Panther Kenpo Karate

Congratulations on 25 years in business! Steve Hatfield's Panther Kenpo Karate in Mount Vernon, OH, near Columbus, was established at the same time Steve came in under me to train. He's been with me since 2nd degree black and is working on his 7th.
   This past weekend I was up there to be part of the anniversary celebration. I taught a seminar on joint-locking techniques and their counters. I also worked with the instructors on Form Five.
   Steve has been assembling a list of the instructors he has been on the mat with over the years and there are some very well-known names on it. From kick-boxing there is Benny "The Jet" and Bill Wallace. In kenpo he worked with Ed Parker, Frank Trejo, Tom Kelly, Joe Palanzo, Huk Planas, Jeff Speakman and more. His experience in Chinese arts, particularly in chi-kung is deep as well. He's worked with Frank Chan over the past years. He's also done some Russian Systema. All in all, a prety well-versed instructor.
   You can see his website at http://www.pantherkenpokarate.com/.
Here's to many more years!

Mt. Vernon, Ohio seminar

The seminars and black belt testing at Steve Hatfield's Panther Kenpo Karate in Mount Vernon went very well this past weekend.
First, congratulations to Mike, Julie and Joel for passing their tests for first degree black. They did a fine job. Mr. Hatfield and his staff are producing good quality black belts.
Joel Hatfield also hand-crafted a nice pagoda-shaped stand out of wood holding an engraved metal Universal Pattern, which was presented to me at the conclusion of the seminars on Saturday. It is very nicely done and I look forward to having it for display.
Participants came from all over Columbus, one flew in from Chicago (thanks for lunch, Bam- Bam Jr!) and another was in from Canada. We worked on the combination punch defenses, and based on the body language of the group, they were pretty intent.
As always, it was a pleasure to spend some time with the group there in Mount Vernon. I'd forgotten my camera, so if any of you were there and have a photo, please forward one to me so I can post a picture or two. Much appreciated.

O Hee O

When I was in Australia with Ed Parker many years ago, we had just finished a demo at a grade school. The kids were coming up to us and wanting autographs and all that. One of them told me he had a pen pal in O Hee O. I just couldn't understand and asked him a few times what he said, to the point we were both getting frustrated. Then it dawned on me - OHIO!
I'll be going to O Hee O this weekend to teach at Steve Hatfield's studio in Mt. Vernon, just outside of Columbus. It seems that going through the weapons techniques is popular, so that's what we're doing.
There's a big deal happening up there this weekend as well in the Columbus area called "A Gathering of Mustangs and Legends". It's a "round-up" of many of the remaining flying P-51 Mustang fighters and their aces from World War Two.I've been in love with the P-51 since I was a kid and even flew one in New Zealand in 2000.
I'm looking forward to seeing the airplanes and my friends in Ohio.

Mount Vernon seminars

Last weekend I was at Steve Hatfield's Panther Kenpo Karate in Mt. Vernon, Ohio.
Steve has been student of mine for about 20 years, when he started driving from the Columbus, OH area to Chicago to train.
I visit his school once a year in the early summer to do a black belt test and seminars. His people continue to improve and Steve himself continues to grow as an instructor and student of the arts.
It's always a pleasure to visit his school and watch the progress. And just getting to sit and talk with Steve is always stimulating. He's a very knowledgable guy and he's got a sense of humor I can appreciate, so there is always a lot of laughter.
Al McLuckie was there as well to teach a class after mine. We didn't have much time to talk since I had to head for the airport but it's always good to see him, too.
Photos of the event should be coming this way and I'll post them as soon as I get them.