
Originally Posted by
2004hemi
Where to start with this, I have a few questions, some gripes, and even some opinions. Keep in mind I have only been in Kenpo well this is my 9th month of training so some of my questions may be very common but I am new and only way I will learn is to ask. Some of these questions and or comments I do not wish to ask my instructor because I would never want to give him the impression that I am not happy with Kenpo or with the way he teaches some aspects of Kenpo. I plan to stick around in his school as long as he will have me and I am hoping that will prove to be many years.
I guess my first question is what do you think is the most affective and practical kick for street use be it a Kenpo style kick or otherwise. In my limited experience of martial arts it is my opinion that there are three. The front snap kick, the round house, and the side kick. All three if done correctly and delivered quickly and at the right time in a fight can and would be devastating and a fight ender if you will. Back when I took TKD for a short time I was taught a lot of “cool kicks” things like the Ax kick, crescent, back kick, spinning back kick, and others. They are “cool” to watch but I have to wonder about the practicality of these kicks for street use. I would love to hear your thoughts on that topic. Sorry if I should have made this into more than one thread.
Then that brings back to Kenpo, in some of the stances, I’ll take the neutral bow for instance. To me this is an uncomfortable stance I am long legged and have a hard time with the heel to toe alignment while keeping the proper distance, Knee to heel, and bending the knees all at the same time. I end up with my rear foot not flat on the ground but with my heel raised a few inches. This tends to take away some of my stability and makes it awkward to throw a proper kick from this stance. I have been told time and again that it will become more comfortable as I get more used to being in this stance. But I also hear a lot about how Kenpo is/can/should be tailored to the individual student. At what point does Kenpo become MY Kenpo. I know this sounds funny but I am not sure how to ask the question I have in my mind. I understand that I am still a beginner and I will be expected to perform the stances and moves exactly as they are taught to me. I respect that 100% but at some point in the future will I be able to take what I learn and change it to fit me and my individual style? If so when around 1st Dan maybe 3rd Dan, I am in no way taking anything away from Mr. Parker or my instructor as I have a deep respect for both.
Another problem I tend to wrestle with when I learn a new technique, it is awkward at first but that is normal and I expect that. But I tend to get some of the moves mixed up with other techniques, for instance I will add a strike, or I may start with part of one tech then finish with the end of the tech I intended to do in the first place. And I don’t have but fifteen maybe twenty to deal with at this point, how do you contend with over a hundred and then the extensions that I keep reading about? And I am also a little overwhelmed with all the forms I have in front of me. I have Short 1 down pretty good. I will be working on Long 1 next month. I am working on stance set this month, I have coordination set down ok and I have star block set down good. But from what I can tell of the posts here I still have short 2, 3, 4 and long 1-9 to go! Wow that’s a lot of info that I will have to cope with over the next few years then you add all the tech’s I will be learning I almost think they should have called Kenpo the Genius art.
And I also wanted to ask what are some of everyones favorite techs? Of the ones I have learned to this point there are a few that I like more than the others. I think they all are great but these stand out as the most probable to find myself in a situation that would require these techniques.
#1 Twin Kimonos, the defense is simple yet devastating. Just from playing with this tech at home I can see a lot of room to add strikes and improvise if needed.
#2 Captured twigs, again fast, simple and devastating on the unsuspecting assailant.
#3 Rolling Bears, Always good to have a ground tech in the tool box if the fight ends up on the ground.
#4 Defying the storm, this tech makes me think of the words of Mr. Bruce Lee. Tae of Jete Kune Do or way of the intercepting fist. (I hope that is the correct translation) I love the way the first move is to intercept the club and take control of the arm of the opponent then devastate with a barrage of possible strikes