Kaith,
You crack me up ... "southern okinawan widgit boxing." Ya gotta love it.
My opinion remains. Having done some Tai Chi Chuan Fa, Hung Gar, Chinese Kenpo, American Kenpo, Taekwondo, blah, blah, blah - over the past 30+ years, I still find EPAK to be substantively different. Not better, not worse, just different. The logical analysis of movement and why it is executed, apart from the economy of motion, borrowed force, active and passive checking, etc. is found in other systems ... just not all in the same system.
Wing Chung has economy of motion, point of origin, Tai Chi's reeling silk energy closely resembles American Kenpo's whipping, relaxed, explosive movements. There are lots of similarities to lots of arts. Gee, my roundhouse kick looks almost like a wheel kick (it's not!), which looks almost like my Muay Thai round kick. Or my lead hand vertical punch looks a lot like a boxer's jab. I wonder if Le Savate has something similar (they do.)
I don't think we need to be territorial about our Arts, some are complementary, some are not. Some work, some.... well, they are good training. Regardless, it is a big world and variety is what makes it interesting ... especially when we are all convinced that what we do is the best thing out there, or we would not be doing it. (The MMA crowd excluded.)
Just look at all the dissent in the Kenpo World, (I should name my website "KENPO PLANET", but there is just too much variety in Kenpo to do it all. I admire Joshua’s KenpoNet as it is one of the best sites to date, giving all branches of Kenpo an equal amount of credit and space, regardless of origin or where it has evolved. We don't do bad here on MartialTalk, but his “Flame” section and Kenpo Family Tree, not to mention Technique comparisons and articles rock, but we also don't have all the arguing or conflict over here. I am not critical KenpoNet's format at all. It is just the difference between a moderated forum and an “open’ one. Some people thrive on the disagreement, others, like me, just don’t have the time or inclination. It is just a personality thing.
Have fun, have an opinion, but don't knock it (out loud) until you try it, and have sufficient experience to have a frame of reference. Train hard, learn more, come back and see me. I am willing to learn from anyone who has something to teach that I find valuable.
My EPAK is what I CHOOSE to stay with. But that is after many, many years, and exposure to lots of Arts. For me, EPAK stands head and shoulders above the crowd, both for it's completeness, but mainly for the logical construction which Mr. Parker's genius brought to bear. He created a system that by design, is intended to evolve and grow. He did this by giving us the vocabulary of motion, a shared frame of reference, and a set of tools whereby we can analyze and tailor MOTION to meet our needs.
I do not require validation by anyone as to my choice, and I do not stand in judgment of yours. If you like it, if you are learning, then enjoy it to it's fullest - I do. The grass always seems greener in the other dojo, kwoon, dojang, school, or studio, but it is all the same field. Just differnt parts of it.
Gee, can you tell when I am tired after an 8 hour work day and 7 hours at the School (totally a great workout and super advance class tonight?) I sure can, boy do my thoughts wander. But too much work for me to edit it down. Excuse the blithering.
OSS,
-Michael
Kenpo-Texas.com