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KENPO GIRL

Dedicated to the enthusiastic martial artists in various systems, and how martial arts has affected our lives.

Post Promotion Inadequacy Blues

5/22/2016

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Over the last two weeks we have been actively promoting various level students...

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From our newest white belt getting her half yellow belt all the way to our Junior Brown belts, testing has been on everyone’s brain.  While we actively study it also makes you think of your past tests in terms of whether they were good or bad.
​I’m a student that suffers from a sense of inadequacy after every test.  I find myself questioning if I really did study hard enough, if I did perform my very best and if I deserve my new rank.  To some reflective students this thought process can either make or break you after a test.  For those who don’t understand why some would feel unworthy after going through such rigorous testing, there is an explanation.  

​The Peter’s Principle.

​The Peter’s Principle is usually applied in business management, not martial arts promotions but they follow the same line of thinking.  The Peter’s Principle is defined as the observation that in an organizational hierarchy, every employee will rise or get promoted to his or her level of incompetence. 
Incompetence is a harsh word but the definition simply means that you are promoted based on your past experience.  ​The only down fall to the Peter’s Principle is that at some point the individual will in theory fail and not promote past a certain job because it’s now too challenging for them.  
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​The solution to the principle is continued education.  When we are training and practicing for a promotion, our instructors are looking at our new material but even more so our old material that we have more experience with.  It’s after the promotion, when we begin new training that we discover a new level of incompetence.  It’s in this moment that some students begin feel inadequate of their new rank.

​I remember distinctly thinking during my last test, “If my Sifu passes me he’s probably blind.”

​Definitely an odd thought to be having when under stress.  It’s a sign of a student with introspection which if channeled correctly will continuously push the student to better themselves. A vague definition of introspection in psychology terms is the informal examination of our own internal thoughts and feelings, especially after an event.  Without proper guidance an introspective student can become self-doubting and eventually quit martial arts all together.  

There are a few things that can help an introspective student regain their confidence after a test.

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Ok maybe not that confident.

​During my last test my instructor had the other higher ranking students, who were helping with the testing, teach me a new technique for my new belt.  It minimized that “incompetent feeling” by transitioning me from the repetitive studying student to the novel student.  It was a small shot of confidence knowing I had just promoted to green belt and already had a brown belt technique. 
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Yes that's me at the end of my test getting my new technique,
"Escape from Death"

​Any inadequacy feelings after a test rarely have anything to do with the actual test, it lies primarily in the student’s confidence.  Another way to boost a student’s confidence is putting them in the shoes of instructor.  Have them teach a lower ranking student, give them a chance to demonstrate their knowledge and to be a leader.  It helps give a sense of why we were promoted in the first place.

As always, any open dialog is always the best.  It’s taken many discussions with my instructor to clear my head of any self-doubts.  Constant reminders to be the student and let him be the teacher, constant reminders that perfection is an impossible goal and constant reminders to be my own best friend not my own worst enemy.  One of the reason’s we practice martial arts is to build confidence.  We need to allow a promotion to do just that—build our confidence.

Pat yourself on the back, you deserve that new belt.

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SICKIES ON THE MAT

5/19/2016

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​I am on Day 4 of mat leave due to a cold bug a student gave me on the mat... 

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​No Kenpo Girl is not happy.

This is the longest I have been off the mat for as far back as I can remember.  While I would love to put “The Sleeper” on the student that got me sick in the first place, I am trying to take the higher road…
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Because everyone enjoys an enthusiastic student.  They not only make instructors life easier but make mat time entertaining with their eagerness to learn new things.  Yet, it’s usually these dedicated students that end up bringing more than just their enthusiasm to the mat.  They bring the sickies.
We’ve all known student’s that would rather work off a fever on the mat then in bed and it isn’t long before the domino effect takes hold and the rest of the dojo is sick.  It’s an unfortunate side effect of a close proximity sport that requires a lot of contact but in all actuality it becomes one of the unlucky lessons we must preach and learn.
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When I attended a seminar by Sifu Marty Zaninovich he stressed that we should do martial arts not just for self-defense but more for self-preservation.  I contemplated his words of wisdom as I sipped my Theraflu.  
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There are so many different threats to our well-being so why would we just train for a physical assault?  Whether you are stretching or washing your hands you are still practicing self-preservation.  Self-preservation is one of the basic, vast and most important lessons we can practice on and off the mat. With self-awareness we are one step closer to preserving our greatest weapon: our bodies.

If this is the case then martial arts which has been looked upon as a self-defense orientated activity is in all fairness truly about self-preservation.  It goes way beyond learning to block a punch or using hand sanitizer.  With your self-awareness you begin to recognize your strengths and use them to your advantage. 
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But what about recognizing when we are at our weakest? 
​At what point of time do we transition from the warrior who pushes our body to the scholar who listens to the body?


​​Not many new students understand the concept.  Many martial artists are promotion driven.  They tend to try and squeeze as many classes in as an attempt to speed up their next promotion; even training when their body is at its weakest.  In turn they are failing to recognize the promotion is and should only be a fraction of the goal.

If you truly understand the material and have met your dojo requirements, then missing one class should not make a difference for your promotion.  If you are genuinely concerned it will, discuss it with you instructor.  They have been sick at one point of time and can guide you through it.
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For the experienced martial artists that try to push their way through illness at a dojo, shame on you.  Not only is it disrespectful to your body but to your fellow students and instructors.  You are needlessly exposing them to sickness.
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​As martial artists our ultimate goal is self-preservation.  Instructors, parents and peers we need to stress that sickness is not a weakness but a natural process. Help keep the dialog going that it’s okay to sit this one out.  Otherwise you might just find everyone catching the sickies.
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Stephen Thompson & Carlos Condit Q&A with Kenpo Girl at UFC Seminar

5/15/2016

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​My parents enrolled me in a martial arts after school program when I was young ...

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They felt it was important for any woman to know how to defend herself.  It’s a belief I have carried into adulthood.  It was in my training that I learned techniques to escape basic attacks: punches, grabs, kicks ect.  I was very active with my dojo at the time but I never had the urge or desire to do anything competitive with it.  To be honest I never even sparred until my return to the mat as an adult.

Needless to say my experience with competitive martial arts is limited.  I’ve never paid to watch any fights, usually stumbling upon results or highlights on my Facebook feed, and discussing them with whoever brings it up around the Dojo water cooler. It’s not that I am against competitive fighting—I have just always felt knowing who the top ranking fighters are in UFC wouldn’t save my ass in a street fight.
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When I was asked to help promote/attend the grand opening of the UFC GYM in Northridge, CA and the Paradise Warriors Retreat UFC Seminar, I was surprised.  I didn’t know what to expect and I didn’t know what I would walk away with.  That’s even if I could walk away afterwards.
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After I consulted with a good friend of mine we decided to go just as spectators, the intent being to check out the UFC GYM (since it feels like they’re popping up everywhere) and secondly to meet and talk to some of the UFC fighters teaching at the seminar.


​When I and Ms. Z arrived at the gym we were pleasantly surprised to find that UFC GYMs are like martial arts versions of Chucky Cheese.  It was clear that this place was well stocked for any form of fitness training but was also equipped with a mat and their own cage.  
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Yes that's me playing hide and seek.

When we checked in for the seminar and looked over the schedule it screamed, “MMA FIGHTER IN ONE DAY!”  We had striking class with Stephen Thompson, BJJ Submission and attack from the Guard training with Arnoldo Maidana, Muay Thai & using elbows/knees to finish a fight by Carlos Condit and finishing the day off with finishing your opponent with strikes against the cage by Alan Jouban.
It sounded ruthless and I had been told the classes were for any age or level but I was skeptical.
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  1. Push drags: they never officially called it this but that’s what it was, applied to make your attack less readable.
  2.  Heal-Toe alignment: A proper stance was brought up by Ray Thompson about measuring your stance with what we call heal-toe alignment.
  3. Power principles: using body mass was brought up to add power to a strike.  It all refers back to our power principles of backup mass, torque and marriage of gravity.

I was proven wrong by the first class.  The striking class with Stephen “Wonderboy” Thompson and his dad/coach Ray Thompson was a pleasant surprise.  Here where two clearly experience instructors not only providing realistic drills but discussing the technique and theory behind each drill that was obviously Kempo based (and yes some of the students were kids and women).
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It was also an eye opener.  As I watched it became clear that very few students had any martial arts basis to go off of.  Some of the students didn’t even know what a proper fighting stance was.  The Thompson’s were introducing them to literally basics and principles such as...

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I could identify these basics because I train with them every day, but to the inexperienced martial artists they viewed it as a novelty.  I felt there was an important lesson for fighters whose training method is to pump iron and hit bags as hard as you can all day… 
There is technique in MMA.  It comes from the basis of whatever system you choose to start with.  You have to learn the basics and hone your technique otherwise you’re just another bozo jumping around in gym shorts.
After class I got a chance to talk to Stephen.  
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A funny history lesson: My Grandmaster Sifu Ed Parker Sr. was Elvis’s instructor and it was Elvis’s involvement in martial arts that inspired Ray Thompson to start martial arts. 

I have heard about the NFL lawsuits concerning concussions damaging the player’s brains.  You are not just getting slapped in the head during an MMA fight and there’s a very great possibility you’re going to get knocked out.  So I had to ask, “With the NFL in the middle of a lawsuit concerning concussions, are you concerned about any lasting damage from your fights?”

Stephen replied, “No, because of the way I move I don’t worry about it.  I see these guys, you can tell (they’re effected) by the way they talk but they get that way in the gym.  You have to train smart.  When we spar we work light, we work the body not the head.  You just have to train smart.”
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Training smart was something he had brought up in the class repeatedly even discussing his former injuries and how he listens to his body to determine work outs at times.  
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On top of his training for MMA, Stephen and his dad run a Martial Arts School called Upstate Karate.  Stephen is the head kid’s instructor.  I hadn’t envisioned an MMA fighter as being a kid’s instructor.  I’m an instructor at Double Dragon and know what kids gain from learning martial arts, but a part of me wanted to know if he had the same philosophy or if it would be different because of the competitive edge…  So I asked, “Some people believe that UFC and martial art are promoting violence in children.  What’s your response to that idea?”

Stephen didn’t even hesitate, explaining the importance of learning to defend yourself regardless of age and that it helps teach modesty and respect.  He also brought up bullying, that learning to defend yourself will deter bullies.
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Pretty much what all proper martial artist instructors have been saying since the beginning of time that no one wants to listen too.  Now at Upstate Karate they teach various styles of martial arts.  I have been somewhat confused about this in the past and I had read articles and rants online about learning too many systems and never mastering one.  “Some people feel that by doing MMA you aren’t mastering a system.  Your response?”

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I have to admit I was nervous about asking this question.  The last thing I wanted to do was piss this guy off but he was cool about it, “I have students that do karate, soccer, basketball…  They are good at them but they won’t be great because they’re not focusing on one.  It’s best to start (martial arts) at a young age, in one style and let it grow.”
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I can relate as an instructor.  The countless times a student missed class for a week because of a track tournament or even a fatigued student because of back to back practices; at times the parents seeming to be more concerned with the quantity instead of quality of sport activities.  I had a wonderful time talking to Stephen.  He appeared to be a genuine guy that enjoys not only doing martial arts but teaching it, even taking time during the seminar to help the younger kids in the class.  The complete opposite of what I expected.

We later watched the class by Carlos Condit ...

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​This ended up being pretty much a drill class.  Carlos introduced incorporating elbows into blast double take downs and double under clutches.  This was interesting to me because I had never heard of such things but as I watched the students you could tell that because they lacked the power principles most would have to try hard to take someone down or get pulverized in the process.  The main lesson I walked away with from Carlos was a comment he made that indirectly connected back to Stephen’s interview...

“The more wars (sparring) you have here (gym), the less you have out there.”

Carlos has a son and after class I asked him if they did martial arts together?
Carlos responded, “Yes my son’s been doing Jujitsu a few years.  He’s 6.  I don’t train him, I just play and wrestle around, let it be fun.”

There are many different systems of martial arts and at times I think parents get confused on what is what and which they should enroll their child in.  So I asked him for advice he would give parents thinking of enrolling in martial arts.

Carlos believes and advises, “Take out the competitive aspect and let them train and have fun.  When they have fun it allows them to make mistakes and grow.”
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I think in turn MMA has the potential to be no different from a singular martial art.  It really just depends on where you train and who you train with.  Unfortunately with the popularity growth of UFC I believe we will see more MMA versions on McDojos popping up.  Anyone who’s contemplating training in a MMA style should take their time to do their research and don’t be afraid to ask questions.  The trainers that enjoy the sport and know what they’re doing will welcome the questions because they have the knowledge to answer and are worth your time.
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IS ALL FAIR IN LOVE & WAR?

5/12/2016

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Is it fair to assume if martial artists spend so much time contemplating war, then love is going to come up eventually. ​

It’s natural to find ourselves attempting to merge our lives with mat time.  Yet, it always seems to become a tedious balancing act when it comes to mat time and matters of the heart. 
My Sifu once advised,
“Date someone in martial arts.”
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I’ve contemplated that statement, wondering if that really is the secret to a successful relationship.  As marital artists our equilibrium is naturally set to balance life and mat, but what happens when a third party becomes involved?   Haven’t we all heard the phrase,  

“You’re going to the dojo again?” ​

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Let's be honest, we've all been there and done that...

Dating someone in martial arts is an alluring concept.  I know multiple married couples that study together and have always viewed them as gold miners—the ones that struck it big.  But the grass is not always greener on the other side. 

I was visiting two of my married Kenpo friends; discussing sparring with them when I found out they never sparred together.  They practice techniques and forms together… but they didn’t spar.  They worried it would cause bad feelings and resentment between the two of them if one was either hit too hard or just right.  

​As a person that loves to spar, the idea of working techniques/forms and eliminating sparring sounded like hell to me; like building a relationship with someone and removing sex from the equation.

This entire time I had been day dreaming what it would be like to date a fellow martial artist—thinking how wonderful it would be to work out together and for someone to finally understand my passion for the art.
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Relationship goals... Or Urban Myth?

In reality it’s a naive concept.


No relationship is perfect and we tend to lose sight of what is important.  Finding a partner that supports us and respects us for who we are.  Every relationship is different and will have different needs.  If someone loves you for who you are (and you are a martial artist) then they should respect and love that part of you because it’s who you are. 

I’m no relationship expert but I am a martial artist and I hope my future partner recognizes from the sparring to Kenpo kisses (bruises) and the long mat hours are not only what I enjoy but they are making me a better person every day.

2 Comments

    Jesalyn Mae Harper

    Hello my name is Jesalyn.  I'm a divorced single mom and a karate addict...
    I am currently a 1st Brown belt in American Kenpo and a Junior Instructor at Double Dragon Kenpo Karate under JR Diaz, I am part of the Parker/Planas Lineage and study Karbaroan Eskrima with JR Diaz, under Guro Ed Planas

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