There are four major branches of Kempo whose teachings are based on the philosophy followed by the Shaolin monks, but modified to meet the environmental and cultural needs of the society of the practitioners.  TDK is a hybrid of Japanese and Hawaiian kempo systems.  Whereas in Taekwondo the emphasis is on kicking, Kempo followers tend to lean heavily toward the use of fast footwork, blazing hand speed, and circular movement to defeat an attacker.  Students of Taekwondo are taught to kick as high and fast as possible.  In traditional TDK kicking above groin is considered a waste.  Except for participation in sport karate, most kicks are delivered to the groin, quadriceps, knee, and shins to divert the attackers attention from the hands.

Kempo and Karate differ in their philosophy of motion.  Kempo stylists utilize a concept of  “circular” motion vs. the linear motion typically taught in Karate and other hard style karate systems.  The advantage of circular motion is it forces your opponent to continually adjust his attack and reset his or her balance with each change in direction.  It also decreases transition time for the adept Kempo fighter and increases the time between blows from an attacker.  The object is to move around and not through your opponent.

In self-defense we concentrate on the First Rule of Kempo “Don’t Be There”.  Kempo students are taught to resort to physical action only when no other course of action is possible.  To engage in a physical confrontation is to invite the opportunity to lose the fight.   The goal is to win the confrontation with words, not fists so that no physical damage occurs to either party.  If you are not there you can’t get hit.  This is true both in sparring and in real world self-defense.  This means that a student should never put him or herself in a situation where using kempo to defend themselves or a loved one.

What is the beginning class like?

 Fun. Sweaty. Fun. Pain. Fun. Laughter. Fun. Hardwork. Fun. Crazy. Fun. Exhausting. Fun. Are you seeing a recurring theme here? Good, you’ve past the first test.  You are now a white belt in Twin Dragon Kempo. Over the past 21 years of teaching I’ve found when a class is a lot of fun, students tend to work twice as hard and not notice. Bad news? You’ll be twice as sore the next day.

How long does it take to earn a black belt?

The average time to black belt is about four years depending on the level of commitment by the student. Attending class twice a week, participating regularly in sport karate tournaments, and training six to eight hours per week outside of class can cut the time down to three years. As the old adage goes, “The more you put into it, the more you get out of it.”

Do I have to compete in karate tournaments?

No. However, competing in martial arts tournaments is great fun! In addition to meeting new people who share your interest in the martial arts, it is a wonderful opportunity to test your skills against people from other styles and systems. Tournaments are where you learn what works for you and what does not against a variety of different opponents. Tournament participation is highly recommended but not mandatory except prior to taking the green belt test.

 

How well will I get into shape?

There are muscles in places you never thought of.  During your first two weeks of class you will become well acquainted with where they are on your body!  Regular practice builds strong, flexible muscles and improves posture.  If class is too easy just let me know I’ll be glad to make it harder.

Many schools of martial arts in the United States have adopted a non-contact format.  Our philosophy is one based on controlled/progressive contact.   Contact is controlled in that we never use more force in class than necessary to let our opponent know they have made a mistake and have been hit.  Progressive in that as the student increases in rank so does the amount force they may use and receive will increase.

Here, two beginning students practice learning control. The object is to strike the cloth of the kempo jacket as fast and hard as possible without making contact with your partner.

While black belts generally enjoy the license to make heavier contact when sparring with each other, novice and intermediate students are not given much latitude in the amount of contact they are allowed to make. Students are severely reprimanded for fighting out of control and/or for making unnecessary contact while practicing free sparring in class.   The objective is to learn to make a certain level of contact and to be able to receive a level that is comfortable.

We have a saying – “The harder I sweat the less I bleed in the ring”.   In TDK students are not allowed to spar until their fundamental techniques, minds, and bodies have been prepared for that stage of learning.  Our conditioning program is designed to strengthen the mind and the body for the rigors and fun of free sparring.  Once a student has reached certain level of physical condition then they are slowly introduced to sparring.

I’m afraid I’ll get hurt because martial arts training appear to be so violent. Is there a high risk of injury?

I have been teaching 21 years and have yet to have a student break a bone or receive a serious injury.   National government studies have proven you are more likely to incur an injury playing football or soccer, skiing, or playing a pick up game of basketball than you will in sparring in karate class.  Sore muscles, strains, and bruises are normal in the study of any martial arts.  Without them you have no way to gauge your abilities to defend yourself.  These and other minor injuries occur normally in two situations.  The first is when the student is putting forth far less effort than 100% and the second is when the student is giving 110%.