Kenpo Karate: In Regards to Art

Every martial art is special... Does that sound as cheesy to you as it does to me? Regardless, every martial art, whether it be kenpo karate or kung fu, brings something good to the table. But what is also created when a martial artist begins to learn a way is an integration of personality and art.

Every martial artist is different. This goes primarily to body type. Usually big martial artists are strong and built to take a hit, whereas smaller martial artist are more agile and have to be more precise in their targets.

This is not a rule, however. At my school, my master loved jumping kicks. Being a big kid, I wasn't great at them, but as I grew up in the school, I became much more agile than I would had I not had to do all those jumping kicks.

Each master teaches skills to what they excel at, that is why so many schools are broken off and also why so many arts teach different techniques. This is not to say that kenpo karate and kung fu are the same but rehashed arts. Every art has it's home, but every master makes it their own and in turn teaches their pupils the techniques and skills they excel at as well as the skills they not excel at, giving more emphasis on their own style.

This is good because every artist is different. My school loved kicks, however I was more into punching and hand techniques. Therefore, hand techniques are a strong center in my art. I still know the kicks and can perform some of the more advanced techniques, however I preferred to keep my legs grounded at the time.

This was strictly because (and here I am, handing out my darkest secrets) I believed that kicking was like handing your foot to your opponent.This is erroneous in the fact the same can be said for a hand, but loosing your balance and falling to the ground could lead to loss--depending on your confidence in the grappling arts.

This comes to my next point: whatever art you study, it is important to remember that it is only a foundation art. Foundation art meaning it is the art that sets the ground for further study. Study all arts and learn the weaknesses and strengths. Continue until you are confident in your ability completely. That is the Way.

Kenpo Karate and the Arts of War

Martial arts were created as a way to defend one's self. Kenpo itself was created by Shaolin monks after a visit from an Indian wanderer. He taught them the art which was not called kenpo at the time so that they could defend their temple from marauders. The Yoshidas brought "kenpo" to Japan after they created their own temple. And kenpo karate was born as it intermingled with the culture and other martial art forms in the area.

All martial arts have similar tales; there is not one that is better than the rest. Miyamoto encouraged his students of strategy to seek all arts of war and learn from them. They all have flaws; they all have strengths. They each teach a way to discipline the body and mind and give students a closer link to the third element of all human beings: the soul.

So when a teacher says that his way is the best, remember that it is not the way, it is the student. The student is the one who takes the art and makes it what it is.

Bruce Lee took his art and turned it into Jeet Kune Do by adding various art forms. He recognized what his style lacked and created his own style to make up for the flaws... however even his style is not flawless. That would imply a state of perfection which is impossible for human beings (insert Chuck Norris joke here).

I write this post because I read an article written by a teacher who thought his style was best. He chastised another style for the way that its students practiced. In his pride he challeged any martial artist to fight him in the ring so he could show them how a real martial artist spars.

It is foolish for him to do this. Though his confidence may not be misplaced and he may be the best of his time, to chastise an art based solely on one day's experience is pure foolishness.

Each art has it's place. As one way focuses on techniques more than others, still another art makes up for it by focusing on what the first lacks. Learn all that you can about all ways and create your own style; in this Bruce Lee is a true artist to develop his art: a true contribution to the arts of war.

The Void Mindset: A Higher Consciousness

The final state that a martial artist may reach is the void mindset. Void is representative of pure creative energy and also alludes to a connection to a higher being. Essentially the kenpo karate student in this mindset is able to act on instinct, he or she is more attuned with their surroundings and will react without thinking or using their conventional senses.

The best way for me to describe this mindset further is to relay my own experience. That is not to say that I am constantly in this state; the fact is I’ve only been in this state twice.

The first time I was in this state, I was getting off the bus when I was in high school. There was a beam (knee high) that my dad placed in between our property and our neighbors because we had a lot of people driving through our yard… long story. Anyway I would always jump over it when I got off the bus, however one day I tripped over it and I don’t personally recall the incident, but my sister, who got off after me, saw me turn that trip into a forward roll and ultimately landing on my feet.

I won’t get into the second time, but the idea is that this state typically hits you when you least expect and usually you will not really remember the incident at all.

I would also like to mention that none of these signs are forever. I know it may have sounded in my previous post that once you go to the next stage you remain in that stage, but I want to be perfectly clear that it doesn’t work like that.

The void state is one that happens, but with years of experience it happens more often. The earth state can sometimes come back like a season in one’s life; it just needs to me re-conquered. The others are just as fleeting and also just as easy to recapture. Just like all martial arts techniques, these states take focus and experience to achieve.

The Wind Mindset: Open and Free

Through the gateways to water and to fire, the student now may find themselves in wind state. Wind state represents a mindset of open-mindedness and freedom. This means that the student is receptive to all the possibilities that lie before them. They are fool proof! They have confidence that they attained in the earth state, a scholar mind attained from water state and passion from the fire state, all together they create the wind state.

Though by accepting that the world is always changing was a step taken in the earth state, the open-mindedness of wind state is different. By this point, your mind has changed to fully accept the possibilities. Change takes time. Just as a tree grows strong through years of rain, sleet, snow, drought and abuse, so does the student and if the student can hold on to this mindset through it all, they may attain wind state as well.

The sense of freedom is created through the passion felt through the fire state. Have you ever met someone who was passionate about what they do? They are actually happy with what they are doing and could pursue it from sunrise to sunset. They genuinely feel free in their life.

The wind state encompasses all the abilities of the earth through fire, but it comes with more freedom. The student in wind state is now making their techniques their own. The thing about all of us is that not one of us is the same. All of us are at different levels of fitness and also we all have different strengths.

Some of us can kick heads easily while others are not as flexible. Others can punch holes into bricks while others are not as strong. Every martial artist at this level becomes more acquainted with their own talents and through this creates their own kenpo karate that is right for them.

Through all the training that got you to this point, you have become familiar with what works for you and the strategies that work against your opponents. You have become accustomed to several fighting styles and can potentially defeat any opponent. You may be ready for the final level.

The Fire Mindset: Igniting the Drive

After kenpo karate students have shifted from earth state to water state, the next state of mind is the fire state. Fire represents passion, drive, intent and desire. The only way to get to this state is to desire to be a great martial artist. 

As the kenpo karate student evolved from the resistant earth mindset into the flexible water mindset, they began to develop strategies and tactics to take down their opponents. While engaging in sparring, the student grows. Experience is the best teacher and as the water student continues to learn how to defeat his opponents, a new path opens.

The fire state is reserved for those who have a deep passion for kenpo karate. Those who enjoy the knowledge gained in the water state continue forward to the fire state without any problem. Those who have a hard time in the water state will often gravitate back to the earth state. But just as those in the earth state had to accept change, those in the water state must seek out their passion. If it lies in kenpo karate, then so be it, but if it is elsewhere, the student may become a great water mind but will never reach beyond that.

Once that decision is made, to push further into the art of kenpo karate, those in water state will rise to fire. What this will mean for those students is greater application of their skills. Not only can punches be used to attack your opponent, but they can be used to propel him into a different position. They can be used to block. Students will be able to unlock the potential of their techniques in ways they had not imagined. Once the drive is ignited, a student can reach their full potential as a martial artist.

The Water Mindset: Flexible and Flowing

The next level a student of kenpo karate should aspire to is the water mindset. Water represents fluid, flowing thought. Martial artists in water state have a better grasp of combat than those in earth state, making the flow of battle easier to see as well as allow them to ebb and flow with their opponents.

Like water, the student of kenpo karate in this mindset learns to push and pull. Push your opponent back, pull your opponent forward and so on. Instead of a resistance to change, the mental and emotional state of those in the water mindset are set to adaptation and change.

This new mind-set allows students of kenpo karate more freedom. Instead of thinking in one way, which is what sets earth minds apart, water minds can adapt to more situations. Instead of trying the same methods over and over, a student in water state tries and creates new ways to defeat their opponents.

Water is also the mindset of defense. If you watch those in earth mindset, they are usually more interested in attacking than defense. Also their attacks are very linear and easy to predict, making them typically easy to defeat. Water students will take their time with their opponents. They are studying their attacks and thinking of how to counter the techniques their opponent uses.

This is what sets the water minds apart from the earth minds. Those who have accepted that change is necessary to excel are at the point where they are desperately trying to learn when and how to use and deflect certain techniques.

Defense comes first in this mindset; if you can block or dodge your opponent, there is no need to fight at all. But while you are in the arena, it is best to discover your opponent’s combos and devise tactics to counter them.

The Earth Mindset: Defeat It to Leave It!

For my next five posts I would like to talk about the five elements and what they mean to the martial artist. The elements represent states of mind which can make or break a martial artist of any style including kenpo karate. In ascending order of power, the elements are earth, water, fire, wind and void. A student of kenpo karate or any other martial art must progress through these mind-sets if their goal is to become a full martial artist.

To begin, earth is an element that represents solidity, unwavering, resistant to change. In terms of mind, earth is confidence; in terms of emotion, earth is the desire for things to remain the same. This is the state where all students of kenpo karate begin, and for many it can be a struggle to grow and rise to the water mindset.

The world is always changing. It is something that can not be stopped. In battle, our opponents do not use the same techniques over and over, they use their entire repertoire of techniques to win. Not only that, but a skilled opponent uses their knowledge to its fullest and can defeat an artist in earth mindset easily.

In terms of mind, a student of kenpo karate must evaluate their confidence. With little confidence, a student can do little; with much confidence, a student can do much.

This is a major problem with students of martial arts or in school or at work. Confidence can also be evaluated as self-esteem or faith. Having a weak earth mindset is dangerous and can harm you in the future, but having a strong earth mindset can mean one of two things: easy adaptation to the next level (water) or eternity in earth mindset.

In order to progress, in order to defeat the earth mindset and move to the next, the mind must be bendable. Accept that the world changes and that in order to grow, you must change and learn. You can not remain the same. This goes for all students of life. In order to succeed in kenpo karate or in life, the mind must be open and moldable. Only then will you find your way.