Do it Ed's way

Recently I along with three of my die hard Kenpo friends embarked on a
2 1/2 hour trip through snow covered roads to Mentor Ohio.
The trip wasn't quit as lengthy as one might think because we had a lively conversation sponsored by Larry (kenpo coach), Pat Tisdale, (hope I spelled his name right), Jason Farnsworth (often on Kenpo Talk) and of course myself.
Our reason for this journey was to train with Mr. Doyle, who owns and operates an outstanding Kenpo studio in Mentor, who trains directly under Mr. Planas, who trains under no one because there is no one higher then he. Others might argue that point but that's a whole new blog.
Anyway: Mr. Doyle is taking those of us who are interested through the whole Kenpo system the way Mr. Parker would have wanted it. In fact our little group that trains once a month with Mr. Doyle and once every three months with Mr. Planas at his seminars make up the "Ohio Instructors College" (OIC)
There are many practitioners of Kenpo that have changed the belt promotion technique list and many of the techniques. Now, there's nothing wrong with changing how a technique is done so long as it doesn't stop the flow of the technique or the timing, but not because you don't like something or you want to slap your name on a book.
Those techniques were placed in that order and done a certain way for a reason. In fact, everything in Ed Parker's American Kenpo was done for a reason.
If we are to be carriers of the "Ed Parker American Kenpo" banner then let's carry it the way it should be carried. I invite anyone that can attend one of Mr. Planas' seminars or the OIC monthly class at Mr. Doyle's to do so and I guarantee that you won't be disappointed.
Following this blog are some addresses to contact for the OIC or some good central Ohio training instructors, (Like Me).

Mr. Joe Doyle - www.akakenpo.com - Mentor - instructor
Mr. Larry Splain - www.kenpocoach.com
Mr. J. Farnsworth - jhfarnsworth@yahoo.com - Lexington Ohio - instr.
Mr. T.Hysell - this blog and rawblues07@gmail.com - Mt. Vernon - instr.

Train to fight and Fight as you train

To many times in Martial Arts training we partner up with some and we forget that we are suppose to train as if we might be in this situation some time.
If the attack is for a cross wrist grab to often we come in and grab the wrist as if we're going to the movies or something. When we should actually grab our partner as if we are the attacker and we mean business.
We don't get the full effect of the technique if we reach in and just lightly grab our partners wrist and expect them to do the technique in a real manner.
Remember, in the mind of the attacker, he means to do you harm. So don't short change yourself by just going through the motions. Knowing the technique is one thing but making it work on the street is something different...............God Bless