Founding of Kenpo Karate in Australia
SYNOPSIS
Over the last 7- 8 years there has been a lot of of promotional activity and a seemingly explosion of Kenpo Karate schools and practitioners throughout Australia, mainly focused on the Speakman Schools and the break away KKA group however both of these organizations are post 98.
Prior to 98 KKA was a Hybrid Karate school which from my own discussions with the founder and observations of that system bore absolutely no connection at all with Kenpo.
There were small schools in South Australia and Western Australia who stated they were Kenpo and I believe that to be the case, as such I have included a link to the Western Australia schools History page on our main History links page.
THE 1980′S
During this decade Mr Parker visited Australia twice, on both occasions he had a presence in Sydney through Mr John Van Wyck and his Kenpo Karate schools, in fact it was because of John that Mr Parker came out. John had visited Mr Parker in the USA and had been appointed Mr Parkers representative for Australia some time in 1985.
At this time the syllabus was the 24 technique syllabus with the commensurate forms and set requirements. Also during this period various individuals from Australia under Mr Van Wyck had traveled to the USA and competed at Long Beach, Mr Van Wyck had numerous contacts with noted Kenpo exponents such as Mr Tatum, Mr Trejo, and shared time with Mr Conaster , Mr Skip Hancock, Mr Lee Wedslake .
I was also privileged to meet Mr Hancock , Mr Wedslake and others on one of Mr Parkers two visits. In particular Dennis and Sharon Tosten who at the time were a inspiration for their skill, knowledge and genuine interest in those around them.I also had a conversation with Mr Parker in the presence of John related to New Zealand and his attitude to those who claim to do his system but don’t practice the syllabus.
He was not in favour of it. He believed to do his system you should do and practice the system as it was then, the 24 tech. This did not mean ONLY this syllabus , rather the lessons contained in the syllabus should lead to many different fields of study , over time and that the syllabus was a beginning not an end, never the less necessary. He of course said a lot more than this especially in relation to the perceived wrong done to him and his name in New Zealand but that has been documented elsewhere.
I mention this conversation as it has bearing on what transpired after Mr Parkers death.
AFTER 1990
After Mr Parkers death there was the well known and much talked about dispersion of Kenpo seniors which I will not dwell upon. However the syllabus question is relevant.
Over the next 6 years the syllabus went from 24 to 12 to 8 up to Green and 14 brown 3 and 2 then a skip to Brown 1 with extensions followed by Black 1 (make up your own extensions) then Black 2 which was the Brown 3 24 tech syllabus – after which was a 3rd degree made up of knife work designed by students.
YELLOW—-6
ORANGE—8
PURPLE—-8
BLUE——-8
GREEN—–8
BROWN 3—14
BROWN 2—14
BROWN 1—-24
BLACK 1—24–OWN EXTENSIONS
BLACK 2—24
BLACK 3 —KNIFE TECHS BY STUDENTS.
BELOW IS A COMPARISM WITH THE 24 TECH SYLLABUS.
YELLOW—-6 YELLOW
ORANGE—-8 ORANGE
PURPLE—–8 ORANGE
BLUE—–8 PURPLE
GREEN —–8 PURPLE
BROWN 3—14—-14 BLUE
BROWN 2 —-14—14 GREEN
BROWN 1—-24 BROWN 1—VARIATIONS ON EXTENSIONS
BLACK 1—-24 EXTENSIONS MADE UP BY STUDENT
BLACK 2 —BROWN 3
BLACK 3 —WORK IN PROGRESS
The forms up to Long 3 were standard but long 4 and long 5 were not, they were designed in house. Not many of the sets were practiced apart from the kicking set 1, finger set 1 and numerous 2 man sets depending on the students ability.
Having said this the quality of the concise syllabus was such as to show a definitive Kenpo aspect, it was unmistakably Kenpo Karate.
FROM THE MID 1990′S
With the advent of of the IKKA in New Zealand I formed a friendship which culminated in my school becoming part of the IKKA. I had had knowledge of some of the techs from the 1980′s and sourced more from others, this culminated in 1998, whereupon we severed all ties to all organizations out side of the IKKA having individual friendships with other Kenpoists from other groups on a politically free basis.
1999
It was around this time that one of our comrades from the Oz Kenpo who had spent 6-8 months in the USA informed us that there was to be a Speakman School in Australia. He believed that he would be involved in a senior capacity and that a not insubstantial number of Oz kenpoists would probably join. We had already assignated that we would remain with the IKKA out of respect to the Parker Family and as it best suited our independence but gave assurances of our friendship and support.
Unfortunately this was not to be . I received an email from a reasonably high ranked Irish Kenpo practitioner who had visited our Dojo earlier that year asking if I could contact an individual named Tom Cullen as he had been appointed the head of the new Speakman franchise and this fellow wanted my opinion.
I was a little shocked by this news as I did not know Tom Cullen and was pretty sure he didn’t know Kenpo. On meeting Mr Cullen I found that he had no prior knowledge of Kenpo apart from some skilling he had received on his visit overseas. I however found Tom himself to be personable and friendly and not in any way overestimating his own abilities within Kenpo.
We kept an informal training regime until Mr Speakman vetoed this (it was help given by us for no monetary or political benefit). We had all contact severed after we confirmed that we would not join the Speakman group as we were committed to the IKKA, I believe then and now this was a direct political act. We then found Tom and MR Speakman had actively gutted the IKKA in New Zealand leaving a runt of an organization in its place. We were not surprised but the so called brotherhood was dead In terms of Oz Kenpo the main schools in Melbourne shortly thereafter went over to Mr Speakman leaving a small remnant in Sydney and of course ourselves, wholly independent.
It would be true to say that a lot of expertise from Oz Kenpo was a godsend to the Speakman group as none of Toms schools were at that time Kenpo proficient.
POST 2000—YOU REAP WHAT YOU SOW
Now of course we have a separate KKA—Tom Cullen group and Speakman group as the two had a parting of the ways, whatever that means. But there is a note of caution here as we have a marketing program unleashed proposing Tom Cullen as a Kenpo Master, thanks to Mr Speakman this claim , for now goes unchallenged and is given further credence whether knowingly or not by visitors from the USA each giving this group support and succour.
It begs the question what is Kenpo now.
During this same period another Oz Kenpo Senior linked up with Mr Conaster, we have a friendship for this school and wish it all the success possible, unlike Mr Speakman Mr Conaster appointed an experienced Oz Kenpo practitioner not a promoter.
As to John Van Wyck and his Oz Kenpo , I believe he is living in Queensland selling short courses in self defense based on his vision of a synthesized form of Kenpo to any who will listen. He still believes he has an insight into the art that requires only theory and concept with a small quantity of techniques. Virtually no one from the pre 2000 years has any time for his vision or his version of business. He changed his name to Baron Von Reuth due to some private business rational and spends little or no time in his home state. I for one after he was witness to the conversation with Mr Parker feel he has misused his relationships then and now for his own self gratification and is not welcome in our schools. Had he followed Mr Parkers lead he would not have lost everything and Kenpo in Australia would be a force in the world, not a sad , soft bellied blow hard, reliant on visitations from big brother losing what identity it could have had..
ARE THERE LESSONS TO BE LEARNT
I go back to the discussion I had with Mr Parker in the mid 1980′s and ruminate on the import, to me. It became a life long commitment to develop my own art in its fullest possible expression. To do this I had to fight to get the syllabus at times and make some hard financial verses quality of training decisions. Thank fully my students came with me for the journey and I hope stay on this path as without them it would not be worth nearly as much.
We practice the fullest expression of Mr Parkers syllabus that we are capable of and from this time forth respect nothing less.
The days of respect for rank without commencerate skill and honourable qualities are HISTORY.
by Mark Anthony Collings
source: real-kenpo.com
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