Busy weekend

Keith Mathews was down from Canton, Georgia for a few days to train with me. I asked him to teach a class for my beginners and intermediates. They got a high-energy class! It's always fun to watch my black belts teach and Mr. Mathews did not disappoint. There were lots of grins.

On Saturday, Ed Cabrera was scheduled to teach his boxing class but his car overheated on the way down from Tampa. Not hard to understand as it's been over 100 down here lately. Keith Wadsworth and Alicia Martorelli were on their way over from the Ft. Lauderdale area to take the class and Keith volunteered to take over the class as our guest instructor. Keith has boxing experience as well as being a 3rd degree in Kenpo.

One of the big things Keith worked on was the mechanics of punching (of course) but with applications and drills to promote transference of knowledge. The mechanics of a karate punch are not all that different from a right cross. I'm always amazed to see how experienced karate people won't consistently rotate their hips when punching in a boxing class. It's like their mind says "this is a different system" so they don't apply what they already know. If they do, then we have the transference of knowledge.

Mr. Wadsworth did a fine job. It's always good to have him around.

New Raking Mace Video

Ed Cabrera has been working on boxing infusions into kenpo techniques. He sent me this clip of his variation of Raking Mace. Ed's working on a book as well on the blending of boxing and Kenpo. He's a former Golden Gloves winner, and I know Frank Trejo would approve.

Uppercuts

A question was submitted to me about the difference between the uppercut and the vertical back-knuckle as taught in the Parker system. This is often-asked, so I thought I'd address it here.
First off, what we teach as an uppercut is not like the uppercut taught in boxing. There are fundamental differences I don't want to get into here. The uppercut we do in Kenpo is more like an inverted straight punch at times. The vertical back-knuckle is close to the boxing uppercut, but still different enough. In our basics an uppercut stays below the solar plexus and changes its name when it goes above. And the terms are used interchangeably, which further confuses things. (Bottom line is you hit him and don't worry about what the name of what you hit him with was.)
I asked Ed Parker about these punches and the answer I got was that was just the way he saw them. For the basics, if it's low it's an uppercut. If it's high it's a vertical back-knuckle. They both hit with the front of the first two knuckles, which makes them punches - not strikes. Same punch, different name.
There's more to this. I plan to expand on this in the Member section on my website at www.leewedlake.com.

Eddie is writing a book

I met Ed Cabrera years ago through Sean Kelley. Ed and I have become good friends over those years.
Mr. Cabrera is from the Tampa area now but originally from the Lancaster, PA area. He trained up there and earned a black belt in Moo Duk Kwan and later switched to kenpo. He's now a 4th black under me. He also fought his way up to win the Golden Gloves back in PA, and is a boxer to the core.
Ed has driven down to Ft. Myers from the Tampa area about once a month for many years, a trip of about 2.5 hours one way to take a private lesson and teach a boxing class. The boxing class has proven to be one of the most popular classes we hold and people are truly disappointed on the occasion when Ed has to cancel. Ed knows his stuff and communicates it well, and with a good sense of humor. He is a great instructor.
Ed told me he's writing a book on the integration of Kenpo and boxing, something Frank Trejo fans will love. The cover is about done, and the text largely written. I don't know when he will get it out but I'll keep you posted.
You'll see Ed's face in my next book - he's doing a sleeper hold on Danny Sullivan and Danny is shown choking him out, too. What a couple of hams. Two great guys. Watch this spot for more. And if you want to comment on what you think he should include, please do so - I'm sure he'd like your thoughts.