Comments on: American Kenpo Karate, Kick Boxing & Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu! /american-kenpo-karate-kick-boxing-brazilian-jiu-jitsu/ Reviews of common self-defense, karate, and MMA issues Sun, 15 Jul 2012 03:47:48 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Steve Doss /american-kenpo-karate-kick-boxing-brazilian-jiu-jitsu/comment-page-1/#comment-5798 Steve Doss Sun, 14 Aug 2011 21:46:02 +0000 /?p=3030#comment-5798 I had the honor of meeting and spending time with both Al Tracy and Ed Parker. Even though I wasn't a Kenpo practitioner, they both couldn't have been more friendly and open with me. I first met Al Tracy when I called him from a newsletter about martial arts business practices he wrote. He was very smart and of course experienced on the subject, and spent time teaching and helping me. When I finally met him several years later, he clearly remembered our discussions and couldn't have been more friendly and cordial. It is great men like these that are the roots and foundation of the martial arts in America. I had the honor of meeting and spending time with both Al Tracy and Ed Parker. Even though I wasn’t a Kenpo practitioner, they both couldn’t have been more friendly and open with me.

I first met Al Tracy when I called him from a newsletter about martial arts business practices he wrote. He was very smart and of course experienced on the subject, and spent time teaching and helping me. When I finally met him several years later, he clearly remembered our discussions and couldn’t have been more friendly and cordial. It is great men like these that are the roots and foundation of the martial arts in America.

]]> By: Joshua stiens /american-kenpo-karate-kick-boxing-brazilian-jiu-jitsu/comment-page-1/#comment-5779 Joshua stiens Mon, 08 Aug 2011 06:33:39 +0000 /?p=3030#comment-5779 I think a ground game is the most effective. Kempo covers it all I think a ground game is the most effective. Kempo covers it all

]]> By: Zara /american-kenpo-karate-kick-boxing-brazilian-jiu-jitsu/comment-page-1/#comment-5738 Zara Tue, 26 Jul 2011 16:55:42 +0000 /?p=3030#comment-5738 @Terrence: of course the question was directed at John but I'm going to be presumpteous and give my own opinion. First of all it's hard if not impossible to properly judge a school without having seen it and trained with them but it looks good and I like the combination of WC (very good striking style for SD) and jujutsu (for any decent SD program you need to be able to deal with an attacker on the ground). If it has weapon defenses too you're pretty much set. In our style (a blend of Japanese jujutsu combined with elements from JKD, Kali-escrima, some BJJ/shootfighting and the previous experience of my sensei in karate en judo) we solely use boxing/kickboxing defenses and WC entries against strikes and kicks (the karate stuff is usually way too stiff or slow) followed up with boxing and/or karate type strikes (handsword, hammerfist...) ending in grappling range where locks and throws play a role, finishing or controlling the opponent on the ground. We also train defenses on the ground (including some ground sparring BJJ style) and weapon defenses and usage (knife, stick and pistol mainly although we don't teach shooting) at the higher belts. As John said in a previous post: the style doesn't matter all that much aslong as it's effective and you're comfortable with it. @Terrence: of course the question was directed at John but I’m going to be presumpteous and give my own opinion. First of all it’s hard if not impossible to properly judge a school without having seen it and trained with them but it looks good and I like the combination of WC (very good striking style for SD) and jujutsu (for any decent SD program you need to be able to deal with an attacker on the ground). If it has weapon defenses too you’re pretty much set. In our style (a blend of Japanese jujutsu combined with elements from JKD, Kali-escrima, some BJJ/shootfighting and the previous experience of my sensei in karate en judo) we solely use boxing/kickboxing defenses and WC entries against strikes and kicks (the karate stuff is usually way too stiff or slow) followed up with boxing and/or karate type strikes (handsword, hammerfist…) ending in grappling range where locks and throws play a role, finishing or controlling the opponent on the ground. We also train defenses on the ground (including some ground sparring BJJ style) and weapon defenses and usage (knife, stick and pistol mainly although we don’t teach shooting) at the higher belts. As John said in a previous post: the style doesn’t matter all that much aslong as it’s effective and you’re comfortable with it.

]]> By: Matt Klein /american-kenpo-karate-kick-boxing-brazilian-jiu-jitsu/comment-page-1/#comment-5728 Matt Klein Sun, 24 Jul 2011 02:38:44 +0000 /?p=3030#comment-5728 I am in agreement with Zara that boxing or Thai kickboxing is very effective and also simple for a beginner to learn. What attracted me to Todd's school was the fact that we sparred in both point and kickboxing styles. We had a lot of guys from different backgrounds come in and have a go on sparring night--boxers, kickboxers, TKD, Kung Fu, and even a few street-fighters, so we were exposed to a lot. It really helped us develop a good defense against all kinds of fighters. Also agree that some form of grappling, whether it be BJJ, judo, wrestling, or submission wrestling would be very beneficial for self defense. I am in agreement with Zara that boxing or Thai kickboxing is very effective and also simple for a beginner to learn. What attracted me to Todd’s school was the fact that we sparred in both point and kickboxing styles. We had a lot of guys from different backgrounds come in and have a go on sparring night–boxers, kickboxers, TKD, Kung Fu, and even a few street-fighters, so we were exposed to a lot. It really helped us develop a good defense against all kinds of fighters.

Also agree that some form of grappling, whether it be BJJ, judo, wrestling, or submission wrestling would be very beneficial for self defense.
Matt Klein recently posted..A White Belt Again | Brazilian Jiu-JitsuMy Profile

]]> By: Terrence /american-kenpo-karate-kick-boxing-brazilian-jiu-jitsu/comment-page-1/#comment-5724 Terrence Thu, 21 Jul 2011 17:11:48 +0000 /?p=3030#comment-5724 Hey thats pretty cool. I just started martial arts and you are very knowledgeable let me know what you think of the school. http://www.sifuoch.com Hey thats pretty cool. I just started martial arts and you are very knowledgeable let me know what you think of the school. http://www.sifuoch.com

]]> By: Zara /american-kenpo-karate-kick-boxing-brazilian-jiu-jitsu/comment-page-1/#comment-5720 Zara Tue, 19 Jul 2011 06:49:05 +0000 /?p=3030#comment-5720 @Luke: for self defense you need something that can be learned quickly, is effective and prepares you for a wide variety of situations. I'd recommend something along the lines of krav maga, kenpo or jujutsu (provided it's non-classical). I'd steer clear of martial sports and purely traditional arts since they either don't adequately prepare you for dangerous situations or they tend to have a long learning curve. It all depends on what your situation is and what sort of risks you expect: ideally you should have a competent teacher write up a program that is suited to your particular needs (you probably won't need a lot of what is taught at a typical martial arts school and a lot of techniques are mostly taught for other reasons than pure self defense although they usually can be used as such with enough training) and prepares you through one-on-one training. Unfortunately such training (at least of sufficient high quality) is hard to find and expensive since most teachers are eiter not willing to teach just one student or they don't have the necessary skills or flexibility to adequately develop basic self defense skills in a short timeframe. If you're young and in good health it might be worth taking a few months of boxing or thaiboxing lessons: you'll develop decent punches and kicks and it's still one of the fastest ways of learning to defend yourself realistically. The downside of course is that boxing/kickboxing doesn't prepare you for holds, weapons or ground. For that the above mentioned arts are very good so it's worth taking a look and maybe combine two arts if you have the time. Hope this helps. @Luke: for self defense you need something that can be learned quickly, is effective and prepares you for a wide variety of situations. I’d recommend something along the lines of krav maga, kenpo or jujutsu (provided it’s non-classical). I’d steer clear of martial sports and purely traditional arts since they either don’t adequately prepare you for dangerous situations or they tend to have a long learning curve. It all depends on what your situation is and what sort of risks you expect: ideally you should have a competent teacher write up a program that is suited to your particular needs (you probably won’t need a lot of what is taught at a typical martial arts school and a lot of techniques are mostly taught for other reasons than pure self defense although they usually can be used as such with enough training) and prepares you through one-on-one training. Unfortunately such training (at least of sufficient high quality) is hard to find and expensive since most teachers are eiter not willing to teach just one student or they don’t have the necessary skills or flexibility to adequately develop basic self defense skills in a short timeframe. If you’re young and in good health it might be worth taking a few months of boxing or thaiboxing lessons: you’ll develop decent punches and kicks and it’s still one of the fastest ways of learning to defend yourself realistically. The downside of course is that boxing/kickboxing doesn’t prepare you for holds, weapons or ground. For that the above mentioned arts are very good so it’s worth taking a look and maybe combine two arts if you have the time. Hope this helps.

]]> By: John W. Zimmer /american-kenpo-karate-kick-boxing-brazilian-jiu-jitsu/comment-page-1/#comment-5712 John W. Zimmer Sat, 16 Jul 2011 17:37:20 +0000 /?p=3030#comment-5712 John T., the training is worth it considering the alternative. John T., the training is worth it considering the alternative.

]]>