August 2011 Kenpo Black Belt Combat Zone

[J Ellis]

Attention Kenpo Black Belts!!!
(And underbelts from White to Brown)

Saturday, August 20, 2011

Mike Pick Sr., GMA 10th Degree Black Belt, UKF
Bob White 9th Degree Black Belt, Bob White’s Kenpo
Chuck Sullivan SGM 10th Degree Black Belt, IKCA Kenpo
Bryan Hawkins 7th Degree Black Belt, United Kenpo Systems

On Saturday, August 20th 2011 Mike Pick Sr., Bob White, Chuck Sullivan, and Bryan Hawkins will be hosting the Kenpo Black Belt Combat Zone in Long Beach, California. For complete information on this event please visit http://kenpoblackbeltcombatzone.com/. This is one event that you, as a Kenpo Blackbelt, won’t want to miss. Come join these current Masters and Grandmasters and help us pay a Memorial Tribute to the Father of American Karate, Senior Grand Master of Kenpo, Edmund K. Parker Sr. without whom none of us would be enjoying Kenpo today.

[stone_dragone]

Unless the army disagrees, I'm there! I already got my room reserved... thinking they'll go pretty fast!

[IWishToLearn]

Looks like a hell of an event.

[LuckyKBoxer]

ya i was thinking this looked good as well.
I might have to add this to my list of to dos this year..
I am still trying to figure out my goal for the year when it comes to martial arts events.
I have 2 events on my list so far. one in a couple weeks, and then the Bob White Invitational.
This would be a good close event to check out I think

[punkmonkey]

Attention Kenpo Black Belts!!!
(And underbelts from White to Brown)

So anybody?

[Mikael151]

The White Belts are gonna rock!

[stone_dragone]

So anybody?

As far as I know, yessir!

[IWishToLearn]

Isn't that the same day the IKCA Seminar was scheduled?

[bdparsons]

Bingo!

[IWishToLearn]

Bingo!

So......is the IKCA seminar still on?

[Mr.Strobel]

HMMMMM, only about $310 round trip from Minneapolis. I think I'm gonna have to run this by the boss...

[stone_dragone]

I'm bringing the boss...

[jskkcameron]

Anyone know the fee for the day? I sure would like to go, but gotta know how much everything is gonna cost. Thanks!

[jskkcameron]

oops, found it.

[IWishToLearn]

I'm bringing the boss...

My Boss will be home taking care of the newborn. I'll be there, looks like one of my brown belts for sure is coming, not sure how many others.

[stone_dragone]

My Boss will be home taking care of the newborn. I'll be there, looks like one of my brown belts for sure is coming, not sure how many others.

Sweetness!

[Bob Hubbard]

I'm looking into being there.

[stone_dragone]

I'm bringing the boss...

Change of plans...not bringing the boss...but I just bought my ticket and my registration'll be in the mail this afternoon.

Anyone else? Sounds like a hell of a line up to miss.

[Bob Hubbard]

I'm trying, but Mr. Wallet's being stubborn.

[LuckyKBoxer]

So nobody has made any comments... so I will go ahead and post on my experience and thoughts.
I heard there would be a mixer on friday night at the hotel at 6:00pm, so figured I would drive up and see who i could meet... I was really disappointed. I met a few people and got to spend a little time talking to Mr. Pick and his wife, so that was good, but there not many people there and it was not a mixer as I am used to seeing.. I am used to some drinks, and guess I was expecting a more festive setting... next year I will definitely pass on this unless they decide to do something a little more official.
Saturday morning I drove out early and came in and got to meet some old friends, and new ones.. I was really surprised that not many local people that I know were anywhere to be seen.
had alot of fun at the seminars.. go to work out a bit and play with some stuff. I found a few people were really trying to play with some of the material and see how it worked, but I was a little surprised at how many people were sitting against walls, or simply chatting and not working things... their dime though so I hope they got their moneys worth... I know I did.
I really liked working with Mr. Pick, Steve Mosley, Dan Maher, Dan Inosanto, James Ching, and the collective group of Jack Autry, Paul Dye, Robert Temple, and Efren Palacidos.
That being said I really wish I had much more time to spend specifically with Dan Inosanto, Mr. Pick, and Steve Mosley.. Mostly because those three had alot going on subjects I am currently extremely interested in... Knife work, Gun work, and the drills of JKD/Wing Chun/Kali/Escrima etc.
one hour sessions seemed just enough to get into a subject, but not enough time to really get into anything really substantially.
I also think that while it was nice to get a quick glimpse from the freesparring guys, that there were to many of them to really do any of the guys enough justice. I have had the opportunity to work with Mr. Dye, so I understand his intensity and where he approaches from, but it was my first experience with the other guys. I think Jack Autry would be a blast to go grab some dinner and drinks and listen to the man talk about the past. Robert Temple seems to have an aggresive, no nonsense approach to sparring from what I saw, the guys he brought seemed to share the enthusiasm, I would love to go work out with them if that is a taste of how they train. I was not sure exactly what to make of Efren Palacidos, he seems to have a genuine love for the art, and desire to do great things with it but I felt I was being lectured at by him and it did not sit well with me.
My specialty is along the lines of what Dan Maher was doing, and he knows what he is doing, so it was good working that material, I love working it, and would love to work with him more on what he does and even get some sparring in with him.
Mr Picks knife work, and approach was clearer then the time I had seen him before, and left me wanting more time with him. More impressed with him and his attitude everytime I see him.
Steve Mosleys Gun disarms were fun, I am not sure if it was him, my partners, the disarms, or a combination of the lot, but I had alot of fun talking to him, working the material, and asking for some clarifications. I hope to get together with him at some point and grab a drink, have some fun, and get deeper into his thoughts on guns, retention, disarms, etc.
Working with James Ching was fun, but as I have fought and trained Muay Thai for many years it was not alot of new stuff for me.... always fun to play with,a nd I saw alot of other people who seemed to be getting something from what he was showing that they were excited to bring back with them.
Dan Inosanto was another one that after the time ran out I felt like I needed to figure out a way to train with him, or at least pursue the things he was showing us alot more. the drills he has are great, and it is in an art I have little experience in. The man moves great, and you can tell physically that he has an incredible grasp of knowledge in many areas.
Overall I was very happy, and felt it was well worth the cost. I got to meet some new people, and train with some new friends, and look forward to following up with some of the instructors, and attendees in the future. I highly recommend this event next year for anyone wanting to have a good time training, meeting new people, and getting something outside of kenpo that can add to what you do.

my only recommendation would be to get a real mixer going on friday night next year, and possibly an official after the event party/gathering/mixer on saturday night...