Dragon Kenpo
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Dragon Kenpo is an off shoot of American Kenpo (also called Ed Parker Kenpo). Dragon Kenpo was developed by Ed Hutchison, who trained under Jay T Will, a student of Ed Parker.
Ed Hutchison felt there were several probelms with modern martial arts schools. He realized that many schools used sparring, forms training and testing fees as means to prolong the students training and get more money out of the students. So he eliminated them and provided a system that people could study from home through the use of video tapes.
[edit] The Dragon Kenpo Creed
The classical martial arts present themselves as rivals. One a "hard" style, the other "soft." This one emphasizing kicks, that one specializing in punches, the other takes each opponent to the ground and wrestles. Yet the underlying premise is the same for each, in that a narrow system is presented as not only superior, but holy. Laws are laid down, rituals are set in stone and rigid patterns are put into place. A shrine to the fixed knowledge is created, complete with ceremonies, rites and masters. None may transcend, or even question the institution's unbending view of reality because of it's sacredness.
The Dragon Kenpo way, however, is the way of never ending learning and discovery. The techniques taught are guides that develop greater skill, not boundaries that no one may cross. Greatness, after all is not achieved by thinking within limits prescribed by convention. Greatness requires engaging the unknown. It is there, in the mystery, that new discoveries are found.
The traditional arts are in the business of setting limitations. Their primary task is the creation of an imposed order and the production of conformity. Yet to adopt that order is to close out everything not included within it. By banishing the unknown the traditional martial artists advance by learning more and more about less and less. To the "masters" of the traditional styles, an unlimited mind is a dangerous thing. A lot of folks have a lot invested in the status quo. Those who choose growth and expansion should not be surprised to find resistance from those devoted to tradition. Choosing to cross boundaries, or even erase them, means coming into conflict with the imposed order.
There are no rules in total combat, so the Dragon Kenpo way is the way of free expression. The methods taught begin the process of endless discovery. We have only two choices as martial artists and as human beings: to be ordinary or to be explorers; to be followers or to be leaders. Regardless of who approves. Dragon Kenpo Creed. Retrieved on 2007-03-02.
[edit] Value of Home Study
A study performed by Bobby Newman, Ph.D. suggests that learning from video can be nearly as beneficial as learning in a school. While the school does offer several advantages over video learning, "The subjects appeared to learn the techniques equally well from either source. The tapes, however, imparted the skills at a much lower cost to the students." Video vs. the Sensei. Retrieved on 2007-03-02.
[edit] Next Generation
Ed Hutchison has left the Dragon Kenpo to work in other areas, but some of his students have carried on the development of Dragon Kenpo. Rodney M Lacey is the Director of the International Dragon Kenpo Association, and was granted title of 8th degree Black Belt by Ed Hutchison. Ron Pfeiffer is the Director of Membership of the IDKA, and also teaches Dragon Kenpo in Lake Geneva, Wisconsin as well as around the world with his online program. Additionally, other students teach Dragon Kenpo by itself or integrated with other systems. World Dragon Kenpo Schools of Self Defense. Retrieved on 2007-03-02.
