The Texas Kenpo Conference in May

Below is what you'll find on our Facebook page (2014 Texas Kenpo Conference) and on the registration link. There's a countdown on the page and it gets lowered every time we get a paid registration.

Texas Kenpo Conference, a Gathering of Kenpo Seniors
                              (formerly the Kenpo Senior Conference)

                  May 2-4, 2014  Rancho Cortez in Bandera, Texas

      Your hosts are Lee Wedlake and Steven White

Welcome to Texas! In the spirit of past camps hosted by our lineage friends, this year’s event will be held on a guest ranch outside San Antonio, giving you a real Texas experience. This weekend will be the anniversary of Sibok Tom Kelly’s birthday and we dedicate this event to his memory.

We’re expanding the schedule with classes starting during the day Friday. We also reduced the number of simultaneous classes so you don’t have to struggle so much with “which one?” Topics and instructors are listed below.

Senior Instructors are 9^th degrees Lee Wedlake, Stephen LaBounty, John Sepulveda, Bob White “Faster and Stronger”

The “Lieutenants”, representing the four lineages;
Steven White, NH, 8^th degree -  
Graham Lelliott, CA, 8^th degree – zone applications of storm techniques/Long Two
Brian Duffy, TX, 8^th degree – Staff applications
Ron Sanchez, CA, 5^th degree - 
Denise Plowman, ID, 5^th degree – kickboxing/conditioning
Barbara White, CA, 4^th degree- Women’s self defense, open to all women including non-students
Felix Indest, LA, 2^nd  degree – sexual predators
Rebecca Knight, AZ – Cudgel

Registration: all-inclusive fee with early registration before Feb. 15, 2014 is $450. $495 after and up to the event, space permitting. Registration includes lodging, six meals, use of all amenities including horseback riding*, any/all seminar sessions, participation certificate, and a patch.
* See their website at www.ranchocortez.com for the full list.

Due to space considerations, participation will be limited. You can bring family members if they want to take advantage of what the ranch has to offer, and there is a separate fee per person. If you do not want to stay on the ranch you can get a rate that includes seminar fee and meals only. 

Location: Rancho Cortez www.ranchocortez.com is a working dude ranch 45 minutes from the San Antonio, Texas airport (SAT). 872 Hay Hollar Rd. Bandera, TX, 78003

Transport: The ranch has a 10 passenger van that can transport to/from SAT. $125 each way. Plan to fly in/out close in time so you can share the costs (arrange this through the ranch) or rent a car.

Capacity : The ranch has limited capacity, so register early. Lodging ranges from 14 person bunkhouse (dormitory, one for the men and another for the women, two bathrooms each) to rooms of various sizes, some of which can hold 4-5 guests.  The single rooms are already booked.
When you register we will contact you to confirm receipt and then you can call the ranch to arrange your accommodations. Rancho Cortez will do their best to put you in the appropriate room. If you’re ok with the bunkhouse, just tell Cheryl there. 830-796-9339

If you just have to have you own room there are other motels and guest ranches within 15 minutes of Rancho Cortez. The ranch can accommodate RVs. Book with the office

www.theriverfrontmotel.com/

www.riveroakinn.com/Welcome.html

www.flyingL.com (closest)

What to bring:  The ranch is a mile down a gravel road off TX 1077 and it’s real dark out there so bring a flashlight. The rooms have no TV, telephones or coffee makers. Wi-Fi is available but cell service is spotty. The food is good and rooms comfortable. They have a small store, so you can buy water and soda, etc. but you may want to bring bottled water. They have a pool and spa, so bring your swimsuit. There is a workout room onsite, too. If you plan to ride the horses, bring your jeans, hat and boots.

2014 Kenpo Senior Conference

We had to skip 2013 due to scheduling conflicts with other groups. I was told people were mad at me but it is what it is. Steve White and I want to promote peace and cooperation in the kenpo community and throwing another event in a crowded schedule would not help.
The date as of now is May 2-4, 2014 here in Texas. The Omni hotel we used for the first event is not available so I'm looking for another. The same kenpo seniors have agreed on the date, those being myself, Bob White, John Sepulveda and Steve LaBounty. That weekend is also the birthdate of the late Sibok Tom Kelly, so we'll dedicate the event to his memory.
  We plan to expand the schedule to have some sessions during the day on Friday. We'll limit your choice to one of two sessions versus the three in 2012. That being the only complaint we heard, not being able to decide between interesting subjects.
  This is a "lineage" event. That means we select our assistant instructors from the lineages represented by the four seniors. We term them "lieutenants" and wish to showcase those on the way up be becoming the next generation of senior instructors. Of course, some of us have a right-hand man who is senior in their own right, but we still call them lieutenants.
  We're lining up female instructors, too. Barbara White from CA and Denise Plowman of ID are already on board. Steve White, 8th degree is committed. Graham Lelliott and Ron Sanchez are on the list.
  As I write this I am getting ready to head down to the San Antonio area to look at venues that will include the possibility of doing it at a ranch. These facilities have a variety of rooms, dining halls, fitness facility, pools, Jacuzzi, hiking trails, horseback riding, campfires and more. That makes them a good thing if you want to bring the family. More later on this.
  Steve White and I are looking forward to hosting you again in 2014.
  Remember, we call it the Kenpo Senior Conference because it's a chance for seniors to get together, not because it's for old people.

A Big Deal in Miami

I'll be part of an event, directed by Munis Abunawar, in Miami on Sunday, 10 November. There's the Pan-American tournament on Saturday, which I'll be at too. Sunday includes myself, Bob White, Gilbert Velez and Manny Reyes. http://www.panamericaninternationals.com/ and
http://worldkenpofederation.com/seminars

Bob White Invitational

The weekend of March 22-24 weekend I was fortunate to be invited by Bob and Barbara White to attend their event in Costa Mesa, CA. This was the 8th annual Bob White Invitational. They and their staff pulled off a wonderful event to raise money for the Royal Family Kids Camp organization. The RFKC sends abused children to camps across the globe and the White's efforts help many of those kids. I'm told they raised $100,000 this weekend!
   Friday night they held a dinner at a local country club at which they showed a video of one of the kids who had been abused, rescued, cared for and adopted and how RFKC was instrumental. This child's story is a beacon. The founders of the RFKC were there, too and spoke a bit about how the kenpo community has stepped up to help the program so much - and has been spearheaded by the Whites.
   I had ridden over with Bob White, Steve LaBounty, Barney Coleman and John Sepulveda.   I didn't get 10 feet inside the door and saw so many people I hadn't seen in years that it took me another hour to make my way inside. Here's the short list; Chuck Sullivan, Vic LeRoux, Steve Cooper, Ed Downey, Angelo Collado, Rich Hale, Barney Coleman, Gilbert Velez, Doreen DiRienzo (Cogliandro), Mike Pick, Rainer Schulte, Paul Dye, Martin Wheeler, Bobby Lawrence, Ed Parker Jr. and more.

The seniors. I'm over Bob White's left shoulder.

  I was honored to sit at the table with Bob and Barbara, Steve LaBounty, John Sepulveda, Doreen DiRienzo, Barney Coleman and Benny "The Jet" Urquidez.
  At Saturday's tournament I saw my old friend and teacher, Frank Trejo. I finally met Bill Hayes from Old School Kenpo. Dave Hebler was there and Paul Dye interrupted his demo team to have them salute him, which was only right since he had been his first instructor. Outside with Steve LaBounty I was introduced to "Johnny", who turned out to be John Natividad, one of the premier fighters in the 60s and 70s. Graham and Jaydean Lelliott had come down from the Fresno area and we had a chance to hang out, too. Brian Duffy was there from Texas, so we had each other's backs.
  I met several people I'd heard of before like Ted Sumner and Sergio Correa.
  The tournament was an all-kids event and went like clockwork. They had a drawing for a Harley Sportster motorcycle won by a lady who had never ridden a motorcycle before (they pulled her ticket out of my cowboy hat). Between that, the silent auction at the tournament and the auction the night before at the dinner, Bob told me the would raise close to six figures for the kids and they did.
  They're planning #9 next March.
     

California in March

I have been invited by Bob White to attend his event in March. I'll be there!
www.bobwhiteinvitational.com

The KSC Sunday wrap-up

Some people had to bail early due to Hurricane Sandy heading for their homes in the Northeast. But the hangover-less ones met at 8AM for the "Iron Monkey". I led this forms workout, which was to run forms and sets back-to-back from One thru Six and the Star Block and Finger Sets. With a too-short break, my student, Bruce Meyer suggested we run them from the top down, Six to the sets. So we did. It took about twenty minutes and we had all ranks working. I salute those of you who got in there and did it with us. As I came up through the ranks it was a rare thing to see a senior run an entire form at speed. Since there are those who say the seniors sit on their butts, I want them to know "t'aint so".
  Tommy Burks from Ft. Worth, TX ran an abbreviated knife class. Good stuff. It was a pleasure to have him there. I hadn't seen him since the early 1990s in Pasadena and we reconnected at SiBok Tom Kelly's funeral.
  Tommy was followed by Tommy. Thomas Kozitzky of Willich, Germany taught his first seminar in the US. He is the highest ranking kenpo black belt in Germany at 5th degree. He chose footwork challenges in techniques as his subject. The feedback I got was that he fixed some problems for people.
  Those two classes concluded the event. Goodbyes were said, certificates collected and out-of-towners checked out of their rooms.
  There was some time before going to the airport, so the seniors and others had some time to hang out and talk. Brian and Lee Duffy got John Sepulveda and SiGung to the airport while I had the opportunity to take Bob White, Ron Sanchez and Graham Lelliott downtown. We went to the State Capitol for a look around and learn some Texas history. Turns out Mr. White comes from a line that came from Texas. We didn't get to see much as there was an event there that included Dan Rather speaking, so it was crowded. The guys managed to get their hands on some jalapeno candy, which drew an interesting reaction.

TX State Capitol with Ron and Graham

   I was pleased to get some time to get to know Bob White better. We've been crossing paths for years but never really connected. Better late than never. Meeting Ron Sanchez was good, too, since I remember seeing the captain of the Bob White team just kicking butt at the IKC in the 70s and it was Ron.
  The event was a success. We originally planned to move this around the country, this Kenpo Senior Conference concept, and we probably will. But Steve White and I plan to hold KSC-Texas here in Austin again in 2013.
  The four seniors are definitely of like mind with a vision of the future of kenpo. The instructors behind us are doing a great job and the system is expanding to meet the needs today. The grappling/ground work is addressed through people like Steve White and Glenn Haley. Instruction technique is addressed by myself and people like Bruce Meyer. Freestyle applications well-covered by Bob White and his crew. Integrating Western Boxing was illustrated by Ed Cabrera. Understanding conceptual basics was well-done by Graham Lelliott and Tom Graves. The psychology of combat as taught by Ron Sanchez and SiGung Steve LaBounty was impressive. Contact manipulation and nerve center work by Brian Duffy and Marc Sigle, along with the weapon work and foundational work of Tommy Burks and Thomas Kozitzky go to show "We have it covered."
   Future KSC events will include internal aspects, anatomy/physiology, and we're planning to get one or two female instructors on the staff.
  Thanks again to our seniors and the other instructors who volunteered to be a part of the event and make it a success. Of course, without the support of those who came from near and far, we'd be almost alone out there, so thanks to you all for choosing to spend your money and your time with us here in Texas.

Bob White invitational

Bob White is having his event in March.
www.bobwhiteinvitational.com

Remembrance for Sibok Updated

There will be a service in Wichita, KS for Mr. Kelly.
Friday August 17th at 10am. Location: First Pentecostal Church 1755 E. McAurthur (McArthur and Hydraulic)
Looks like Steve LaBounty, Bob White, John Sepulveda, Gary Swan, Tommy Burks and others will be there.
I have written something about Mr. Kelly that John Corcoran at MA Success magazine says he will print in their November issue.