Kenpo Distance Learning Insight
I Hope this will answer some of your question about me and give you a little more insight. When I started offering the Distance Learning Program a few years ago I knew it might stir up a little conservancy. First I did it for the money ( Ed Parker told me so, Grandmaster Remy Pressas said the same thing, I’ll get to those story later) and second, I did it to get Parker’s sophisticated material out to students who would otherwise might choose to attend the local TKD's school. Over the years I have seen a lot of systems and their material and I have formed a deep appreciation for Mr. Parker's sophisticated material. I know it's better than a lot out there and I've got the temerity to believe it's better than most - so HOW do I accomplish this in an era of limits? Borrowing from the university of higher learning a form of distance learning had to be the way to go at first. Especially for basic training up to 1st degree. After that, the committed student would be ready to put in the extra effort to learn more - which, being advanced material, would require additional and different forms of contact between them and myself.
I'm not arrogant enough not to take the bet that for every distance student who puts my diploma up on the wall and brags while not practicing from the tapes (I know as well as you do that it will happen), that most will try to go the distance in good faith. Most of the people who purchase my programs are professional, self-starters with high moral character.
It was common knowledge beginning in the 60's Japanese and Koreans black belts would get on the plane as 1st degrees to fly to the U.S. and get off the plane 5th, 6th, and 7th degrees rank. This happen because there were no checks and balances in place in the United States and some took advantage of it. Since that time those system have prostituted the martial arts world by putting out cookies cutter black belt in their commercial school. I’ve seen my share of 6 years old receiving Black Belt. I don't think that happens so much today because of the internet, good information and communication is at our fingertips.
One of your members asked “where’s the integrity” I’m just attempting to counter this action. I choose to believe those students who watch and learn American Kenpo by DVD’s could be better prepared and no worse off than someone going to the local TKD's school. I trained up to brown belt in one of those school before I had enough of it and moved on to American Kenpo. I grew up fighting in the streets and I knew their system was embryonic at best and the material would not transform to the street for self-defense. Many of these instructors were slow to adapt and bring new material to keep pace with the every changing knowledgeable martial artist. Today, its a different story, many are going outside of their system to acquire new information to stay abreast. I will agree with all of you that learning from a qualified Kenpo black belt instructor in a school is the best option. But for those students in town and cities where Kenpo schools are not available my American Kenpo DVD’s program is the next best thing. For the most part I have produced some great student via this method and some I felt that they were not watching the same tape. You can’t expect 100 % success even in a school situation.
On occasions I give a certificates with this program and for those who look down at this method and in most cases they are underlings with little or no training, let me say this. If any Black Belt or Master is threatening by someone who received his or hers certificate via Distant Learning Programs, then they are not secure in there own mind about who they are. No matter where or how you received your black belt you still have to back it up by performance of the material. When I ran a school in Dallas and black belts came by to train with me I never asked to see their diploma. I would just put him on the floor and look at their performance. Within a minute I could tell if his training was sound or not. I would say one of two things, “good work, who’s is your instructor” or “well we got a little work to do”. Bottom line most everyone pays for there belt by paying tuition for monthly fees to your instructor and school.
More to follow. adrianroman42@gmail.com
