November 21st, 2005
As my husband prepares for his brown belt, I find myself thinking back to the days when we started martial arts training. My whole life I’d wondered what went on inside that odd little building, then finally I learned… The world renowned home of American Kenpo, it was the original Ed Parker studio.
Having a dojo with such an exalted reputation in our back yard was nice, and we were fortunate to train there in its final years. It was a shame to see a place with so much history fade away, but such is life. These days my husband studies elsewhere, and I no longer train in martial arts at all… In retrospect, it was never my cup of tea.
Strange how often you can’t predict how you’ll respond to a situation until you’re in it. Kenpo teaches your body to respond effectively, but nothing could have prepared me for how I was going to react to karate. As it turns out, it’s too painful to submit yourself to even a mock beating when you have far too many memories of the real thing.
Entry Filed under: One Of The Guys, Time Travel
15 Comments Add your own
1.
Dave2 | November 21st, 2005 at 4:52 pm
Oh crap! Yet another reader who is capable of kicking my ass! I promise not to say anything bad about you… ever.
2.
The Bombshell | November 21st, 2005 at 4:55 pm
Smart move, Dave… You have chosen wisely.
3.
Char | November 21st, 2005 at 5:16 pm
I never took it and I’d love for my son to learn it, but I have training with other weapons, as some know.
4.
Boudica of Suburbia | November 21st, 2005 at 5:45 pm
Right, you’re on my side for fantasy paintball.That sounds sleazy but its not, I swear!
5.
Neil | November 21st, 2005 at 5:59 pm
Luckily, we can still make fun of you online, where you can’t kick our asses.
6.
Chaz | November 21st, 2005 at 9:52 pm
I remember when I was little I took TaeKwon-Do. I believe I quit just before I was a black belt, and it was probably a good thing, too. A black belt, afterall, would have simply given me license to kick things, and being that I was young, there were things at my line of sight that other guys just wouldn’t want to have kicked. If that weren’t enough, I don’t think the world could’ve handled the TaeKwon-Do wrath of a 12yr-old me. Yep, it’s a scary, scary thought.
7.
Andrew QH | November 22nd, 2005 at 12:24 am
I’ll reserve my comment to this post =P
8.
Silentz | November 22nd, 2005 at 1:55 am
Good ole martial arts, the one thing that still gives my brother the ability to beat my ass. You might know of his teacher, Cass Magda.
9.
April | November 22nd, 2005 at 8:36 am
10.
soapbox.SUPERSTAR | November 22nd, 2005 at 8:52 am
Not my cup of tea either!
11.
Peregrine | November 22nd, 2005 at 10:42 am
Though she does not give herself credit, not many people can say they made it to blue belt in Kenpo.
The ability to perform self defense while under pressure is second nature to people that have gone this far and though she sells herself short, martial arts has made her a STRONGER more CONFIDENT person than when I first met her.
Due to the nature of Kenpo, the training requirements after blue are a little bit more “hardcore” than other martial arts and as an instructor of mine once said, “There, on more than once occasion, was blood on the mat.”
She took what she learned and I know she has the ability to defend herself should some jerkoff try to assault her. For that reason in itself, I am glad she went as far as she did.
12.
Alx | November 22nd, 2005 at 11:14 am
Everything happens for a reason, it’s always good to be prepared for any kind of self-defense situation. Also, I think that belt is something that anyone would be proud of.
13.
Lisa | November 22nd, 2005 at 2:26 pm
14.
Jason Hilliard | April 30th, 2006 at 9:48 am
Hey who is your husband and where is he training now? I trained at the same studio as you. Paul Gerard, Larry Kongika, Terry Hicks, Harry Sanders. If you remember all those people, check this out. I train with Tommy Chavies and so does Chris Woodhouse. You have to remember them. I’m sure I don’t have to tell you anything about Mr. Chavies, and you will probably remember Chris Woodhouse as a blue/purple at the old studio. He just got his black belt this month from Mr. Chavies. Anyways, interesting coincidence… Pretty cool though.
15.
Ken Martial Arts | May 25th, 2006 at 2:05 pm
Nice blog. I will keep reading. Please take the time to visit my blog about Karate
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