Previous Movement Training

[Richard Finn]

I was reading The Journey last week. It mentioned that many of those who were in the book had previous training in dance and gymnastics. There are a number of other movement disciplenes out there. I have done a little bit of Alexander Technique and Feldenkrais Awareness thru Movement. Did you have a movement discipline prior to Kenpo? If so which one?

[amylong]

I did gymnastics when I was 5-9 or so. And I love to dance. Since I'm a mobile DJ, I get plenty of opportunity to shake my groove thing.

I often mess around doing kenpo on the dance floor. Only another kenpoist would recognize it, but the important thing is that I know that I'm doing finger set or blocking set or short three -- everybody else just thinks I move my hands a lot when I dance. lol.

--Amy

[Celtic_Crippler]

I suppose American football could be considered a "movement discipline." As a middle linebacker I had to be able to "read" the movement of the offense to determine whether I should try and sack the quarterback, look for a run, or drop back to cover a pass play. It required spit second decisions and an ability to assess the "movement" of 11 other people in determining what type of "play" I was defending against.

[Anoise]

I was a dance major in college...I started dancing at 18, so it was really hard on my body. My hips are paying for it now. But every day every class..."turn out...point your toes" I stopped dancing at 25 and sat around until I was 39. Starting martial arts, it was sooooo hard to get in any stance without turning out, or move without pointing my toes. I still catch myself sometimes (or my instructor catches me). I think I am better at balance though.
I compare TKD to Kenpo as Jose Lemon and Martha Grahm. TKD is high fancy kicks, like Jose's airy movements and Kenpo is down and dirty grounded and strong...like Martha.
Dance really helps me find and move with my center of gravity making me very powerful...for a 5'2" woman.

[akskarate1]

I started Kenpo at 7 so not much before but all thru school I did football, baseball, wrestling, lacross, BMX racing and few years in hip hop dance class. When I was younger there wasn't the term Adhd we were just considered athletic.

[bdparsons]

I suppose you could say track and field (cross-country specifically). Came in very handy for avoiding conflict. I like to tell folks that initially I was a master of the art of Kung-Run.

Respects,
Bill Parsons
Triangle Kenpo Institute

[John Brewer]

I suppose you could say track and field (cross-country specifically). Came in very handy for avoiding conflict. I like to tell folks that initially I was a master of the art of Kung-Run.

Respects,
Bill Parsons
Triangle Kenpo Institute

Good one! I ran 10 k and dabbled in wrestling, soccer and football.

[jdinca]

Baseball as a kid but that was 20 years before I started kenpo.

I can always tell when a new student has a dancer background just by the stance.