I honor and hold sacred the right of all men to protect themselves. I further hold that as a trained Martial Artist in Kenpo, I will take upon myself all obligations and responsibilities deemed sacred to my personal beliefs, my family, my country, and my art.
This is so funny and hilarious!!
Take the test:
http://www.howmanyfiveyearoldscouldyoutakeinafight.com/
Here’s my score:
I’m baaack!
After 6 months of taking a Kenpo break (for personal reasons and just to take a Kenpo break), 20 pounds heavier and as clumsy as a white belt (no offense), I’m finally back in Kenpo!
Yestarday my Instructor and friend -Alicia Martorelli- welcomed me very nicely and introducced me to the new students in class. It was good to see old faces as well as new ones. But what really impressed me was how good the school (my school) is doing! Great Job Ms. Alicia!!
Class was awesome and I almost fainted after so many months of innactivity. But I’m sure I’ll be back-in-shape in no time…
See you all soon!
I want to wish all a happy holiday and best wishes on this new year 2008!
Until next time and take care!
This story by Mr. John Mehrmann, reflects the different points of views in life and the obstacles that one can put in our own way. Even though this is a western writing, it has a very Buddhism approach and philosophy.
Personally, this story came at the right time in my life… Enjoy!
A carrot, an egg and a cup of coffee… You will never look at a cup of coffee the same way again……..
A young woman went to her mother and told her about her life and how things were so hard for her. She did not know how she was going to make it and wanted to give up. She was tired of fighting and struggling. It seemed as one problem was solved, a new one arose. Her mother took her to the kitchen. She filled three pots with water and placed each on a high fire. Soon the pots came to boil. In the first she placed carrots, in the second she placed eggs, and in the last she placed ground coffee beans. She let them sit and boil, without saying a word. In about twenty minutes she turned off the burners. She fished the carrots out and placed them in a bowl. She pulled the eggs out and placed them in a bowl. Then she ladled the coffee out and placed it in a bowl.
Turning to her daughter, she asked, “Tell me what you see.”
“Carrots, eggs, and coffee,” she replied.
Her mother brought her closer and asked her to feel the carrots. She did and noted that they were soft.
The mother then asked the daughter to take an egg and break it. After pulling off the shell, she observed the hard boiled egg.
Finally, the mother asked the daughter to sip the coffee. The daughter smiled as she tasted its rich aroma. The daughter then asked, “What does it mean, mother?”
Her mother explained that each of these objects had faced the same adversity - boiling water. Each reacted differently. The carrot went in strong, hard, and unrelenting. However, after being subjected to the boiling water, it softened and became weak. The egg had been fragile. Its thin outer shell had protected its liquid interior, but after sitting through the boiling water, its inside became hardened. The ground coffee beans were unique, however. After they were in the boiling water, they had changed the water. “Which are you?” she asked her daughter. “When adversity knocks on your door, how do you respond?
Are you a carrot, an egg or a coffee bean?”
Think of this: Which am I? Am I the carrot that seems strong, but with pain and adversity do I wilt and become soft and lose my strength?
Am I the egg that starts with a malleable heart, but changes with the heat? Did I have a fluid spirit, but after a death, a breakup, a financial hardship or some other trial, have I become hardened and stiff? Does my shell look the same, but on the inside am I bitter and tough with a stiff spirit and hardened heart?
Or am I like the coffee bean? The bean actually changes the hot water, the very circumstance that brings the pain. When the water gets hot, it releases the fragrance and flavor. If you are like the bean, when things are at their worst, you get better and change the situation around you. When the hour is the darkest and trials are their greatest, do you elevate yourself to another level? How do you handle adversity?
Are you a carrot, an egg or a coffee bean?
Check out this cool article by Mr. Ingmar Johansson about Kenpo’s Salutation:
http://www.kenpo.se/index.asp?p=153
Enjoy!
I want to express my congratulations to one of the best Kenpo Instructors in this neck of the woods: Keith Wadsworth, on his promotion to 4th Degree by Mr. Richard Planas on August 19th 2007.
Thanks for all of your teachings and for showing me a realistic point of view of the art.
Take care!
It was another great seminar by Mr. Planas!
On Friday Night-hosted by Mr. Sandor Urban at US Kenpo Kai in Coral Gables Miami- Mr. Planas whent over trouble techniques. We reviewed Shield and Sword, Flashing Mace among other material. Great stuff! It is always a pleasure to see Sandor and his people. Hope to see you back in October buddy!
On Saturday & Sunday -at Mr. Dave Miller Kenpo Institue in Pompano Beach, FL- We did some lock-flows with Mr. Miller and then more techniques with Mr. Huk Planas. These seminars were all filled with richness in content, terminology theories and basics! Mr. Miller has a nice school on Commercial Blvd. east of I-95. Thaks for all!
On a personal level, it was great to go back to seminars. I’ve been out for a while for one reason or another and it was very cool to see friendly faces like Steve, from Ft. Myers, FL and his students, and Keith Wadsworth. Great working out with you guys again!!
Once again, it was a pleasure to see Mr. Planas in action and to learn from his teachings, jokes and experiences…
Take care all and until next time!
One of the things that we should keep in mind as we advance in our journey in Kenpo is to be a good student and a fellow practitioner. Along with that we should be respectful and treat each other with kindness and think of it as a Kenpo-brotherhood (to a certain degree)…
I’ve experience firsthand – unfortunately – with some of my fellow kenpoists, a race to be approved and liked the most by our instructors. It is an attitude that harms not only the relationship of the students but gives the school an unnecessary tension in the environment that we can all benefit from NOT having. This saddens me and really places a great deal of mistrust in these people. People that suppose to be our friends and interchange knowledge and ideas, turnout to be dangerous to trust because they twist the reality of matters and cause damage saying things behind our backs to our instructors!
We’re supposed to build-up self-esteem through the martial arts. So what happened with that part of the training?? These actions reflect not only cowardice but a lack of self-esteem and personality! I feel sorry for these guys, and hope that someday they can find a place on their instructor’s and fellow student’s hearts without having to resort to these acts.
One good thing came out of all this, and that is as time progresses, I become more and more aware of who is around me and that every punch that we assimilate (at any level) makes us stronger.
Take care
I understand that like a doctor, the private affairs of students and fellow instructors that come to my attention during the exercising of my responsibilities are priviledged communications and must never be discussed with any living soul. I vow that I will never violate this pledge nor any other for the sake of personal benefit.