How I met AC Rainey:

 

I was sitting in my office one day, at the Alaska Martial Arts Center, when an athletic looking gentleman walks in and asked me if we taught Kenpo.  I tell him, yes we do.  He says, "Ed Parker's Kenpo?"  I again say, "Yes we do."  He then tells me that he's a black belt in Ed Parker's Kenpo and that he's looking for a place to workout  . . .  continued

A Lesson in Humility:

 

In 1982, while teaching in Caracas, Venezuela I met a man by the name of Rodolfo Rodriguez.  He was the Venezuela black belt fighting champion and number one student of my friend Oscar Gonzalez.  Oscar’s school, in Caracas, was quite large and had approximately 600 students, so to be the number one student was quite an accomplishment  . . .  continued

Speed vs. Mass:

 

Speed, in relation to the martial arts, is mostly overrated and misunderstood.  To truly appreciate speed we need to break it down into three separate categories - perceptual speed, mental speed and physical speed.  These are the three categories of speed as defined by Ed Parker in his Encyclopedia of Kenpo  . . .  continued

Tailoring theArt of Kenpo:

 

When we’re describing the difference between Kenpo and other martial arts we inevitably talk about how we tailor the art to the individual and not the other way around.  As a selling point, tailoring is one of the best features we have to offer potential students.  They may not understand the difference between borrowed force and opposing forces, but telling them we’ll alter the art to . . .  continued

A Case for Consistency:

 

In some ways, I think Mr. Parker was his own worst enemy, when it came to creating a martial art that was based on consistency.  On one hand he created a standard practice manual - then he personally taught many of his students to do the material differently.  On a personal note, I spent years searching for “the” way to do our techniques and forms.  Then one day, in the early eighties  . . .  continued

Economy of Motion:

 

Economy of Motion has as much to do with just two words as it does anything else - And vs. With.  The word "and" implies one or more wasted beats of timing.  In Kenpo we try to eliminate using the word "and", because it involves wasted time and is, therefore, contradictory to the principle of Economy of Motion.  In Kenpo we use the word "with", so that one strike is coupled "with" another.    . . .  continued

               The White Papers Disclaimer:

 

            Like many martial artists who take time to write, I do so to clarify my own thoughts as much as I do to share them. 

        I don't expect everyone to agree with what I have to say and if you don't you're certainly welcome to write and tell

     me why.  On the other hand, if you do agree with me - all I can say is, of course you do, how could you not?  :-)

The Problem with Memorization:

 

The problem with memorization is that, in itself, it has very little value as it relates to Kenpo.  I’ve seen practitioners who have memorized our entire curriculum, but lack everything Kenpo – making them about as dangerous as a butterfly.  I often ask this question when I’m teaching seminars, “What’s the least important thing about a form or a technique?”  The answers form the students vary, but my answer always remains the same. “Remembering them.”  I know this may sound crazy at first, but   . . .  continued

Rich Hale's White Papers

Which Technique Manuals are Best:

 

I often get asked which version of Mr. Parker’s technique manuals are the best to study from.  So, I've written out three versions of the Yellow Belt Technique "Delayed Sword".  The first version is from my original 1970's Accumulative Journal, the next two are more recent versions from the 80's and 90's respectively.  Read the below techniques, and then decide for yourself  . . .  continued

The Crossover / Cover-Out:

 

Although this simple foot maneuver is used in virtually every self defense technique in our system, very few practitioners actually understand it, or do it correctly.  Harsh words yes, but after you've read this article, watch a few people crossover and cover out and see if you don't agree.  By the way, I'm not picking on anyone in particular, but all you have to do is search YouTube.com with “technique line” and . . .  continued

A Matter of Principles:

 

If I were to open a private school that specialized in teaching English, my clients would likely assume I was going to teach them how to speak, read, and write the English language.  Therefore, if I were to do nothing more than teach my clients a series of commonly used English phrases; they'd likely become dissatisfied with my service and quit my school.  Yet every day, in Kenpo, students are being taught a series of commonly used Kenpo phrases, and being promoted from one belt to the next, oblivious that they’ve never    . . .  continued

A Matter of Rank & Lineage:

 

I was recently asked to provide some private lessons and conduct a seminar at one of my student's schools.  This isn't at all unusual, but what happened the day prior to the seminar sure was.  A gentleman, who I prefer not to name, stopped at the school, while I was teaching a private lesson to the owner, and said he wanted to clear something with me before showing up for Saturday's seminar.  He said he couldn't find his 5th degree black belt and just wanted to check with me and make sure it was okay to wear . . .  continued

Life on Top of the World:

 

I opened my first Kenpo School in Anchorage, Alaska, in early 1981.  By May of that year I had about thirty students; I was a karate teacher, I was living the dream, I was living on top of the world.  Since that day there's never been a down-side.  Every day has since then has been a learning experience that I wouldn't trade for anything.  This is a  . . .  continued

Concepts, Theories and Principles:

 

The Outer Rim; is it a Concept, a Theory, or a Principle?

As listed in Mr. Parker's Encyclopedia of Kenpo it's called the Outer Rim Concept and is described as: An imaginary egg shape circle that is used as a visual aid.  This egg shaped pattern starts at the eyebrow level, and ends slightly below the region of the groin.  This concept teaches you to confine the defensive movements to those areas within the imaginary circle.  You learn never to overextend, nor over-commit, beyond the circle with your arms and hands.  At face value, because Mr. Parker called it the Outer Rim Concept, this would seem to put the question to rest, but not really?  Not to be argumentative, but I consider the Outer Rim to be a principle . . .  continued