New article on my site

I posted the December article in the members's section this morning. It's about groin strikes. Here's a preview.

"We’ve all heard the phrase “a swift kick in the…” fill in the blank. Most books you read on the technicalities of the martial arts refer to the groin as one of the primary targets. Eyes and throat are the others. However, the groin is a primary target in many Kenpo self-defense techniques.

It’s a standing joke in our circles about how the TKD people don’t allow groin kicks. I remember being a brown belt and asking a Korean TKD instructor why they didn’t allow that. The answer, in broken English, was “You at tournament, your wife or girlfriend or family, they not want to see you get kicked in groin.” It’s not that they don’t do it, they don’t allow it. Too often, I think, they don’t even teach it. Then the hapless practitioner does not get used to seeing it coming and they get hit because they didn’t recognize the technique."

"I was fighting in a tournament in Indiana, in the black belt division, and the two fights before me were between TKD and hard stylists. The two TKD guys went down (and out) because they took a kick in the groin and were not wearing cups. I’m not picking on them because of their system but it was noteworthy that they chose to compete without the protective gear even though the rules on the flyer said it was required equipment. The third guy up was their teacher and I was paired with him. The center ref asked for a cup check on everyone. This guy I was to fight dropped his gi pants right there to show he had one on. "

"Mr. Parker used a nasty pinching movement in some sequences in which the testicles are smashed between the heel of the foot and the ground. It’s an attention-getter."

Grabbing the gun slide

This clip was sent to me by Tom Saviano, John McSweeney's top guy. He and I both teach to grab the weapon to control it. This video shows what happens when you do. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cAG-Jm7rUhA

Graham Lelliott's new studio

Central Valley Karate Club in the Fresno, CA area has moved to 2139 Shaw Ave in Clovis, 93612. The new number is 559-324-7900. This is Graham's new place and I'll be out there in a few weeks to do some seminars at the new studio and over in Madera at The Dojo, run by Pete and Trini Valdez.
     At the Madera studio I'll do a kid's class and a women's self-defense program. On Saturday Graham hosts my two seminars for adults. The Lelliott's are having a Christmas show with their young students on Sunday.  The weekend is Dec 11-13. Hope to see some of you there.
 

more extension manual

I've completed re-writing my extension manual for the next 24 techniques. It will be available soon. I've been shooting video to accompany it, too. I want to offer a package that includes the written manual and the associated DVD. Those of you who bought the manual as it is now can get an upgrade at a reduced price. I'm working on a school/club owners manual as well that will include the rotating curriculum, something many of you have asked about. Creating that curriculum takes a horrendous amount of hours and then it needs to be tested and tweaked. This one is complete, been tested, and can be altered to fit your school if needed. Watch for it.

Podcasts

The most recent poll on this blog showed that almost all of you are interested in podcasts. I've started recording them and hope to have them out there soon. I have numerous subjects in mind. I'll talk about history of the system, my experiences with Ed Parker, technicalities such as concepts and principles like the family groupings and master keys and have interviews with other practitioners. If you have suggestions on what you'd like to hear, please contact me at lee@leewedlake.com.

Kenpo Karate 201

Kenpo 201 has gone out of print. I have two copies left. If there are enough requests I'll have another run printed. Meanwhile, all my books are reduced for the holidays but only when you buy them through my site.
Thanks for supporting.

YouTube deletion

Yep, most of the videos are down. I'm re-shooting most of them and some new ones will be posted soon.

Got this from a friend

Something cool that Xerox is doing.

If you go to this web site, http://www.letssaythanks.com/, you can pick out a thank you card and Xerox will print it and it will be sent to a soldier that is currently serving in Iraq . You can’t pick out who gets it, but it will go to some member of the armed services. You have the option of picking a pre-typed message, or composing your own. How AMAZING it would be if we could get everyone we know to send one!!! This is a great site.
Please send a card. It is FREE and it only takes a second.

Verification below.

http://truthorfiction.com/rumors/x/xerox-cards-for-troops.htm

More on salutations

I've added a new article on salutations to the Members section of my website. The photos are not up yet but I think you'll find it interesting even without them.

NH fundraiser results

Jim Peacock's fundraiser for the Cates family garnered $10,000. The event was held over the weekend. Thanks to those of you who donated.

Books on sale

If you go to my website store you'll find my books on sale from now until Dec 20th. Take advantage of the discount of $3/copy. Thanks for supporting the site.

Good story

This is from Marty Sherwood in Fresno, California, one of Graham Lelliott's brown belts.

Lee,


I just wanted to let you know that the after school Kenpo Karate program started last week at Cheri's school. All I can say it was a total success. The director of the programs told Cheri it was beyond his expectations. We now have 20 students and I can't wipe the grins off their faces. The director also told Cheri that one of kids he put in with us was having a very hard time getting placed in other programs and felt he did not fit in anywhere. He said he never saw him smile. Well, I guess after the first class, he went up to the director with a ear to ear grin and said " I know what I want to do and now I have home". Now that is what Kenpo is all about.

Thanks for everything

See you soon.

Marty

A couple of doctors and a stick

I was talking with Dr. Rowe and Rick Stone about weapon concepts in different cultures. The subject came up about taking a strike from a stick; should you let it hit the muscle or the bone? Assuming you had no chance to avoid, of course.
  Marc related a conversation he and a group of doctors had in which the question was; what part of the body would they hit with a stick? As a group they decided the best parts were the bony ones. Knees, shins and elbows were their primary choices. Fingers were in there, too. The docs settled on those due to the abundance of nerve endings which would send huge amounts of pain information to the brain.
   The head was not on the top of the list. It's spherical, harder to break. I've seen people cracked upside the head with a stick in real confrontations. One guy, all it did was make him mad. But crack him in the knees and the results differ.
   I'm passing this along because I thought it was interesting that a group of non-martial artists, looking at it from  a medical standpoint, would select the same targets we teach. They did it based on what they know of the body and how it works. I speculate we figured it out a thousand or more years ago purely from hitting people and watching their reactions.

Tim Walker's studio

One of my black belts, Tim Walker, has a studio in Brandon, Florida. He sent these photos along recently. His studio has a clean, bright look to it.
Tim has black belt ranking in two Kenpo systems. You can see his website at http://www.akkuinc.com/

New nunchaku program

Jim Peacock of New Hampshire has produced a booklet and DVD of a nunchaku course based on Short Form One. He covers the grips, carries, swings and they are indexed in the form. Mr. Peacock likes the term "nunchuck" as it's the colloquial American term for the Okinawan weapon.

The Kenpo Nunchuck dvd:

Time : 8:03
Content: The dvd contains a demonstration of the form from 3 different angles, and provides a glimpse of the supplemental 5 week curriculum that goes with it ( the text is done, I need to shoot some more video for it ) .

The Kenpo Nunchuck Booklet:
81/2 x 11, bound, 7 pages
The booklet contains explanations and pictures describing the terminology used for teaching this form, as well as a written description of how to do the form.

The set is $25 until Christmas. You can get them direct from him. They will soon be available thru my online store as well. http://www.kenponunchuck.com/