I had a seminar this weekend as part of the annual push to pay the insurance and property tax on my school. Associated with me in the same facility is Ray Parra, a JKD instructor training with Danny inosanto for over 30 years. Although we share the same space we seldom see each others classes due to our schedules.
I was very suprised to see him teaching a Kenpo technique with a twist. He did Gift in Return as we do through the passing the hand between the legs, then instead of suppressing the hip and striking, he used his right hand to control the head pushing down while pulling up with his left and throwing the opponent in a somersalt. This was a TIGHT technique. I demonstrated our version with strikes and extension.
He was suprised when he saw our active checking and specifically the suppressing, feeding (gunting?) and occassional slap checks I use. I have seen other posts about Dan Inosanto doing Dance of Death on a tape circa 1960, but it was very interesting to see where the early techniques of the 60's developed in another lineage. There were many more similarities as verses differences, but the principles were there and applied correctly, just with different names, and obviously not as sytematized and expanded. We both do flow drills, hubud for him and me, I flow into contact manipulations and he was strikeing. I had parry drills he did not have, but were a logical extension of what he did and easily learned; he had the same lock-flow I use, plus some unique counters and releases that were different.
It seems like they start with the flow and incorporate techniques into patterns of movement as appropriate. In Kenpo we learn a massive number of techniques, so that hopefully by the time you get to my level, the flow is spontaneous and motion is in a gaseous state.
Am I way off base on this? It sure looks the same ... with the notable exception that when they gear up it is with boxing gloves, headgear and external groin protectors and full contact is the norm. Sticks and knives for everyone and there was a fair trade there also. I focus on leverage, fulcrums, contact manipulations, and contact locks with sticks. We alternated every 15 or 20 minutes for two 2 hour sessions and had a great time. Our respect for each other increased dramatically and I hope we can do this again soon.
I had read this and seen lots of guys on the forums cross training in JKD and Kenpo, or Brazilian ground work or shoot fighting, but it was another thing to see how close we were. Is this normal for JKD / Kenpo, or was the fact that both of us came from the same era with 30+ years apiece in the Arts the common factor.
-Michael
UKS-Texas
I was very suprised to see him teaching a Kenpo technique with a twist. He did Gift in Return as we do through the passing the hand between the legs, then instead of suppressing the hip and striking, he used his right hand to control the head pushing down while pulling up with his left and throwing the opponent in a somersalt. This was a TIGHT technique. I demonstrated our version with strikes and extension.
He was suprised when he saw our active checking and specifically the suppressing, feeding (gunting?) and occassional slap checks I use. I have seen other posts about Dan Inosanto doing Dance of Death on a tape circa 1960, but it was very interesting to see where the early techniques of the 60's developed in another lineage. There were many more similarities as verses differences, but the principles were there and applied correctly, just with different names, and obviously not as sytematized and expanded. We both do flow drills, hubud for him and me, I flow into contact manipulations and he was strikeing. I had parry drills he did not have, but were a logical extension of what he did and easily learned; he had the same lock-flow I use, plus some unique counters and releases that were different.
It seems like they start with the flow and incorporate techniques into patterns of movement as appropriate. In Kenpo we learn a massive number of techniques, so that hopefully by the time you get to my level, the flow is spontaneous and motion is in a gaseous state.
Am I way off base on this? It sure looks the same ... with the notable exception that when they gear up it is with boxing gloves, headgear and external groin protectors and full contact is the norm. Sticks and knives for everyone and there was a fair trade there also. I focus on leverage, fulcrums, contact manipulations, and contact locks with sticks. We alternated every 15 or 20 minutes for two 2 hour sessions and had a great time. Our respect for each other increased dramatically and I hope we can do this again soon.
I had read this and seen lots of guys on the forums cross training in JKD and Kenpo, or Brazilian ground work or shoot fighting, but it was another thing to see how close we were. Is this normal for JKD / Kenpo, or was the fact that both of us came from the same era with 30+ years apiece in the Arts the common factor.
-Michael
UKS-Texas
