HKphooey
Senior Master
GM Ed Parkers American Kenpo?
Since I have joined MT I have read several threads on how
· GM Parker created Motion Kenpo for marketing purposes.
· That much of what he taught was not the base/technical aspects of the art or kept within a small group of his black belts.
· The belt system was lessened to help progress students more quickly and once again for marketing purposes.
· He did not want people to change the art or one teachers methods are incorrect.
· Anyone who left him was a traitor.
· Who was the true heir to the kenpo throne?
· He did not want techniques on tape because it would freeze them in time.
· He gave some material to some and not others for a reason.
· Many of the forms/sets were not his own and were not part of the true art.
I had also read/heard some of these same discussions on other forums and at seminars before joining MT.
I have been training in Kenpo (Parker, Tracy, Hybrids, Kempo) for over 18 years. I never had the pleasure of participating in a GM Parker seminar. I have had a chance to see numerous ones on tape. I have read all the books written by GM Parker and many of his students. I have attended seminars of his black belts. Everything I have ever read or heard of GM Parker lead me to believe he originally created his kenpo because he wanted more practical martial art for the modern times. He wanted to strip out the BS material from traditional karate. I have the greatest respect for GM Parker, all his black belts and anyone who has an open mind to continue his legacy. I am not addressing any particular threads or individuals, just the overall beliefs. Many of my thoughts may be read as challenges to other peoples opinions; they are not. I have no right to do that. My goal is to hear other peoples theories as to why GM Parker made some of the choices he did. I just find it confusing to read information printed before his death, get so contradicted (in good and bad ways) by writings after his death.
So with all this said, I re-read many threads and pondered the following
I have learned so much from numerous teachers and students. I have even learned a lot on this forum from people I never met or knew their credentials. I never judged the material until I tried it over and over again. I think we all have a lot to learn from anyone who ever trained with GM Parker. I have heard the phrase kenpo brotherhood and I like to think of my training and friends as just that.
Sorry for the book (and any crappy grammar). I would love to hear anyones thoughts on this. I am trying to gain some insight into others views GM Parkers life and dedication to kenpo.
Thanks in advance.
:asian:
Since I have joined MT I have read several threads on how
· GM Parker created Motion Kenpo for marketing purposes.
· That much of what he taught was not the base/technical aspects of the art or kept within a small group of his black belts.
· The belt system was lessened to help progress students more quickly and once again for marketing purposes.
· He did not want people to change the art or one teachers methods are incorrect.
· Anyone who left him was a traitor.
· Who was the true heir to the kenpo throne?
· He did not want techniques on tape because it would freeze them in time.
· He gave some material to some and not others for a reason.
· Many of the forms/sets were not his own and were not part of the true art.
I had also read/heard some of these same discussions on other forums and at seminars before joining MT.
I have been training in Kenpo (Parker, Tracy, Hybrids, Kempo) for over 18 years. I never had the pleasure of participating in a GM Parker seminar. I have had a chance to see numerous ones on tape. I have read all the books written by GM Parker and many of his students. I have attended seminars of his black belts. Everything I have ever read or heard of GM Parker lead me to believe he originally created his kenpo because he wanted more practical martial art for the modern times. He wanted to strip out the BS material from traditional karate. I have the greatest respect for GM Parker, all his black belts and anyone who has an open mind to continue his legacy. I am not addressing any particular threads or individuals, just the overall beliefs. Many of my thoughts may be read as challenges to other peoples opinions; they are not. I have no right to do that. My goal is to hear other peoples theories as to why GM Parker made some of the choices he did. I just find it confusing to read information printed before his death, get so contradicted (in good and bad ways) by writings after his death.
So with all this said, I re-read many threads and pondered the following
- Based on GM Parker breaking away form his teachers to start a new form of kenpo, wouldnt that fit the same profile of McDojo we read some much about on MT? He had not trained in his original style long enough to know every aspect of his training. Did he break away too early before is teachers gave him all the secrets and theories? So why then, when someone on this forum or in the kenpo community decides to eliminate or change the system, they are looked down upon negatively? (And I am not talking about someone with 7-10 years training and no true understanding of the art, I am speaking of some of his top students who have ripped apart them system). How are they any different from GM Parker?
- Why would someone change the traditional martial art he was studying and then completely change a system he had worked so hard to create (and break away from the traditionalist elders) to create a system designed to sell? That would go against all his principles. I guess it will always be about money. No matter how hard you try, unless you are teaching for free, it will be about money. And once again, why are so many trashed for marketing their schools, their seminars, their tapes, etc.
- Why would so much emphasis be placed on Form 4, the signature form, but yet it is impractical? At that level, a student was very committed to the Parker system and proved they wanted to be in it for the long haul. Why would GM Parker teach them something that was commercial or Motion based? Why would he waste so much time teaching the forms or sets if he did not believe in them.
- Based on kenpo history, GM Parker put way too much blood, sweat and tears in to his labor of love and philosophies, to changes things to please students. Or were we all hoodwinked? I like to think not. I like to think we each walk away from his teachings with different opinions, outlooks and theories. I think he did teach certain aspects of the art to some individuals and not others, but for a reason to make us dependant on each other, not independent or enemies.
- Many top students were named as protégée, only later to be shunned for their beliefs or so called mutiny. Why would anything about their training change after they left GM Parker? If they had all the material and understanding, would all that magically disappear when they left GM parker? Wasnt his wish, to have students take the art and make it their own? And if they were not named as a protégé does that mean they were not qualified to carry the flame after his death? I like to think many of those are more than qualified.
- If he did not want to put material on tape because he thought it would freeze the techniques in time or teach the student to be confined to rules, why would a technique only have one correct way of doing it? Many times I hear that is not the way GM Parker taught it. I thought were supposed to adapt our kenpo to our bodies and situations - not freeze it in time.
- Many talk of practical training and dismiss sparring or certain training methods, but still work out with gis and bare feet (including me).
I have learned so much from numerous teachers and students. I have even learned a lot on this forum from people I never met or knew their credentials. I never judged the material until I tried it over and over again. I think we all have a lot to learn from anyone who ever trained with GM Parker. I have heard the phrase kenpo brotherhood and I like to think of my training and friends as just that.
Sorry for the book (and any crappy grammar). I would love to hear anyones thoughts on this. I am trying to gain some insight into others views GM Parkers life and dedication to kenpo.
Thanks in advance.
:asian: