Five Animal Kenpo: Dragon, Snake, Tiger, Leopard, Crane.
  • Home
  • Black Belt Roster
  • Resources
  • Photo Album
  • Video Album
  • Instructional Videos
  • Contact Us

Why techniques? Why not more? Why not fewer?

7/30/2011

1 Comment

 
Before going into the details of each technique I want to ask a fundamental question:  Why even used prearranged sequences, "self-defense techniques", as a curriculum approach to teaching Five Animal Kenpo? (...or any other Kenpo or Martial Arts system for that matter.)  

Techniques are convenient methods of encapsulating a variety of theories and strategies into a case study example.  It makes it easier to maintain a consistency of approach in communicating the principles of the fighting system.  However, by no means are you going to learn everything about Five Animal Kenpo from its sequence of moves (techniques, sets, katas, etc.) but they certainly become a significant and convenient starting point to frame the discussion.  Techniques are not meant to be a one step solution to your self-defense needs, but rather think of it as an old, experienced friend sharing his life's war stories with you so you can learn from his experience.  I could have created more, I could have created fewer, I could have created better, I could have created worse.  Regardless of what I created, the real question is whether they introduce ideas that allow you to grow and experiment; or rather, do you focus so much on the one sequence that it takes ona significance greater than it should.  The guy who dwells on exactly how it should always be done regardless is missing the point just as much as the guy who dwells on how he can improve it or fix it with this move or that move.  

So as we move into this blog, remember we are listening to each techniques war stories.  You may think the old guy telling the story has a funny looking nose, smells a little funny, or seems to laugh at his own jokes, but nonetheless the question is whether you decide to listen to his story and then apply what you can to learn from his experience.
1 Comment
Michael Ernst link
8/27/2011 04:44:09 pm

Excellent blog, many of us have been waiting for something like this for a long time, especially since the discontinuation of the Beyond Sequence DVD series.
One of the struggles that has plagued most Kenpo systems is the role of predetermined technique sequences and how they should be used by students and instructors. Some schools and systems treat the technique sequences as gospel and consider any deviation from them as “butchering the art”.
In my almost 30 years of kenpo, the most common method of drill involved grabbing a technique list and running through them verbatim against a compliant training partner, with the goal of replicating exactly what appears on the DVD or training manual. While this method can be fun and a good physical workout, it leaves no room for strategy, experimentation, or discussion.
This blog provides an avenue for all three. Each technique summary gives a detailed view of the strategy of each technique and what it was designed to teach or show. The methods of drill go beyond a simple regurgitation of the sequence allowing the student to learn and apply the principles in a variety of different contexts. Finally this blog opens the possibility for true discussion, something that is missing from many schools. The longer you train in martial arts the more important it is for one to think and speak for themselves, rather than simply parroting the words of a long dead instructor.
Copywrite and branding issues aside, it is my belief that no one person “owns” the art of Five Animal Kenpo and no single interpretation of the Five Animal Fighting Theory is above rational discussion or debate. Rather, the art belongs to all who practice it and an open exchange of well thought ideas will only allow the art to grow stronger.

Reply

Your comment will be posted after it is approved.


Leave a Reply.

    Author

    Trevor Haines is the founder of Five Animal Kenpo and is a 6th Degree Black Belt in American Kenpo.  He has been a student of Kenpo since 1977 and an instructor in Kenpo since 1986. He currently owns Dojo Chattanooga in Chattanooga, Tn.

    Picture
    Sketch of Sijo Trevor Haines by Leslie Harrelson

    Archives

    February 2014
    February 2013
    April 2012
    March 2012
    August 2011
    July 2011

    Categories

    All
    Beginning Stage
    Techniques

    RSS Feed

Congratulations to Meghan Gardner (2nd Degree Black Belt) and to Zachary Haines (4th Degree Black Belt)  -- awarded December 23, 2022.