11. Are there additional requirements after black belt?

There are many things to be learned from the Karate Connection, once you have achieved a Black Belt. Things, that are not required to become an IKCA Black Belt. These things are also not required to attain degrees in Black Belt with the IKCA, they are optional. These are subjects that our students have requested further knowledge in and we are happy to oblige. This is generally done on a student-by-student basis.

The primary concern and goal of the Karate Connection is to give our students the best standup fighting system available and to make them as natural and spontaneous within that system as possible - in other words - turn out the best Kenpo Black Belt's we can. And to do it within as short a period of time, on a student-by-student basis, as possible. For more on this subject please read the IKCA Philosophy.

12. Has the system evolved since the videos were initially produced? If so, how do you present the changes?

The system has evolved in many ways since the videos were initially produced but it has changed very, very little since that time. We know that can be confusing so here's what we mean by that: The system was created, using over fifty years of combined experience, by Mr. LeRoux and myself. As you may know, it took us right at about two years to complete the plan. (See the Newsletter Article - In the Beginning for further details) In that two years we had to decide where, within the system, to present certain elements and we had to keep examining the overall plan to see what, if anything, we had unnecessarily repeated or possibly didn't emphasize enough. But above all, we also had to review and examine, with the proverbial fine toothcomb, every technique we had ever learned and what we wanted to teach. Therefore many of the techniques had to be revised and in some cases eliminated completely because upon stiff scrutiny we found they didn't really live up to what they were suppose to accomplish. The system has evolved because we have placed more emphasis on certain things such as breathing and the use of the Kiai as well as covering out and blending, borrowing and combining at the end of a given technique, as well as greater emphasis on stance and stance change in general. All of these things are in the original videos but we didn't place as much emphasis on them as we have come to want to see from our students. Those are only a few of the elements that have been punched-up over the last ten years, since we began the video-testing program. We were extremely fortunate that we had the background and the time to plan as thoroughly as we did. Because of the degree of planning that went into the system we have something that has proven itself time and time again over the past ten years. All anyone has to do is visit an IKCA Seminar or Tournament to see the results. So, as far as change is concerned, we haven't had to make any substantial changes because it simply hasn't been necessary and like the man said, "If it ain't broke don't fix it. There have been two modifications to techniques that I have personally made. However, in both cased I make those changes optional and as far as the Master form is concerned either is acceptable, in both competition and for promotion. They are not so much changes as they are just a slightly different approach to the technique. A change of weapon in one case and a different method of delivery in the other. And in both cases we wait until Black Belt to make the suggestions and leave making the changes up to the individual. The last part of the question is - how do we make the changes? Easy - we do it when we talk to the student at the end of his or her video test and physically demonstrate what they did incorrectly or what could be improved upon and show them what we expect to see the next time. We make it no secret, that if a person buys the entire video set and studies it diligently, they are still only getting half, or less, of the system - the rest of it comes through the interactive video correspondence we have with the student. The one on one, if you will. And remember, we never said it would be easy, we just said we could make it possible!

13. How does the IKCA Kenpo compare to Ed Parker's American Kenpo?

The basics that were taught to us by Ed Parker which constitute the heart and soul of Kenpo and the basics we teach on the video series and to in-person students, with just a couple of exceptions, are identical. They are pure Kenpo. The similarities and differences between IKCA Kenpo and Ed Parker's Kenpo are primarily theoretical.

14. I am a third degree Blackbelt in another school of Kenpo. Can I cross test for Black Belt? Where do I start?

This isn't going to be easy. We hate telling Kenpo Blackbelts that they must start at the beginning and work all the way through, just the same as a beginner. Except, they are not beginners and their rate of progress is usually like a comet by comparison. The only reason you will have to start with the basics is for us to make certain you have them the way they were intended in the beginning. Sometimes when a person learns from a fourth or fifth generation Kenpo Blackbelt, or often even further from the source than that, things can get lost or misinterpreted along the way. It doesn't take many changes within the basics, to throw the rest of the system into a real tailspin.

Once the basics check-out there is the matter of learning the fifty-five techniques that make up the rest of the Karate Connection system, which for a Kenpo Blackbelt should be absolutely no problem. When the fifty-five techniques are in place, so is the Master Form and therefore the system. Learning to blend, borrow and combine and pulling it to all together in that special spontaneous Karate Connection way is another matter. That's what takes the real time and effort. Knowing it and being able to do it spontaneously and upon demand are all too often two different things.

15. I have a bad hip joint and I have trouble kicking with my right leg. Can I still test and get my Black Belt?

16. I have been partially paralyzed by a stroke, left side, can I still test and become a ranked Blackbelt?

We have put these questions together because they have the common denominator of a physical issue. Each case is different, because each individual is different and if we can see a way for a person to proceed in the Art and progress, we will work with them to the full extent of our abilities. That's the beauty of getting to know you on video. Each of our students is considered on a personal and individual basis, exactly as it would be in the dojo. People confined to wheelchairs have received their Black Belts. In fact I was told that such a person now runs a school in the West L.A. location that Ed Parker's dojo once occupied and is doing very well there. I don't know what style he teaches.

Getting your Black Belt involves much more than being able to do specific moves to a particular level of proficiency. Certainly, that's the first thing that's looked for but physical conditions and many other factors have to be taken into consideration so that we can make Kenpo work for you. Ed Parker was fond of saying that "Kenpo is like a fine suit made from exquisite fabric and it should be tailored to you". Every intelligent person instinctively knows that if two men of equal knowledge, abilities, talent and experience (if you could ever find two such people) were to meet on the field of battle, and one was five feet tall and the other six feet tall, the six-footer with superior strength and reach would have a natural advantage. So to say that a man in a wheelchair is equal in mobility to a man with his natural ability to maneuver, would be ludicrous. Could the man in the wheelchair have superior upper body strength? Yes he could. Could the man in the wheelchair have superior fighting knowledge and strategies, having learned how to make the chair work for him, instead of against him? Yes he could. Would these be enough to assure him a victory? It would surely make a huge difference in his chances. Would he be better off with practiced fighting skills and strategies than without them? Of course he would. So why would anyone wish to deny him those tools, just because he doesn't fit the usual mold?

If the man in the wheelchair were to put forth the same effort the mobile man puts out and if the man in the wheelchair were to replace his weaknesses with strengths and, with our help, modify the system to work for him, would he not be deserving of receiving a Black Belt for this extraordinary effort. We think the answer is, yes. In fact, considering those obstacles we might even say, more deserving. We have not had the opportunity to work with a case like this but we would certainly be available if it should ever present itself.

17. I would like to take all the tests up to black and for Black Belt fly out and test in person. If this is possible, what would the cost be and how much advanced notice would you need.

This has been done in the past. The charge for a Black Belt Video test is $225.00 the fee for an in person Black Belt Test is $325.00. There is unavoidably more time devoted to an in-person test than there is to a video test. The video lesson done at the end of the test has to be done live and that also runs into a lot more time. The fee would be even higher, if we were to figure it literally but we know people like doing it and we enjoy it as well, so we have kept the cost as reasonable as we possibly could.

18. Do you and Mr. Sullivan teach private lessons and if so, what is the fee?

Time permitting; we do occasionally take on students for private lessons. The fee we charge is $20.00 per half hour lesson. Each lesson we teach is video taped so the student has a reference at his or her disposal after the actual lesson. That way we can teach more material per lesson because we know that when the student shows an understanding for what is being presented at the moment we don't have to wait for them to get it completely, because they have the video to go back to. It's like getting two or three lessons at once.

We don't necessarily limit each lesson to a half hour. If a student travels a long distance to get to us and their stay is not going to be a long one and they want more time at each session, it can be arranged, using the $20.00 per half hour as a base.

When we teach a half hour lesson it is a full half hour of instruction. One of the saddest stories I have ever heard was from a student of mine who moved from our area and couldn't make the classes any longer. As a substitute he found a teacher near him. I won't publish the instructors name but let's just say that he is a high-ranking Black Belt and was at that time as well. My student told me that at each half hour lesson, the instructor was consistently five or more minutes late and never offered an apology. My student is an attorney and he told me that another irritating habit of this instructor was to spend about the first ten minutes, of what was suppose to be his lesson time, getting legal advice, for which he never offered to pay. Then, to add insult to injury, after about ten or twelve minutes he would say that he had to get ready for his next lesson and leave the workout room telling him to work on what he had just taught him.

My lawyer friend swore to me that he never had a lesson with the man that lasted a full fifteen minutes. Needless to say, he didn't stay with him for long and what he was being charged, at that time, was staggering.

19. Will Mr. Sullivan or Mr. LeRoux travel to our school and do a seminar and if so what is the fee.

Again, time permitting, it is possible for Mr. LeRoux to travel to your school and do a seminar. The fee he charges is one thousand dollars and a percentage of the gross for a three-day weekend, plus expenses. Given enough lead-time the IKCA Newsletter will promote the event so that all members will know of the Seminar and be able to participate.

20. Does the association sell franchises and if so how much are they?

The IKCA does not sell franchises. What is offered is a School Membership. What a school membership does for a school owner or the operator of an after school program or private club is to make them a part of an International Organization enabling them to promote their students and have them recognized world wide. The IKCA keeps promotion records for each school and the promotions are published in the quarterly IKCA Newsletter. A School Member may purchase IKCA materials such as the videos, patches, t-shirts etc. at wholesale prices for sale at their school or to their club members or after school program students.

For more on School Membership look at School Affiliation, here on the web site under IKCA Bylaws.