly understand what you are doing and why it will not matter.
Kenpo kata are made up of both linear and circular motions, both hard and soft. Kata circular motions are transformed into dynamic, powerful technique. This transition from soft to hard and back to soft again is accomplished by redirecting circular into linear movement and vice versa. The kata when performed should be fluid and graceful with one move blending into the next seamlessly.
Kenpo kata progress in logical and orderly manner, we do this by teaching the basics in a step-by-step manner. By teaching the student the basics first it will give them a strong foundation to build on. The kata’s will build in complexity from simple to "sophisticated simplicity" to advance. In the first Kata you learn called Short One in Orange belt you will be introduce to basic foot patterns such as adjustment steps and transition steps or moves you will also be using in conjunction with these new foot patterns some techniques that you have already learned from Yellow Belt. Each Kata will build on the last Kata as well as what you have learned from your last belt. You will be learning how to move from one technique into the next without the stop of your motion or momentum. With every Kata you will build on to this pattern so that by the time you make Black Belt you will be able to move from one technique into the next without loosing your momentum or timing in what you are doing it will look like one continues motion and a bystander will not be able to tell where one technique stops and the next one starts.
In conclusion, Kenpo kata are a living testimony to what human endeavor, inspired by foresight and sincerity is capable of achieving. White Tiger Kenpo has established itself as a sophisticated, intelligent form of self-defense training acutely tuned with our rapidly changing environment. Kata are a part of it!

6 parts to an attack

6 Parts of the Attack:

1. Attitude is 90% and effort is 10%: when fighting it is all in the attitude. If you go in thinking you are going to lose or intimidated by them then you are going to lose. Go in to the fight with the proper attitude, remember be positive.
2. Focus: Zero in on something specific and be mentally tough, stay focus on what you are doing and not thinking about something else or watching other students.
3. Strategic Game Plan: Frustrate your opponent; you can do this by using set point control and off set rhythm attacks.
4. Proper Position: Set up your opponent, initial move, extraction, be explosive and if necessary deceptive.
5. Making sure your initial move is explosive: your first move should be explosive and if necessary deceptive.
6. Bridging the Gap: Be able to Bridge the Gap with techniques such as the lunge punch, slide wheel kick, Backfist and forward hand strikes.

Why we teach Attacking the Circle

Why do we teach Attacking the Circle? We teach this technique for 2 reason the first is to teach the clock system to the student, we use this system to help students with direction and angles; you will notice throughout our manuals and videos that we refer to a position on a clock, for example place your right foot at 10:30. This method is easier to understand then to tell the student to take their right foot and step out at a 45-degree angle. The common times used throughout the manual are 12, 3, 6, and 9. Then we use 2:30, 4:30, 7:30, and 10:30. You should also keep in mind that these times are not exact they are just a guide adjust them as needed for your own personal size and height. Almost everything done past the 12:00 hour up to 6:00 will be done with the right side of the body, and everything past that will be done with the left side. 12:00 and 6:00 can be done with either side depending on the technique. Remember there is always an exception.
I said there were two reasons the 2nd reason is, we started emphasizing more on the footwork that we can teach the student while they are learning the clock system. So a version is learning how to go in and out of a fighting stance without going up and down. The B variation we choose to use an old technique that we no longer teach called Japanese Sword A (step with a extended outward block to the correct position, followed by a reverse punch, into a hardbow stance). This way the student can not only work the fighting stance but start practicing going from technique to technique.
“C” version we added as we wanted the student to start thinking about multiply attacks and combining the techniques they have learned in their private and group classes. This variation has no right or wrong answer but should still be practical and make sense.

3 Stages of Learning

As students of White Tiger Kenpo you are going to go through 3 stages of learning, Mechanical, Technical and Psychological. These are very important stages as each one takes you one step closer to being able to freestyle with Kenpo.
Mechanical is where all students start at. This is where a beginning student learns each step of a technique, but does not yet understand the flow of the technique or the power patterns involved in each technique, and therefore no real utilization is available. This is usually Yellow – Purple Belt, with each level getting closer to the technical level by the time you test for purple belt.
The next level is the Technical level this is where the student now comprehends the motion of each move and the power patterns that are needed with each technique, but the student is not yet fully spontaneous, in the execution of the techniques against an attacker. This level is usually found in Blue – brown.
By the time you test for Black Belt you should be at the start of the Psychological level this is the level where the student is now capable of free styling with his techniques when they are confronted, they are also able to recognize patterns, with this knowledge they are able to counter or initiate the attack before the opponent is ready or aware and can initiate without being seen. As you progress through the upper black belt levels you perfect the psychological level of using Kenpo