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New Students

The Kenpo Creed

I come to you with only Karate, empty hands, I have no weapons, but should I be forced to defend myself, my principles or my honor, should it be a matter of life or death, of right or wrong; then here are my weapons, Karate, my empty hands.

Ed Parker Sr.

Categories
New Students

Dojo Etiquette

Why is Etiquette Important?

Studying the martial arts means that you’re studying violence. Violence is anything but polite. The danger of what’s being practiced requires respect, both for the subject matter as well as for training partners.

Basic Practices

  • When approaching the training area, bow before entering
  • When leaving the training area, bow to the training area before leaving
  • When given a command by an instructor respond with a firm “yes sir/ma’am”
  • When receiving instruction stand in a ready stance while watching/listening to the instructor
  • When practicing techniques with others adjust your level of execution to the comfort level of your partner

Categories
New Students

How to Tie Your Belt

Why is this Important?

Putting on your uniform should help prepare mentally to start training. Part of what you should be getting from training is discipline, the techniques we study require it to be executed properly. So if you don’t have the discipline to tie your belt properly, how can you be expected to perform the techniques?

Tying Your Belt

Much of the proportions depend on the length of your belt in relation to the size of you waist – so getting the ends even will take some practice!

There are only a few simple steps to tie your belt properly:

  • Take the right side of your belt about 1/5 of the way up from the end with your right hand and hold it under your belly-button
  • Now take the left side of your belt and go around your back with your left hand
  • Cross the belt over the point you’re holding with your right hand
  • Continue wrapping the belt around your waist until you come all the way to where the ends cross again
  • Take the top layer (the now right side) and go down and then bring it up behind both layers of your belt
  • Cinch the belt up until snug (still need to be able to breathe) – both ends should be even here
  • Take the left side in your right hand and pull it across under the right end of your belt (it will make something of a loop)
  • Lay the right side over the top of the loop and then pull it back up and through the loop
  • Grab the ends and jerk tight

You’ll know it’s tied right if both sides of the knot are level left to right (a common mistake has the belt ends point up and down).