Mention the town of Napa, California and people immediately picture wineries, row upon row of world­ class grapes, hot air balloons, quaint Bed & Breakfasts, and of course IKCA Kenpo?!?

Doug Meeks, IKCA Seventh Degree Black Belt is the Chief Instructor at Main Street Martial Arts, one of the most successful martial arts schools in the Napa area. Recently featured on the Kenpo Freestyle Fighting Tapes, Doug uses the IKCA Kenpo system as a core curriculum supplemented with his experience in varied arts to turn out some of the best Kenpo students in Northern California.

Doug lives with his family in Napa where he was born and raised. Having earned a degree in Exercise Physiology and Sport Nutrition from Sonoma State, he started in the field of physical therapy. After getting his state teaching credentials, he became a 6th grade teacher. His teaching job requires him to be knowledgeable in numerous subjects, though he admits his biggest challenge is holding the attention of a class of thirty-plus kids. But he is quick to say that his biggest reward is when the kids that hate school experience a turnaround during the year he is their teacher and begin liking it

Doug has spent nearly half his life as a martial arts instructor, operating his first school at the young age of twenty. Starting back in 1976, Doug began the martial arts studying Kyokushinkai Karate (Mas Oyama's style) under Sensei Bill Whittmeyer. He then switched to a local Tracy's Kenpo school for 4-5 years earning his 1st Degree Black Belt. Though his parents weren't thrilled with his martial arts interest, Doug remembers his first job turned out to be a Junior Instructor in the Tracy's organization. Over the years, as he progressed in rank in the art of Kenpo, Doug also studied similar arts such as Kajukenbo, and dissimilar arts as varied as Wing Chun, Tae Kwon Do and Jiu-jitsu. Spending a few years in the Danzan Ryu system of Jiu-jitsu and attaining a 1st Degree Brown, Doug developed an appreciation for ground fighting and as a result became very impressed with the Gracie System. "My exposure to such methods allowed me to blend it with what I knew and for Kenpo that evolved into developing 'ground extensions'. The goal of these extensions is to get back on your feet again as soon as possible." As he continued his studies, he was struck with the volume of the material required to grasp the whole of each art, especially Kenpo.

From these experiences, he began to develop his own personal philosophy about the martial arts, how much material was really necessary, and that's where the IKCA comes in.

Doug found out about the Karate Connection and IKCA Kenpo as most do, from the advertisement in Black Belt Magazine. He really didn't expect much from the IKCA, but as he recalls, "...the preview tape was free!" Needless to say he was impressed with what he saw, a practical, effective, teachable system. "I saw movement that was quick to teach, but application that would take a lifetime to perfect." He was also struck by the simplicity of the system. He states, "A boxer uses only 4-5 punches in his arsenal. Why should we have 400? My position is that you don't need more stuff, you just need to learn to use what you've got." Doug was so impressed with the Karate Connection material he ordered the full set of tapes and set a date to transition his school to IKCA Kenpo. "I remember telling my assistant instructors, 'This is what we're gonna do!', and I caught a lot of flack from them and was met with a fair amount of resistance. But it has all worked out for the best." When asked to sum up why he decided to change, Doug states, "First and foremost, Chuck and Vic are credible people. More and more people are going back to basics. Nobody remembers or mentions that the IKCA was doing it before anyone else. The IKCA teaches the backbone, the core of Kenpo. With the solid basis of the IKCA Kenpo system you can teach virtually anything and relate it back to Kenpo."

As can be seen in the Kenpo Freestyle Fighting Tapes, put out by the IKCA, Doug's passion is teaching. "I teach as much for my own growth as for those I teach,” he states. One of the strengths that Doug recognizes from the IKCA is the teaching method with which they've reached so many people worldwide. "I'm amazed by the caliber of the people," he says. "After all, if video training hadn't been available, where would I be?" Doug knows firsthand the challenges of being a video student and he offers this advice: "Do what you've got to do to stay motivated. Don't let life get in the way, stick with it."

When asked what final thoughts he would like to leave with his IKCA brothers and sisters, Doug turned the focus off of himself and back to the IKCA founders. "Chuck Sullivan and Vic LeRoux have done so much to establish a common bond, a Kenpo bond, for so many people including myself. I have to give credit where it is due, and these gentlemen deserve a ton of credit. I doubt I would still be in Kenpo if it weren't for them."

            This writer has a suspicion that your students will say the same of you, Mr. Meeks.