You mean AT the funeral?
Joe Palanzo, Rank, and Other Kenpo Gossip
- Thread starter Mikael151
- Start date
IWishToLearn
3rd Black Belt
In searching old MT posts I found a reference to the aforementioned conversation having something to do with Joe Palanzo and Mrs. Parker and Joe's 8th Degree.
hongkongfooey
Black Belt
Dude, you'll probably get flamed for that one. From what I understand, there were a few people that approached Mrs. Parker at the funeral for increases in rank. Today, that wouldn't be necessary. People can just buy their rank belts and certificates online and become an instant Grand Master.
http://http://kenpobelts.com/catalog/index.php?osCsid=22963a27e46c371cb7ef2e4507c4c24a
IWishToLearn
3rd Black Belt
I was pretty shocked when I saw the allusions - so I searched for Rank Parker funeral. Interesting results. Dunno what I would be flamed for - all I did was post that I had found a hit in a search. For the record - Joe Palanzo's 8th Degree came under the auspices of the WKKA. Not the IKKA.
kenpo3631
Black Belt
Seabrook
Black Belt
I have heard that rumor a zillion times over.
Here is a question.
Why bring up something that may or may not have happened in someone else's life 17 YEARS AGO?
The past is the past, and I am sure that all of us (me included) would feel like hiding under our beds if any parts of our life got publically exposed.
Let's move on.
Joe Palanzo has done a truckload for the art of American Kenpo, bottom line.
Here is a question.
Why bring up something that may or may not have happened in someone else's life 17 YEARS AGO?
The past is the past, and I am sure that all of us (me included) would feel like hiding under our beds if any parts of our life got publically exposed.
Let's move on.
Joe Palanzo has done a truckload for the art of American Kenpo, bottom line.
Kenpojujitsu3
Master Black Belt
Bingo.
Kembudo-Kai Kempoka
Senior Master
Ta-Da!
We all have crap in our sewers; skeletons in our closets; whatever. Let buried dogs lay, I say. Replace this with, "What have you done for kenpo today?" Accomplishes two things: Forward, growth oriented focus, and keeps it about you...not the next guy over.
D.
IWishToLearn
3rd Black Belt
Apologies if anyone was offended - I didn't ever suspect a reference to older posts would have blown into a new thread. Us young cubs are curious and sometimes we stick our snouts into a porcupine tryin to find out what it is.
Kembudo-Kai Kempoka
Senior Master
No harm, no foul.
When Mr. Parker passed, kenpo panicked. There were cries for leadership; cries of "Now I'm the king" from members in the upper echelons; it was chaos. There had been tensions in kenpo well before 12/90, but many ego's and upwardly mobile social climbers were held in check by Mr. Parkers ... um... gregarious iron hand in a velvet glove?
There were about a dozen well-positioned leaders.. kenpo elders...when Mr. P. left us. Some made immediate leaps for the throne, some waited a little longer, and some still leave the throne for others, while just leading by living excellent examples. There was lots of jockeying for position. I wish I could say I was sin-free/high-road/smelling like a rose all the way, but I can't: I approached one of the 7ths with a plan for creating a catch-all org to snap up orphans that were being created on a daily basis as new assn's were being born and dying. He very kindly and mildly put me in my place, and mentioned that there was already some dialogue going on among the seniors about how to address such issues; to be patient. I never brought it up again, realizing I had been boorish and ridiculous; tacky and out of turn (hey...we all gotta be good at something).
When this was all fresh, any one mans actions around reaching for the top were notable and newsworthy...it was new, and we were all watching to see what would happen next. Not so new now. We have guys out there who weren't even black belts yet that out-rank where the seniors were in '90. We got guys wearing kenpo 10ths who couldn't hold a candle to some 4ths and 5ths of yesteryear. and so many competing organizations it ain't even funny. "Too much red in kenpo", is the saying that stays in mind.
I've stopped looking at belt ranks, and started looking at leadership of the individuals. The men I respect most in kenpo are those who show us what it looks like to do it/live it well. Seniors and semi-seniors who can enlighten both technically, and by example of their living a life well lived. Ron Chap'el is one of the kindest men you might chance to meet, and an amazing resource on technical kenpo who shows us what it looks like to hold yourself and your people to a higher standard of uncompromising excellence. Bob White has continued to provide quality leadership through example in his school and community, turning out champions and helping youth all along the way. Steve LaBounty has wrapped his arms around as much of the kenpo world as will have him, focusing on inclusion rather than exclusion, and giving of himself for the furtherance of our collective kenpo legacy. Men like Dennis Conatser and Rich Hale continue to live their commitments by producing top-quality students and top-quality materials, while welcoming inquiries from those who wish to learn.
As with any field of endeavor, we walk among both small men and giants. I am, too often, small. I've stuck my own nose in a lot of porcupines, and even created a few along the way that weren't really necessary. And I'm probably not done yet, I'm sure. What I can try to do is spend more time nosing around for the golden nuggets of kenpo wisdom still out there to be found. It might be a little "kumbayah" for some, but I think -- in the long run -- it will contribute more to my own "life well lived" in retrospect from some distant point.
Regards,
D.
Although it did happen just the way it has been described. You could have filled a stadium with a number of people that did the same thing. It was a bad time.
Sean
Seabrook
Black Belt
kidswarrior
Senior Master
Well said! :asian:
kidswarrior
Senior Master
To an old AA burnout (me--but a sober one:ultracool), this post really pops and sizzles. There's a lifetime of work just taking care of my own shortcomings without going looking for those of others.
kidswarrior
Senior Master
To my AA Brother with 18 months (who wishes to remain anonymous--or just forgot to leave name 
), congrats on the 18 month birthday, and thanks for the rep! 
Now, we'll give the semi-hijacked thread back.
), congrats on the 18 month birthday, and thanks for the rep! Now, we'll give the semi-hijacked thread back.
