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Kenpo: The Living Language

9^th Annual All-Kenpo Invitational Tournament

By William Joseph Pemberton

Kenpo has often been likened to a language of motion where we express ourselves through our physicality. Like any language it can be expressed through various dialects and accents depending upon one's instructor, region, size, physical make-up and lineage. Rarely is this more evident than at the Annual Kenpo Invitational Tournament held by Bryan Hawkins, founder and President of United Kenpo Systems.

We come together ostensibly to compete against one another, to see who has the best form, the fastest feet and hands and the most heard, but that is more of n excuse to share our unique ways of expression through the art of Kenpo. In truth, it is a debate where we come together in brotherhood and sisterhood to show one another our interpretation of Ed parker's lineage that we may grow through the knowledge we seek. Through competition we are forced to share in ways different from seminars and camps where we accept through faith the teachings of the instructors we know and respect. This is the time of the students to shine for their instructors and themselves through their own interpretations of these teachings.

The year 2000, the beginning of the new millennium or the end of the old, depending upon one' view of such things, marks the largest and most successful tournament to date as well as our first time in our new home at the recently completed Culver City high School Athletic Complex. With this in mind let us take a moment to send thanks to the staff of Culver City High who helped so willingly with the set up and clean up and much in between. Their help was invaluable.

This year saw more schools invited and more schools attending. Each and every one of the students and instructors deserves heartfelt thanks for making this the most successful year ever and for sharing their knowledge and personal flair with all of us so selflessly. Whether we won, lost or simply helped out with the judging and scorekeeping there is no reason that nay one of us should not have left with some new idea or motivation that will help us in our growth as martial artists. These tournaments are reminders to us all that there are as many ways of expressing motion as there are practitioners of the art. We are reminded that even those who have practiced for years can learn from the newest beginner.

Of course any living language, and Kenpo is certainly alive and well, is defined through its ability to evolve with the future. In the art of Kenpo Karate the future is defined through its students, those who will be the teachers of tomorrow. These future instructors are defined by the schools they attend. With that in mind we must give special thanks to the following schools whose students illustrate what it means to be a student of the art: Chris Adrian's Advanced Academy of Martial Arts, Darren Phillips House of Kenpo, Erik Akutagawa's Kenpo, Edward Chavez and his students, Tommy Chavies American Kenpo, The Cornejo Kickers, Deloa's Kenpo Karate, The Dunn Family, Tony Martin's Kenpo Karate, Edmund Parker Jr. and his daughters, Steve Spry's Karate Institute, Ed Parker's Kenpo Karate - Pasadena, The Karate Connection, Woodland Hills Kenpo, Steve Johnson's Kenpo Karate and Pollack Pines Kenpo Karate. If I have forgotten anyone it is with my deepest regrets and apologies as each and every student who competed contributed in a major way to the overall success of this year's tournament.

As with every competition there was the occasional flare-up of emotion but for the most part all in attendance practiced respectful good sportsmanship, generously sharing their knowledge and learning from their fellow Kenpoists. For this we thank you all.

Of course, none of this would be possible without the instructors and Mr. Edmund K. Parker from whom they descend in Kenpo. We must take some time in our hectic training to remember Mr. Parker, and those who have followed to share, and pass on, his art, without whom none of us would be doing this today. The quality of an organization flows from the top and we are reminded, when we see the students in friendly competition, of how lucky we are to have descended from such stock that makes obsolete the need, or desire, for violence outside the ring and the Dojo.

As any living language is judged through its ability to evolve so, too, is any language judged by future generations against those who nurtured it in its youth and kept it alive through its adolescence and adulthood. For any language to grow and survive it must be proliferated and spread and, of course, taught. With this in mind we must also remember the past with gratitude and honor those who have kept this art alive through its many trials and, now, ten years after the death of Mr. Parker. No mean feat this. This year we were honored with the presence of many luminaries who have, often at great personal expense, passed this legacy, through action and example, to us who hope to be worth of this gift and the faith they have shown. With special recognition we would like to thank, for their continued support: Scott Higgins (20 years in the art), Gurujodha Khalsa (21 years), Tony Martin (22 years), Chris Adrian (25 years), Howard Silva (25 years), Dian Tanaka (28 years), Tommy Chavies (28 years), Frank Trejo (33 years), Vic LeRoux (33 years), Albert Cornejo (35 years), Steve Hearring (35 years), Bob Liles (38 years), George Waite (38 years), and Chuck Sullivan (43 years). Again, if anyone was overlooked it is with deep regret for without you there would be no art for us to learn because many of you learned from Ed Parker himself and now pass that knowledge on to the rest of us. With the passing of Ed Parker yours is the last generation that will be able to say, “I studied with Mr. Parker.”

Thanks, also, to all those instructors who helped with the judging. We could not have a competition without you. Also, on behalf of the students, thank you for the knowledge you have given us that makes this possible for us. To many of the parents who picked up clipboards and timers to keep score, our sincerest gratitude. Many of you stayed long past when your children had finished to help things run smoothly. Also, without your bringing the children week after week there would be no future generations to pass on this art. And, of course, to the students, young and old, who form the foundation on which we build the house that is Kenpo and to whom future generations will look for inspiration - Thank you. Keep the faith.

With the Internationals now a thing of the past we need a place for Kenpo to shine in competition and this is the only tournament devoted solely to the perpetuation of Kenpo Karate and its practitioners. As someone was overheard saying to Bryan Hawkins, our host, “This is a good thing you have done, here.” Who could disagree with this. Someone was also heard to say that this could, and should, grow into something bigger and better. We have seen it grow bigger with each succeeding year but it could not get much better.

As representative of our lineage through Ed Parker we must thank his son, Edmund Parker, Jr., for joining us for the first time this year. For those of use who had never met him, or his father, it was truly a pleasure.

Of course, none of this would be possible without the oft-mentioned Mr. Bryan Hawkins through whose time and effort, as well as personal sacrifices, all of this has been made possible. With his wife, Melissa, they have organized a way for us to hone our skills and stoke the fire.

As always, thank you for giving us this forum to pass on and test our conversance with the language of Kenpo in a very special way.

As usual, see you all next year.

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