How I met AC Rainey:

 

I was sitting in my office one day, at the Alaska Martial Arts Center, when an athletic looking gentleman walks in and asked me if we taught Kenpo.  I tell him, yes we do.  He says, "Ed Parker's Kenpo?"  I again say, "Yes we do."  He then tells me that he's a black belt in Ed Parker's Kenpo and that he's looking for a place to workout  . . .  continued

Rich Hale's White Papers

Pacific Kenpo Karate          Westlake Village, CA          805-807-6500

A Lesson in Humility:

 

In 1982, while teaching in Caracas, Venezuela I met a man by the name of Rodolfo Rodriguez.  He was the Venezuela black belt fighting champion and number one student of my friend Oscar Gonzalez.  Oscar’s school, in Caracas, was quite large and had approximately 600 students, so to be the number one student was quite an accomplishment  . . .  continued

Speed vs. Mass:

 

Speed, in relation to the martial arts, is mostly overrated and misunderstood.  To truly appreciate speed we need to break it down into three separate categories - perceptual speed, mental speed and physical speed.  These are the three categories of speed as defined by Ed Parker in his Encyclopedia of Kenpo  . . .  continued

Tailoring theArt of Kenpo:

 

When we’re describing the difference between Kenpo and other martial arts we inevitably talk about how we tailor the art to the individual and not the other way around.  As a selling point, tailoring is one of the best features we have to offer potential students.  They may not understand the difference between borrowed force and opposing forces, but telling them we’ll alter the art to . . .  continued

A Case for Consistency:

 

In some ways, I think Mr. Parker was his own worst enemy, when it came to creating a martial art that was based on consistency.  On one hand he created a standard practice manual - then he personally taught many of his students to do the material differently.  On a personal note, I spent years searching for “the” way to do our techniques and forms.  Then one day, in the early eighties  . . .  continued

Economy of Motion:

 

Economy of Motion has as much to do with just two words as it does anything else - And vs. With.  The word "and" implies one or more wasted beats of timing.  In Kenpo we try to eliminate using the word "and", because it involves wasted time and is, therefore, contradictory to the principle of Economy of Motion.  In Kenpo we use the word "with", so that one strike is coupled "with" another.    . . .  continued

The White Papers Disclaimer:

 

Like many martial artists who take time to write, I do so to clarify my own thoughts as much as I do to share them.  I don't expect everyone to agree with what I have to say and if you don't you're certainly welcome to write and tell me why.  On the other hand, if you do agree with me - all I can say is, of course you do, how could you not?  :-)

Which Technique Manuals are Best:

 

I often get asked which version of Mr. Parker’s technique manuals are the best to study from.  So, I've written out three versions of the Yellow Belt Technique "Delayed Sword".  The first version is from my original 1970's Accumulative Journal, the next two are more recent versions from the 80's and 90's respectively.  Read the below techniques, and then decide for yourself  . . .  continued