Located in the heart of Dublin, High Street opened its doors in 1971 and has become one of the most famous clubs in Ireland.
High Street was an old school room with the wooden floor and 60w bulbs. When the footballers would break the lights it never deterred them from training. They'd just go to the shop on the hill, buy some candles and train in the candle light.
Training was done in bare feet then and still is. It gives them a true feeling of real training. The classes were strong and hard with each instructor having a special talent.
When injuries occurred the student was carried outside the door and left to recover. Everyone who trained in the High Street can be proud of the blood, sweat, or tears they experienced there. About 70% of all Kenpo black belts in Dublin graded in High Street or Baggot Street clubs under the guidance of Maurice Mahon & the board.
LEO LACERTE
Dedicated to the art of American Kenpo.
Mr. Lacerte began his martial arts training in 1964. Between then and 1982 he studied an array of martial art systems, with each one taking him closer and closer to the source – Ed Parker Sr. In 1982 Mr. Lacerte began to feel there were too many unanswered questions pertaining to the art of Kenpo Karate, so he began corresponding with Mr. Parker himself. For the next eleven years Mr. Lacerte remained a true believer and member of the IKKA until Mr. Parker's untimely death 1990.
Today Mr. Lacerte continues to teach the Ed Parker system of Kenpo.
OKKA T-Shirts
Our first order of T-shirts has just arrived and they look great!
The shirts are Gildan, 6.1 oz, Charcoal Gray, Ultra Cotton.
Quoting Ed Parker
I'm a strong advocate of tailoring. I believe systems are for individuals, not the reverse.
Now that I have said that, I should add that I do not advocate the helter-skelter approach. You must have a base to start off with or you have nothing.
Official Karate - Nov. 1975
The What-If Scenario
When I'm visiting schools, I often hear this: I don't do that technique that way anymore; I've changed it to this way, because what if . . .
To this I'm thinking; Okay you've changed the technique to fit your what-if, but will it now work just as well against anyone else's what-if?
People often change techniques to fit what-if scenarios as if they think Mr. Parker never imagined how one of his techniques would defend against anything other than an ideal attack, against an ideal opponent. At the risk of offending someone, to change the ideal phase of a technique, to fit any what-if scenario, is to say you don't understand the:
Analytical Process of Dissecting a Technique
Phase 1 (The Ideal Phase)
It requires structuring an Ideal technique by selecting a combat situation that you wish to analyze. Contained within the technique should be fixed moves of defense, offense, and the anticipated reactions that can stem from them.
Phase 2 (What-If Phase)
This phase takes in additional variables. It requires being programmed to further analyze the Ideal or fixed technique. Expected, as well as unexpected opponent reactions are projected and evaluated. The concept here is that every movement may have critical consequences.
Phase 3 (Formulation Phase)
This Phase involves that the actual application of your newly found alternatives to the original Ideal, or fixed technique. Knowing what can happen within the framework of the fixed technique, teaches you how to apply your variable answers to a free and changing environment.
A wise man once told me:
By "studying" the art there is more than originally meets the eye.
Barney, Paul & Shay at High Street, Dublin, Ireland 1979
