We're off!
Coincidentally, Andy had started on his road in the martial arts, just for a year or so, some twelve years previously at the very same Bujinkai Karate school as his now new instructor Paul Leworthy! Before the adults was the combined Kids and Teens session, this attended by our very first ever UK juniors - Dave's son and daughter, Jack and Chloe, who are seven and nine years old! The competetive brother and sister definitely have some natural talent in them; the attentive duo instantly performing roundhouse kicks to form, and on the pads, very well and Chloe did the left side of Blocking Set 1 without any prompting - future KENPO 5.0 stars for sure!
With Dave's wife, Jenny, also saying she will start training this will truly be a family affair -and they will take advantage of the Family Discount scheme being offered by KENPO 5.0 (UK).....keeping their costs down! With more new students due to start this and next week, and with the likes of Kempo Ryu students brown belt Steve Sycamore (also a TaeKwondo black belt) now training....and Kempo Ryu black belt James Watson and 1st degree black belt 'Big' Barry Vinnicombe starting very soon, 2010 is shaping up to be a great year for KENPO 5.0 in the UK!
With four nights and venues 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 in Professor Jeff Speakman's 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)
