Membership is open to all martial artists who have an interest in the Ed Parker System of Kenpo. We aren't concerned if you follow the 16, 24 or 32 technique curriculum as it's not the techniques, or the order in which you teach them that that define a system, but the principles within the techniques that are most important.
Much to-do has been made about association loyalty. Honestly, we don't expect anyone to be “loyal” to the association. Associations are businesses, plain and simple. Granted, some associations are quite small and totally unprofitable, but they're still businesses all the same. And as a business they exchange money for services and should be held accountable for providing these services as promised. If an association promises services they don't provide they should fully expect their members to seek these services elsewhere.
Members of the association are welcome to resign from the association at any time for any reason, without fear of retribution from the association. If a member chooses to leave an association that charges twenty five dollars a year for their services, then we have to assume the services provided weren't worth twenty five dollars.
In the event a member leaves the association, they’re certainly welcome to attend association sponsored events. They're also welcome to host events with the assistance of the association, and/or its members. In general, they're welcome to continue business and friendships as usual.
Membership Fee & Dues:
The initial membership fee to join the association is forty-eight dollars, which happens to be the same price as the Kenpo Journal. In return for your membership fee you'll receive a Certificate of Membership, a 3 inch round shoulder patch, the latest version of the Kenpo Journal and be placed on our member and newsletter mailing list.
If you already have the Kenpo Journal, you may either sign up as a new member and receive the latest version of the journal, or you can sign up as a renewing member and pay only twenty-four dollars for your membership.
Annual dues are twenty-four dollars. Additional patches and support materials are available at a nominal charge.
Exclusivity:
The main reason I've seen members move from one association to another is because their current association won't allow them to host events, or even attend events, with instructors from outside of their association, therefore limiting the member's access to many great and knowledgeable instructors. At this point the association starts becoming a liability instead of an asset. We claim no exclusivity to our members. Our members are welcome to associate with and/or join any other association of their choosing.
Education & Training:
One of the best avenues for instruction is through seminars, but it's sometimes difficult for a small school to host a seminar, due to the expense. This is certainly one of the advantages of belonging to an association of schools who are all working together in support of one another.
As an association we'll always work with the schools in order to make seminars accessible and affordable to everyone. Additionally, members of the association are not only welcome to host seminars with instructors from other associations, but encouraged to do so. There's a wealth of knowledge out there and it would be terribly unfair to limit anyone's access to it.
