Archive for 2007
The Origin Of Kenpo
Bodhidarma traveled from India to China to teach Zen Buddhism. He is said to have brought the Martial Arts with him. He lived in the sixth century and traveled to China in the year of 520 AD. According to the legend, the Monks came to the Shaolin Temple in 522 AD. From Shaolin various styles spread across all of Asia. The Southern part of China however is more isolated and was not constantly invaded. It is a thickly populated subtropical area with heavy rainfall. The Fukien province is contained in Southern china. This is where the second Shaolin temple was located after government troops burned the first one for harboring dissidents and rebels. Throughout the history of china secret societies were formed to benefit business people, farmers, and religious or political groups. They functioned by protecting their members from being harmed by rivals. This was partly in response to banditry, which existed on a large scale. Groups of criminals controlled vast areas of land and even entire towns. Sometimes they even took over temples using them as their headquarters. Religious community members then had to protect themselves from such groups. Each group developed its own distinctive Martial Arts Style.
Kenpo’s basic translation is “THE WAY OF THE FIST”.
There are many different styles of Kenpo our Chinese heritage to the art is Shaolin Kenpo. By the mid 14th century, Okinawa had established relations with other Asian countries. Okinawans visiting China brought back Kenpo that was pronounced Kenpo, which Chinese Martial Arts Masters taught to the Okinawans. The Japanese invaded Okinawa in the 17th century and by the 19th century Okinawa was completely taken over by the Japanese and is now part of the Japanese Empire. Both China and Japan banned the ownership of weapons by Okinawans, which lead to the development of empty hand techniques. Okinawans also developed ways to convert farming tools into deadly weapons. Our Shaolin Kenpo lost most of its circular movements at this time and brought forth as a straightforward style with hard blocks, punching techniques, and powerful step through kicks, noted as “THE OLD PINE TREE” style, which has power coming from the ground with strong roots.
Near the start of World War II, James Mitose introduced the art of Kenpo, which is a mixture of Chinese and Okinawan Kenpo, to Hawaii. Later William Chow who was one of his students adopted Mitoses’s approach and Americanized the art. Ed Parker who is probably the most famous practitioner was a student of William Chow and further adopted the methods so that they would prove practical in actual combat. Parker brought the art to California from Hawaii and one of his first students Jay T. Will branched off and further developed his particular style of Kenpo.
Jack Searcy studied several Martial Arts, along with Greco Roman Wrestling, Grappling, and American boxing. Knowing these stringent conforming styles could be blended and structured into the non-conforming style of Kenpo he then introduced Searcy’s American Kenpo (S.A.K.) which was born in 1980. S.A.K has 9 KYU grades and 10 degrees of Black Belts. In July 2001 this powerful style received it’s World wide recognition by the prestigious Sokeship council during a formal gala in Biloxi, Miss. where Grand Master Jack Searcy-Ph.D./M.A. was formally introduced in the Universal Martial Arts Hall of Fame.
Martial Arts Is What They Do
Martial Arts Is What They Do
In my search to find what I felt was the right Martial Arts school and instructor with the passion for the sport of Martial Arts, I became awed at the number of different schools or training centers within the Bay Area. Searching for just the right one, I’ve visited everything from the hole in the wall to the high profile, glamour, with their hey “Look at me”, I’m the biggest, newest flashiest attitudes to some that truly are no more than a daycare facility. While the glitter and flash is nice, it alone does not teach what Martial Arts is all about. I don’t need “Apollo Creed” and all his flashy “look at me” approach; give me “Rocky” and his dedication, training, discipline, his heart, and his passion for the sport.To me this is what the Martial Arts is all about. It’s the training and teachings that help build confidence and instills the discipline that allows its students to remain focused and in control. It instills in them the confidence that no matter what they encountered they can over come and obstacle and achieve their goals. It’s that never quit attitude that is reflected in the students of the instructors with passion for their sport. In my searching I have encountered a few of those Masters of this sport that possesses the passion and desire to not only teach but learn even more about their sport. But one above all others stands out as a person who truly cares not only for his sport but for each and every one of his students.
At Kick Inc., a Martial Arts training Center, located in Tarpon Springs, Fl., the home to nine world champions, Grand Master Jack Searcy teaches his students the finer points of a form of Martial Arts known as Kenpo. Translation meaning “The way of the China fist”, Kenpo, was one of the earliest forms of Martial Arts originated with the Shaolin Monks in the year 520 A.D.. Since that time, many different styles have evolved that are distinctive to their masters. During this changing of style periods, Kenpo lost most of its circular movements and developed into a straight forward style with hand blocks, punching techniques and powerful step through kicks known as “the old pinetree” style, which translates to “power coming from the ground with strong roots”.
Grand Master Jack Searcy owner of Kick Inc., studied several forms of Martial Arts, along with Greco Roman Wrestling, Grappling and American Boxing. He felt that these stringent conforming styles could be blended and structured into the non-conforming style of Kenpo. This Searcy’s American Kenpo (S.A.K.) was born in 1980. S.A.K. has 9 KYU grades and 10 degree’s of Black Belts. In July 2001, this powerful style of Kenpo received World Wide recognition by the Prestigious Sokeship Council during a gala in Biloxi, Mississippi, where Grand Master Jack Searcy PH.D/M.A. was formally introduced into the Universal Martial Arts Hall of Fame.
When talking to Grand Master Searcy, you can feel his passion when speaking about his sport. He states, “I am amazed when talking with people about their confusion about Martial Arts. Martial Arts, in particular Kenpo, is not to be used just as a means to harm someone just because you can, but as a means of personal protection”. As you progress through the different levels of belts of Kenpo, your threat level awareness deepens so that you will have the confidence in what ever situation may arise. SAK will teach you to not only personal protection, but it also helps to build strong character and solid moral values. It works as a major stress reduced while building confidence and discipline which allows you to stay focused and in control. SAK instills in you a “Never to Quit” attitude of confidence, while keeping your body, mind and soul energized.
Jack Searcy, personifies the Martial Arts. His passion is demonstrated in his very being. He has been a student and a professional in the Martial Arts for over 46 years. When you meet him, you will discover he still has a thirst and hunger for acquiring additional knowledge in the world of Martial Arts. He and his school are internationally recognized and he is known as a person who is fair with high morals, not only as a teacher but as a judge, referee or arbitrator for many events. As a 10th degree black belt with numerous titles, he speaks not of himself, but only of his young and adult students, with their awards and accomplishments. His pride is reflected in these young people who have performed nationally in front of various organizations. At Kick Inc., all ages and classes are available from beginner to the most advanced. When training at Kick Inc., you will learn self protection, competitive sport karate as well as threat level awareness and you can have private instructions, but above all else you will learn the true meaning of discipline, respect, focus and control. While there may be many Martial Art Schools, many of them come and go, nor do they have the staying power or give you the training and fulfillment you receive from the most unique Dojo around.
If you were to ask Grand Master Jack Searcy what to look for when joining a Martial Arts School, he would not suggest talking to the instructors first, but “Watch and speak to the students, it is through them you will truly learn if this is the place you should join”.
To Grand Master Searcy and his students, Martial Arts is not only a sport it’s A WAY OF LIFE!
This article was recently published in Sports Report Magazine.