First U.K.Belt test!
The students, who have been training since early this year, not only tested under the watchful eye of their instructor Paul Leworthy, but also had to satisfy the world renowned Miss Jaki McVicar from Torquay Kenpo Acedemy, who Paul had invited to be on the test panel.
Juniors Jack and Chloe Clayton, assisted by Chris Davis, put up a good account of themselves in the forty-five minute test, with the junior students showing all they had learnt over the last five months, successfully achieving their Beginning Yellow belt.
In the Adults, Dave and Jenny Clayton worked hard to obtain their Yellow Belt while Steve Sycamore and Simon Davis received their Orange Belt, the higher grade reflecting Steve and Simon’s previous Kenpo training. The Adult test, which lasted nearly two hours, saw the group work hard through self defence techniques, basics, forms, sets, sparring and impact padwork until at the end of the test they were all very tired!
Paul said “Today there are many martial arts where belts are almost given away while in others you can be guaranteed what is in fact a worthless black belt in a very short time…and for a certain price…regardless of ability! I am determined that my students will definitely earn their grades! They certainly did at this test, and I’m proud of them, but the tests just get harder from here on!”
For information on classes, which are held on Tuesday evenings at Whipton Community Hall, call Paul on 075000 4 50 50 or use the contact link.
Kenpo in Paris!
Also performing from the UK was Miss Jaki McVicar from Torquay, who has over thirty years in Kenpo and is Professor Speakman's personal UK American Kenpo Karate Systems representative. The team consisted of top Kenpo 5.0 martial artists from California and Nevada in the USA, Germany, France, the UK and the Netherlands and was believed to be the only internationally made up team performing at the festival, and Paul was proud to be representing Exeter and the UK!
As the UK representative for Kenpo 5.0, Paul started teaching classes throughout Exeter with his fiancee Fran in January and is eager to pass on his experience to as many willing students as he can. Paul also says "Kenpo 5.0 is an excellent and modernised version of an ancient art and Professor Speakman has brought it bang up to date! We take students into the excellent juniors programme from the age of five years upwards, and I honestly believe we can change the lives of many of those that come through our doors by using the globally standardised syllabus! Of course we teach women and men too; I truly believe that this is a very practical self defence system and with the way we train once a student has got the basics they can get fit very quickly if they put the work in! We are also intending to get involved with community projects to help improve the areas we are teaching in and fully intend to obtain a decent full time venue as soon as is practical." Search for 'Kenpo 5.0 Bercy 2010' on Youtube to see footage of the demonstration.
This is being turned into a feature DVD by longtime motion media collaborators Windust Operations who have always done a great job with Kenpo representation in the U.K, and this will be no exception.
Find out more and pre-order a copy of "What We Do" by clicking here. Hurry up he's got a special on until the end of March!
Kenpo in Vegas!
Click here for information about the 2010 Intrnational Training camp. Apply by March 31st for a free t-shirt!We're off!
Adults such as Dave, Jenny, Steve, Andy and Simon now enjoy one and a half hour long classes of warm up, basics, impact and cardio padwork, self-defence techniques, forms and sets...on a regular basis! With motivation and technical input from Mr Paul Leworthy along the way, the object is to give the students a strong Kenpo base to build from - and have them generating maximum power on the pads as soon as possible!
Dave and Jenny's son and daughter - Jack (6...or nearly 7, as he says!) and Chloe (9) - are progressing really well.....with the competetive duo already starting to introduce intent into their techniques and sets, as well as beginning to show great form and power in their padwork!
As a family they are taking advantage of the Family Discount scheme being offered by KENPO 5.0 (UK).....keeping their costs down by approximately 40% - and with corperate and incentive driven discount schemes also on offer to students there are other opportuntites to reduce training costs too! With more junior students imminent, Jack and Chloe are leading the way for junior Kenpo 5.0 in the UK!
With six classes available in Exeter, Devon, UK to get fit, have fun, meet new friends and learn great skills in a motivated environment - why wouldn't people come and train with Kenpo 5.0 (UK) in 5.0 CARDIO and 5.0 IMPACT padwork classes, and the excellent KENPO 5.0 system?
A Personal account of the Jeff Speakman December 2009 Seminar
What a great weekend it turned out to be! Although we’ve been conversing via Facebook, it’s great to finally meet our European family. Richard Baarspul, Michelle Jaansen and Jaap have great movement and intent. After seeing some of their Youtube videos I expected big things…and they didn’t disappoint! To also find that they tempered their abilities with humility and respect was a bonus, but then I’m beginning to find that this is common with Kenpo 5.0 people. Wim Lambert from Belgium was an absolute star! He ferried us around everywhere, and training with him was an absolute joy (still got the bruises!) He’s a great Kenpoist with good intent and effectiveness. The French contingent? They’re all quite mad! But in terms of strong Kenpo they’re just great – again – I’ve still got the bruises!
Mr Speakman was his normal awesome self, and I could see the penny dropping with those that have not been to one of his seminars before. Richard Baarspul took the brunt of being demonstrated on, but I stepped in at just the wrong time on the Saturday….to receive Mr Speakman’s left elbow being forced many times into my left shin, simultaneous with an ankle crank…..OUCH! To see Richard and Michelle revelling in my discomfort was all part of the fun! On Sunday morning Miss Jaki McVicar took the first seminar, and blew people away with her movement! Luckily Fran and I have been training with her for about a year now so are used to what she does which helped us. Mr Speakman told the group that if they wanted to know how Mr Parker moved then she was the person to watch! It’s a great honour to be training in her classes; she is now a great friend! However, people were baffled by her companion that she brought with her….there was this greatly respected Lady of Kenpo….and then Garfield…..her new AKKS Kenpo mascot! It was also good to see Mr Matt Snell in a training environment, rather than as an instructor. This guy just has exceptional movement, and the knowledge of principles and concepts that he can recite instantly is just incredible! We got much closer as friends over the weekend, this being helped by his thus far hidden sense of humour!
So, all in all a great weekend, friendships born and strengthened, more knowledge imparted, memories made and bruises obtained! But then this is a Kenpo 5.0 weekend….what else would you expect?
Paul Leworthy Kenpo 5.0 (UK)
