Disadvantages of Kenpo?

[Goldendragon7]

Originally posted by Touch'O'Death
Huk Planas went and said in Black belt Magazine that Mr. Parker gave most of his black belts "the runaround" and only taught a few the "real" art.

Yes, that was an unfortunate statement.

 

[Michael Billings]

Bravo, well stated!

-Michael

 

[Rich Parsons]

Originally posted by Goldendragon7
Yes, that was an unfortunate statement.

Was it an actual statement? When was it made? Or was it a praphrase by an editor?

I could see anyone making this comment, I am not trying to defend nor attack anyone. Just curious is all.

Thank You
:asian:

 

[MJS]

Originally posted by howardr
I just thought of a related followup to my post.

If someone is interested solely in self-defense then they should probably get a gun or some pepper spray. Maybe they should take a few months of intensive lessons somewhere. Perhaps, Krav Maga or the like.

Is a gun the answer to every problem though? Chances are, pulling a gun, will probably get you into more trouble than you were originally in.

The fact remains that to get very good at an art like Kenpo, it takes practicing multiple hours a week, week after week, month after month for years. Now, when you weigh the actual likely risk that you will be attacked (the sort of attack that would require hundreds or thousands of hours to defend against), which is typically very slight, versus the amount of time most people spend training in arts like Kenpo, that is not a very rational procedure if your goal is merely strict self-defense. In sum: huge investment of time (thousands of hours of your life) for a scenario that will likely never occur. In almost any other endeavour that would be labeled "insanity."

How can anyone predict how they will be attacked?? Sure, there is no way you can be 100% prepared for everything, but how will you know if you'll ever be mugged at gun/knife point, carjacked, etc?

Therefore, I don't maintain that it is irrational to spend a good portion of your life learning a martial art, IF there are other goals to this lengthy and time laden pursuit other then mere self-defense. If one wishes to learn an ART, and the various benefits that such a goal fosters, then years of devotion may well make sense. It just depends on the goal. And, frankly, I can't see how for strict self-defense such a time investment is rational.

True.

Mike

 

[Goldendragon7]

Orig posted by Rich Parsons
Was it an actual statement? When was it made? Or was it a praphrase by an editor?

I could see anyone making this comment, I am not trying to defend nor attack anyone. Just curious is all. Thank You :asian:

From an earlier post........

Orig posted by Touch O' Death
When Huk Planas went and said in Black belt Magazine that Mr. Parker gave most of his black
belts "the runaround" and only taught a few the "real" art. Sean

that help?

:asian:

 

[Rich Parsons]

Originally posted by Goldendragon7
From an earlier post........



that help?

:asian:

DC,

I was actually asking about issue and date of the intereview and such. Was it 1995 or 2003 or ??? Just curious if this was recent or not.

Sorry for the confusion.

 

[Goldendragon7]

Orig posted by Rich Parsons
I was actually asking about issue and date of the intereview and such. Was it 1995 or 2003 or ??? Just curious if this was recent or not.

As to the BB issue.... I don't remember ... You'd have to ask TOD.... but I have heard him make the same reference personally or in seminars within the last 2 years.

 

[Rich Parsons]

Originally posted by Goldendragon7
As to the BB issue.... I don't remember ... You'd have to ask TOD.... but I have heard him make the same reference personally or in seminars within the last 2 years.

Thank You

 

[Touch Of Death]

Originally posted by Rich Parsons
Thank You

I think I read the article in 93, I could be wrong. What Mr. Planas should have said was that few BBs were at a level to understand as Mr. Parker understood. That would have been a pretty benine and provable statment; however, he went with the "runaround" comment which I'm sure was meant to gather students in the "scattering", but ended up like saying Ed Parker enjoyed lying to people for the fun of it. Pehaps Mr. Planas is not the politician Mr. Parker was, and I have no doubt he is one of those that grasp the art in its entirety; however, he just implied everyones instructor sucks. I asked my instructor about the article and he explained what was up. Ed Parker would teach the same concept at what ever level the student he was dealing with at the time was, be it orange belt or Black belt. This is why every Tom, Dick, and Harry has a different version of the same concept. Think of Kenpo as if it were math and it becomes easier to grasp. And think of it, every Black Belt of Mr. Parker's is a specialist in some aspect. Black Belts would present him with a thesis, Mr. Parker would look at Kenpo through that filter and offer his take and of course a suggestion or two. Not every one is a genius either, and some people will just never reach the level that others have. In Mr. Planas' favor, Ed Parker would teach a concept to some and come back a year or two later and find that they failed to grasp the idea, I'm sure this caused him some frustration; because, how can he help them reach the next level without forcing them to go back and deal with the info already provided? My point is that No BlackBelt did not paraphrase and yes Mr. Planas has a point, but he didn't help the situation.
Sean