I N T R O D U C T I O N

Our New Official Flaming Fist Logo

By now you will have seen our new Flaming Fist American Kenpo logo as pictured below.

 

 

      

It has taken some time for us to decide on a design that fitted with our current image and that added to our Academy identities.

 The outer ring is black with four red stripes.  These stripes represent the grade of our Senior Grandmaster Ed Parker of 10^th degree black belt, the highest and top grade of our Kenpo System.

 The lettering contained within the circle is split into two colours, black and red.  A black belt with a red tip denotes the first black belt grade, which to most people is the ultimate goal of every martial artist.     

Correct Placing of the Flaming Fist Patch

Junior Students wear the small patch on the front of their karate suits over their and the large patch centered on the back of their suits.

Senior students will keep the Kenpo Crest as their main badge on their karate suits and the new small Flaming Fist badge will be worn on the right arm with the large patch on the back of the suit.  The large patch can be placed on the back of adult students ranked white to green belt.  Please see diagrams below.

 

KENPO, HELP stop bullying

      

What is a bully and bullying?

 “Bully” means different things to different people, whether old or young.   If you ask a young person to describe bullying they will probably be able to list some of the following points.

 

·        Being called names                                

·        Being forced to give money, goods, food etc

·        Being physically attacked                      

·        Being teased, pushed, pulled

·        Being ignored or left out            

·        Being picked on because of colour, gender or religion

·        Having possessions taken

 Bullying can happen to anyone and can happen anywhere, at school, on the bus, at work, or just on the walk home.  Anyone can be bullied not just for being different in any way but just because the bully feels that they need to prove their authority over someone else.

 What are the effects of being bullied?

 Bullying can have a wide range of effects on the person being bullied.  It can be so frightening that the person being bullied will do all sorts of things to avoid the bully.  If the bullying is happening at school the person may skip lessons, fake illnesses in order to stay away from school or even due to the worry and stress that bullying causes it may make the person physically ill.  They may develop sleeping problems, lose self-esteem, lose confidence and avoid contact with others, which then makes them become reclusive.

 What are the signs that parents should look out for in their children?

 There is no definitive way of spotting a child that is being bullied.  Symptoms have different causes, as every child is different.  Parents should look out for the following signs:

  

·               Children changing their normal behaviour or routine.

·               Reluctance to go to school or out to play.

·               Children coming home without items, mobile phone, bag, books etc.

·               Decline in child’s grades at school.

·               Emotional problems, becoming upset or angry easily.

·               Child coming home with bruises or scratches which can’t be accounted for.

    

How can we help children who are being bullied?

 As a parent, you might feel upset and angry about your child being bullied and it’s because of this reaction that children sometimes don’t tell their parents about the bullying, as they know it will upset them.

 If your child tells you that they are being bullied or picked on the most important thing is for you to listen. It takes courage for them to bring this to your attention so don’t just dismiss it as part of growing up. Listen to what they say.

 Talk to your child about what needs to be done next.  Make an appointment for you and your child to see the teacher or someone else within their school, as they may feel uncomfortable talking to their own teacher.  If possible try to see a teacher the child feels comfortable with.

 Tackling bullying in schools has to involve teachers, other school staff, parents and of course the child themselves.  It is in the interests of all schools to know what is happening within their own walls.  Don’t feel that you’re wasting their time as the child’s welfare is of the utmost importance and should come first.

 Schools have a duty to work with parents on all reports of bullying.  Remember only by reporting incidents can they be resolved. Each school in the UK should have an anti-bullying policy in place, ask to see your schools policy if you are unsure about what action to follow or take.  They will have contact numbers for you if you need further advice.

 Finally make sure that your child knows they can talk to you about bullying and that it’s not something for them to worry about as you can help them overcome it.

 

 Message of the month

 "Kick --- Out --- Bullying!"

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Kenpo Fact

There is nothing wrong with being different. Bruce Lee the worlds most famous martial artist, wore contact lenses and had one leg shorter than the other.

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UNDERSTANDING KENPO:

      SELF-DEFENSE versus SELF PROTECTION

By Associate Professor

Andy Seatherton

ATTITUDE FIRST (part 2)

 In part one (See Issue 2 of our newsletter) we addressed the need for a more realistic ATTITUDE to your training and showed how psychological martial arts might be used to disarm an opponent.

 In this second part we are addressing the importance of attaining and maintaining this correct ATTITUDE.

 A strong ATTITUDE should be central to your core training at all times By the attainment of an appropriate ATTITUDE your training will ultimately guide your development as a martial artist. This in turn will alter your perspective upon daily life itself.

 First of all you need to answer this question honestly....

 ·        Why am I training?

 If you attend your training sessions for a personal reason then your progress will be an inspired journey of self-discovery. However if you attend your sessions because mum and dad say so, or it’s just that you can't find anything better to do with your time, your journey will be a long and trying one.

 To gain this insight into why you are here practising an art with highly sophisticated training regimes, and what you hope to achieve from all the intensive mental and physical work. You must firstly discover your personal reason for being involved in martial arts.

 

It could be for...

 

Self confidence                            Exercise

Sense of achievement                  Self protection

Comradeship                               Self improvement

To protect your family                To protect your pet hamster

 Anyone of the above or one of numerous other reasons will do, but it must be central to your core ATTITUDE. It is for this reason you INTEND to work regularly, intensively, and intelligently. That INTENTION will lead you to pay ATTENTION during your training.

 Okay, so now your Attitude is good because your Intention is leading you to pay Attention, but pay Attention to what?

 I expect you answered, "I should pay Attention to my instructors", at first this does seem correct, but Kenpo is full of many deeper philosophies, and the person you MUST pay Attention to is you.

 Say to yourself "I MUST PAY ATTENTION TO MYSELF".  At first speaking in this manner does feel a bit weird, but by putting this aside, and then suffixing the following to that phrase

" BUT I LISTEN TO MY INSTRUCTORS" you should see the philosophy become clear.

 It is YOU who is responsible for YOUR own progression through YOUR chosen art.

 All your instructors can do is show you the path and encourage you to follow it, but how well and how much time you spend walking it is ultimately up to you. If you are too busy talking about what you did at school, or what happened on Coronation Street this week when you should be working, you are guilty of being in the BLACK phase. (Remember La, La land in part 1?) You will, without noticing, stray off your path and your progression will slow.

 Another problem to affect Attitude occurs when students do not stay in the "NOW". These is often found in very keen students who wish to progress fast, and unfortunately are too focused on what more experience practitioners are doing rather than concentrating on what they need, to gain the same amount of experience. Take your time, be patient and let this guide your experience.

 Here are some sayings you may wish to ponder:

"PRACTICE MAKES Permanent,

BUT ONLY PERMANENT PRACTICE WILL MAKE PERFECT."

(This is a useful one to use when at school)

 "RAISE YOUR STANDARDS TO MEET YOUR GOALS, DON'T LOWER YOUR GOALS TO MEET YOUR STANDARDS."

"ATTITUDE FIRST."

"INTENTION GUIDES ATTENTION."

 "STAY IN THE NOW, AND YOU'LL BE IN THE KNOW".

 "LET TIME BE YOUR MEASURE TO EXPERIENCE".

And remember.....

 “I PAY ATTENTION TO MYSELF, BUT I LISTEN TO MY INSTRUCTORS.''

 I hope these two articles will help you understand that the right attitude is paramount in your ability to learn and acquire a strong standing within your academy. If you have any questions relating to these articles you can e-mail me direct at  flamingfistkenpo@rocketmail.com , or write to me via your instructor, and I will endeavour to answer your questions.

 Best regards in Kenpo,

 Andy Seatherton

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KENPO THOUGHTS & SAYINGS

    "How do you become the best ?"

 

A low grade student once asked a very good black belt student how he got so good at his chosen art.   The black belt student replied, “I always take private lessons”.

 This puzzled the student posing the question, as he knew that the black belt student only attended the group sessions, as the head instructor never gave private lessons to anyone. “How can that be I didn’t think that our master gave private lessons?” he asked.

 “Well, he doesn’t”, the black belt replied, “But when I am training I imagine that I am the only person in the class. I listen to everything my instructor says. I block out everything else and focus on my instructor and myself.  In my mind I am having private lessons.”

 Don’t be distracted by others.

Focus on yourself and your own training.

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KENPO FACT

Bruce Lee got his big break in the summer of 1964 after appearing at the International Kenpo Karate Championships in Long Beach, California.  A movie producer saw him perform as a guest of Mr Parker at the tournament and then invited him for a screen test for a TV series called the Green Hornet.

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In the motion picture “Dragon, the Bruce Lee Story”, Ed Parker’s son played the part of his father at the International Kenpo Karate Championships tournament shown in the movie. Look out for our Kenpo Crest in the movie.

 

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Kenpo Zen:

One should never say it can’t be done, for it depends on the person who is doing it.

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A winner is someone who never gave up.

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Kenpo saying:

To hear is to doubt, to see is to be deceived, but to feel is to believe!

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OUR KENPO WORLD:

 

INTERNATIONAL EVENT: In April 2006 the International Kenpo Federation is hosting a competition, which will take place in Holland.  This event celebrates 50 years of American Kenpo as Mr Parker opened the first karate school in America in 1956.

 

UK EVENT: In 2006 we will be arranging an Inter-club Junior Championships to be held in Exeter. Keep checking our website for more information.

 

OTHER: In 2006 we will have more Kids Quiz’s on our website, so keep checking www.flamingfistkenpo.org.uk for information and photos taken of the November 2005 grading.