About Kempo

Martial arts is a journey of self-discovery, discipline, and perseverance. This article discusses how understanding that tasks are neither easy nor difficult, but rather, we are either prepared or not yet ready, can empower martial artists to develop the resilience and determination needed to overcome challenges and accomplish anything. By transforming challenges into growth opportunities, martial artists can unlock their full potential through the process of refining their techniques and developing mental fortitude ...

Martial arts training is more than just practicing techniques and movements. It requires a balanced approach that incorporates various training methods. In this post, we explore three complementary training methods: practicing to the air, with a punching bag, and with a partner. Each method offers unique benefits that, when combined, help students develop a well-rounded skill set, refine technique, and achieve their fitness and martial arts goals. Whether you're a beginner or an experienced practitioner, incorporating these training methods into your practice can help you excel in the martial arts ...

In fitness, finding the right balance between pushing yourself hard enough and avoiding injury can be challenging. Discover how the concept of the "Shaolin Crane" can help you achieve optimal results in your workouts. Learn about the sweet spot for muscle fatigue and how to find the right balance when you're sick or injured. Explore the wisdom of Shaolin Kempo and the importance of listening to your body to reach your fitness goals. Read on to find out how to strike the perfect balance in your fitness routine ...

Potomac Kempo recently hosted its first tournament in three years. Through the worst of the pandemic, our instructors continued to teach in whatever capacity they could, sometimes virtually, sometimes distanced or outside, and often masked. Our annual tournament, however, had to wait. An event of this kind can only be accomplished in person and with a crowd of excited spectators. So, given the long wait, it was a thrill to be able to bring its tournament back with full energy! Throughout November 6th, nearly two hundred competitors and double that in spectators descended on the Embassy Suites, Springfield. The room ...

Sometimes the best amongst us are the humblest, which is certainly the case with these exemplary martial artists. For many people, the practice of martial arts is a strange—possibly intimidating—concept. People often wonder what happens in a 'dojo' with unfortunate misconceptions often perpetuated by movies and television. But the martial arts, and specifically the art of Kempo, which we choose to practice, is not strange or mysterious. It is an ancient self-improvement practice with fitness training and self-defense fitted in to fill out the edges. In life, we often find that our greatest adversary is ourselves, as we all too ...

The Long Way to Belgium Our path to Belgium started a decade ago in Pennsylvania. Obviously. One of my students was headed to a martial arts seminar in Pennsylvania. I reached out to the host, and he graciously invited me to join the roster of instructors. It was a humbling experience, and I say without reservation that I learned far more than I taught and am still a student of the host, Sensei Jeff Driscoll, Kyoshi. While in Pennsylvania, I met another of Sensei Driscoll's students, Sensei Bart De Backer, Shihan. He, in turn, invited me to join with the ...

What do you think about as you fall headfirst towards the ground? Or, more to the point, what should you think about? If the surface is pavement or gravel? Should you tense for impact? No, obviously, you should just relax. In the case of falling, as in so many instances, our instincts are flawed. If you are falling towards the Earth, you should not tense for impact. Instead, relax and roll with it. Fall intentionally. There is no guarantee that you won't be injured, but rolling with a fall will minimize its impact. And make no mistake, it is a ...

Some people describe a punch in terms of the structure of the body that supports and projects the arm and fist. Others harken to the term "throwing a punch" and explain that a punch is led by the hand and that the body needs but to form behind it. Of course, they are both correct as far as each goes. However, I like to take a step further back, beyond the body and to the mind that initiates the idea of the punch in the first place.  A punch begins with a thought. An intent and a target create motion ...

There are many paths up the mountain. That is what we say when discussing other arts, all of the different ways people seek the benefits of Kempo training. All of these other arenas to which people go to challenge themselves to become healthier, happier, and better. But when standing at 13,500 and staring at the miles forward and thousands of feet of elevation left to go. Well, then there is only one path up the mountain, the one under your feet. The one you have been walking since you started in the pre-dawn. It's the only path that will take ...

I’ve opened a number of dojos over the years. One of the exciting things about opening a new martial arts studio is seeing the time when it is just a construction site and experiencing the magical moment when it becomes a dojo. Yesterday the painter was working in his coveralls and boots, taking his lunch break in the middle of the room. Today the carpeting is being installed by men who walk callously through the venerated keyhole doorway and don’t know what a dojo is—or that they are helping to build it. But tomorrow—tomorrow we will call it a dojo ...

I was a teenager when I started my Kempo training. I didn’t own a car; if I couldn’t get a ride from a friend, I would jog to the studio. The dojo wasn’t far away, but it was straight uphill. On a clear day, rare back then, you could see Mount Baldy looming in the background just a dozen miles off. No matter how many times I ran that slope, it never seemed to get any flatter. Regardless, eventually, I would round the corner and look towards the studio. A Shift Just seeing a karate studio can create a shift ...

At the risk of seeming to oversimplify a complicated issue, allow me to state that a block consists of three parts. The three parts are an inward check, and outward clear, and movement. Now, before anyone takes exception to my broad generalization, allow me two caveats. The first is that there are myriad actions one can take before, during, and after a block that could conceivably confuse the isolation of a block. Secondly, and to my mind, most interestingly, a sufficiently proficient practitioner need only execute two of the three parts. To understand the three parts and how they work ...

At the Shaolin Temple, we had the privilege of training with a senior monk possessing the congenial, relaxed demeanor that so often accompanies mastery. Working in a back alley behind the ancient curved rooftops, watched only occasionally by resident (indifferent) cats and our taciturn teacher, we aimed to make our bodies mimic the skills being offered. My family visiting the Shaolin Temple in 2019 In such a setting, and after more than twenty years of practicing martial arts, it might be tempting to be frustrated when left for forty-five minutes in the blistering Chinese sun to practice the same three ...

Our Mission is to positively impact the world by inspiring excellence in the men, women, and children we serve — challenging them to become healthier, happier, and better through the practice of the Martial Arts.Potomac Kempo Mission Statement I believe firsthand in the power of these words. A mission statement is an organization’s effort to articulate its purpose to the world and, though our mission statement serves that purpose, it began simply as a personal quest. Visiting the Shaolin Temple, Henan, China in 2001 The word, “healthier,” hearkens back to my earliest days as a martial artist. Not long after ...

It has been correctly said that real growth occurs outside of our comfort zone. We all have a squishy area that we enjoy — a soft sofa or a comfortable routine — that we fall back on when life presents us with challenges. However, sofas and routines don't allow us to grow and become more than we used to be. Moreover, in the absence of that growth life becomes dull, colorless, and we never live the potential that we possess. The question then is how best to leave our comfort zone. Sometimes we do this alone; we get up in ...

It is well understood that martial arts training helps to develop kids who are resilient — strong, adaptable, and able to recover. What is the secret? Our instructor training focuses on how to be the best possible teacher for every student and how to drive lessons through the three Pillars of Learning, Service, and Integrity.  Being the best possible teacher for every student is involved and challenging, but it is a learnable skill. It involves having the right mindset, taking advantage of all possible educational opportunities (both planned and unplanned), communicating effectively, and about a thousand other things. Learning, Service, ...

Everyone knows when it is tournament time for our studios. The practice rings are set up in every studio, inviting everyone to be brave enough to step in the ring. Students start standing up in front of the class to demonstrate their skills while *gulp* everyone else is watching, waiting to applaud. A sense of team spirit surfaces as the demo team polishes its routine and each school rallies to be the one that brings home the tournament cup. A lot of preparation goes into this competition that, frankly, doesn't matter. It seems odd that while discussing a tournament that ...

So the question is: “What should you do if someone punches you?” Almost reflexively many people will answer, “Hit them back.” It seems so reasonable and it certainly happens often enough. But to really answer the question you have to know what your goal is. “What are you trying to accomplish?” In the context of civilian self defense I believe the answer is as simple as — or should be as simple as — “get away safely.”  In that context is “hitting them back” really the best answer? Or at the very least should it be our first response? Please ...

Here are three simple ideas that, when taken together, can change your life. They are so deceptively simple that I almost feel silly writing them down. But every day I encounter people who aren’t applying them to their lives — and almost as often I realize that I seem to have forgotten them myself. Truth One The most important thing is how we feel. Again, this is simple stuff, but it seems that as we go through our day we get distracted by complicated stuff and miss the simple stuff. Think about it like this. Many people want a nicer ...

When you go on a Journey you're only supposed to come home once, right? But what if home is in many places? You see, a couple of years ago I was invited by this strange woman to learn another Martial Art — American Kenpo Karate. It is very similar to — but slightly different — from my native Shaolin Kempo. I'm always looking to learn new things, so I agreed. Then, she suggested that we should prepare together and then travel to San Diego and test for our Black Belts together.  I've been through enough Black Belt Tests — both as participant and ...

Someone once told me that to become great we must be "happy but not satisfied." Some people are very happy with their progress, so happy that they become satisfied with where they are. Which in a twisted way is good, because their satisfaction leads to stagnation -- and they never improve again. Other people are unsatisfied with their level of progress --  they are still striving to reach some unattainable goal, but choosing to be miserable that they aren't there yet. This continual disappointment leads to frustration with their training and, eventually, to the end of achieving. Some are unhappy and ...

Finding a dojo in Cuba is harder than it probably should be. Google Maps coverage is weak and Yelp is nonexistent. Cellular internet does not exist in Cuba and you can't get internet to your home or hotel either (at least not legally). Want to surf the interwebs? Head to any public park with a prepaid card. It'll cost you about a buck per hour. So as we explored this friendly and beautiful island, we searched for a dojo the old fashioned way — by asking complete strangers. Not surprisingly, this didn't work very well. Many people knew of an acquaintance or distant ...

It's More than Punches and Kicks, it's a Way of Life by Sensei Gary Covington Running a dojo or martial arts school is just fun! My students vary in age from 4 to 64 and I enjoy working with them all. While all of my students are hard working and dedicated to learning this art, the juniors seem to crave knowledge with reckless abandon. They learn the moves and never bore of review, they look forward to meeting new students and help them get acquainted, they are confident and when they make a mistake they don't get down they just ...

It is often said — and sometimes even understood — that the Circle Beats the Line and the Line Beats the Circle but it merits discussion what this really means. Linear and Circular Movements If we consider power we know that linear movements radiating from our center are the most powerful category of movements. However, if our target is not on a line from our center a linear movement will not be able to reach it. Thus a circular movement will be the most powerful way of reaching it by default. Similarly, we know that a linear movement will always ...

The Pillars of Kempo explain how we got here and - at the very least - try to explain where here is: Learning - We yearn to become more than we are. Integrity - We prove ourselves worthy of it, either intrinsically or through ordeal. Service We pass it on, sharing with the next generation so that they might have the benefit of our experiences. Isn’t this how everything that is was developed? Why, then, is this interesting? The Pillars act not only as a filter but as a forge. The process of becoming a student of Shaolin Kempo is a self-selection process — a ...

As with the other Pillars, Service is built into Kempo both in its propagation as well as in its implementation. It is true that Shaolin Kempo would not exist today if it were not for the Service — in the form of teaching — of untold generations of instructors. But it is perhaps more interesting that Kempo would not be what it is without the active Service of its participants. As each student enters a Dojo for the first time they enter into a reciprocal Service-based relationship, not only with the instructor but with every other member of the studio ...

In the distant past, hand-to-hand combat was the basis for military power. Knowing a more effective way of blocking was akin to a state secret and was guarded just as tightly. In some settings only immediate family members were taught the family martial art so as to prevent an outsider from learning defensive secrets. In other environments it was taught more broadly but never to one who might be expected to misuse the information or share it where it should not be shared. It is from this origin that Integrity became rooted in Shaolin Kempo. Being a person of Integrity ...

There is an old saying that, “When the student is ready, the master will appear.” This phrase is not referring to a list of duties that, when completed, will magically bring a master into a student’s life. On the contrary, the one thing a student needs to do in order to be ready is to decide to learn. That’s it! The master is everywhere, politely inviting anyone and everyone to learn and grow as people. Today people could begin to learn another language that would engage their mind and hone their discipline, yet very few will do so. Today they ...

The study of Shaolin Kempo Karate, as taught at Potomac Kempo, is an analogy for living. The methods for growing and excelling as a practitioner of Kempo are the same methods employed for living life well. The purpose of this chapter is to define the Pillars of Kempo℠ as the means by which a student elevates the practice of the martial arts from mere pugilism to the cultivation a well-lived life. It is common for the martial arts to be misunderstood simply as training in hand-to-hand combat — that is, of course, definitionally accurate. It is also true that some ...

Put your oxygen mask on first. Why do they always say that? That’s just silly. I’m a helpful person, I’m a loving parent. The last thing I’m going to do is put MY needs before those of my child or friend. If those oxygen masks drop in front of me — and I’m pretty sure they will on this flight — I’m going to help everyone in my row to get their masks on. Then, AND ONLY THEN, will I be so selfish as to put my mask on . . . . unless I pass out first. Why do ...

Kempo training is a cooperative enterprise. We help our partners get better, just as they help us get better. In particular, by modulating our power, range, and speed we can create the optimal environment for us both to benefit from each drill. In order to ever get good enough at a technique to do it quickly, we must first succeed at doing it slowly ...

Remember, success is a journey, not a destination.  ~Bruce Lee I’m not the first person to muse over the nature of success and I certainly won’t be the last. Most people find a feeling of success elusive at best. But it isn’t White Belts who don’t feel successful, more often it’s Black Belts. If, after years and years of study, a student still doesn’t feel successful how will they ever feel successful? The answer, of course, is that they won’t. When a Black Belt doesn’t feel successful it is because they are operating within the wrong framework: They expect a ...

When the sun rose this morning I was in my backyard practicing with a sword — my neighbors must think I’m nuts. Practicing with a sword? People think I’m training for a fight that happened on the other side of the planet a thousand years ago. But my fight wasn’t a thousand years ago, it’s now. And it isn’t on the other side of the planet, it’s here, inside of me. I tested for my Black Belt a long time ago — and every day since. That’s what many people don’t understand about a Black Belt, you have to be ...

A horse stance should be painful. Let me say that again, a horse stance should be painful. I find that once we come to grips with this, the particulars become easier to accept. Your feet should be one-and-a-half shoulder widths apart. The heels of your feet should be pushing outward, causing the blades of your feet to be parallel. This position should cause a stretch in the outside of your ankle. Your knees should be bending and pushing out over your feet; the goal is having them over your big toe. This emphasis should open your hips and fatigue your ...

Congratulations on becoming a Black Belt — whether it was a month ago or a decade ago it is an achievement to be proud of. Please notice that I used the term becoming a Black Belt. Some people mistakenly use the term getting, which misses the point. With deference, some people use the term earning. This is better. But still strikes wide of the mark. Through arduous study and training you became a Black Belt. The piece of fabric around your waist is simply a token to remind you of what you have become — but it was never the ...

Everybody wants to go to heaven but nobody wants to die.  — Unknown We pursue excellence in a thousand different ways, but for simplicity let's just consider a person who wants be able to do more push ups -- a noble goal to be sure. Let's call him Jim and assume he can do ten push ups but he wants to be able to do twenty. The pursuit of excellence is a long and arduous process. It can also be fun and enjoyable -- but don't forget that it is long and arduous. The first step in attaining excellence is ...

Humility comes from understanding our potential and seeing how much more we can accomplish. It is not driven by the insignificance of what we have accomplished but by the vastness of what we have yet to accomplish. This is sound philosophy but it doesn’t explain how we should act. I propose, in simplest terms, that being humble means “not bragging.” While not elegant, this definition is actionable and instructive. The subject of humility is inextricably linked to the question of pride. I ask: “Who is it most important source of pride?” Yourself. Unfortunately, it can be a great challenge to be proud of ...

The Dragon of the East In the West, Dragons have long been depicted as evil creatures that raid villages, hoard treasure and commonly end up being killed by valorous knights. Despite the use of the same name, Chinese Dragons could not be more contrastive. They differ substantially in appearance but more to the point they are almost universally benevolent. Dragons were first depicted in statues and carved into jade more than six thousand years ago. Since that time they have come to play an important role in Chinese culture and — to our point — the martial arts. This verse ...

You can't always get what you want. But if you try sometimes, well you just might find, You get what you need. — Rolling Stones Devin studied Kempo many years ago. I knew his Sensei and enjoyed reports from both of them about how well Devin’s training was going — until it wasn’t. Devin was an early bird and always got to work crazy early in the morning. He would then schedule Kempo lessons in the early afternoon to make sure that he didn’t get pulled in to any meetings. With great joy he would say “Sorry, Joe, I can’t today ...

Dojos exist for a lot of people and for a lot of reasons. 'Dojo' literally means 'Training Hall,' it is a place where you learn martial arts. Nothing could be more mundane. But somehow — and I don't claim to fully understand it — a dojo is something more, it is part of people's lives. A dojo exists because of, and for, the students. A sensei is merely a facilitator, the one who knows how to punch and kick. It is the students that create the essence of a dojo. A sensei with no students is not a sensei at ...

The Shaolin Leopard Of the five Shaolin Animals, the Leopard is the only one crafted solely for martial purposes. That is to say, the other four Shaolin Animals had significant places in Chinese culture and mythology long before they were called on to be ‘martial’ animals. The Leopard, by contrast, has no cultural or mythological significance ...

Let me tell you a story about a 9-year-old girl. Yesterday morning, her alarm went off. She got out of bed and went to school. She got there on time because she has learned to be disciplined. While in class other kids were talking and passing notes but she remained focused on her lessons because she has learned how to focus. When it was her turn to present to the class she stood up calmly and spoke effectively because she has learned to be confident. After school other kids invited her to hang out and watch TV; instead she did her homework and ...

I was extremely fortunate, oh, those many years ago, when I wandered into a martial arts studio for the first time. Fortunate that I found Kempo but more so because I found Sensei Alen—now Master Alen Babayan. Sensei Alen ran a fantastic studio full of interesting people who were inspired and inspiring. What struck me most about the people in Sensei Alen’s studio was that they were real people. They weren’t tough guys or meatheads; no one was training for a full-contact fight in Thailand, and no one had ‘Kempo’ tattooed on his head. They were just ordinary people who ...

The Tiger in Chinese Culture For millennia the Tiger has been a powerful symbol in China, Buddhism, and in Shaolin specifically. Tiger statues have been unearthed that date to more than 7000 years ago, showing just how long the Tiger has been of interest. So ingrained is the Tiger in Chinese culture that the character for ‘king’ matches the markings on the forehead of a Tiger — a vertical line crossed with three horizontal lines. It is perhaps unknowable at this point if the symbol means ‘king’ because of the markings, or if the Tiger is so well regarded because ...

Trace Adkins has a song with the line "And she thinks we’re just fishin’" which obviously made me think of Kempo. . . I think sometimes people misunderstand the goal of Kempo training. They often think the goal is to perfect a technique or a form. They strive for the perfect kick or the perfect punch. These are all noble goals and working towards them is what hones what we are really working on -- ourselves. We are the goal of our Kempo training. We are trying to make ourselves perfect. Not just our ability to deliver a kick but ...

Origin The exact origins of the Crane as an animal of interest are lost in legend but most legends agree that it all started in Tibet. Thousands of years ago Taoism traveled to China through the Kunlun Mountains of Northern Tibet. With it came a reverence for the Crane as a symbol of Longevity, Centeredness, and Resolve. Through the years Taoism and Buddhism influenced each other. Today, Chan Buddhism, the school of Buddhism developed at the Shaolin Temple, shares many similarities to Taoism. The Shaolin emphasis on total absorption in the practice of a highly cultivated skill — kung fu ...

It goes back to some coffee shops and cheap burger joints in Los Angeles. I used to sit around and chat with other young instructors. We were all pretty new to teaching and excited about how much people seem to benefit from Kempo. Most students only know their own success stories but instructors get the privilege of hearing countless examples of how Kempo helps people. I heard from a student who had become so much healthier he no longer needed to take medications for his blood pressure, hypertension or cholesterol. I met a woman who almost glowed as she spoke of ...

The Chinese Snake Throughout Chinese history we see stories of the Snake. If we look, we find the Snake revered from many quarters. Sun Tzu, in his work Art of War, used a Snake that could attack with both head and tail as a simile for a skilled general who could do the same. Even before Buddha lived, Snakes were the subject of stories and fascination. In the Chinese Zodiac, started more than 5000 years ago, the Snake has a prominent role. Entwined through all of this is the Snake’s use as an icon for Qi development — a symbol ...

The Potomac Kempo mission statement, for those who don't know, is this: "We improve lives by challenging men, women, and children to become healthier, happier, and better. We do this through personalized instruction in the versatile martial art of Shaolin Kempo." To some of us, this statement is a personal crusade, something that occupies our thoughts every day. This mission stems from our own experiences — our own journey of becoming healthier, happier and better. Anyone who has studied the martial arts has experienced this, and anyone who continues to study continues to experience it. It is different for everyone; to ...