Leopard
From the Leopard, we learn Speed, Agility and stealth. The Leopard is extremely fast and angular.
It sneaks up on its enemies
and uses the element of surprise to devastate its opponent before their defenses have the opportunity to
be deployed. Master
Joe Salomone states, "Real speed comes from being quiet. When you are internally and externally still,
there is nothing to
block the focus of your movement and thus that movement will be very fast". The Leopard is not as big as
the Tiger, but is
capable of "providing great effect".
Crane
From the Crane, we learn Grace and Balance & Fluidity.
The Crane is very aware of its surroundings and evasive. Many people
underestimate the Crane's powerful 6-foot wingspan. It utilizes its beak for poking and its wings for trapping,
blocking and
striking. Almost all of our kicks are based off of the crane stance, and the crane stance itself is
a basic tool for learning
balance.
Snake
From The Snake we learn Inner Chi and ground fighting. Some Snakes attack with their
fangs and bite where others constrict
their opponents. Because of the lack of arms and legs the snake uses its inner chi, while we work
on developing our own inner
power. We study the snake to improve precision striking and grappling.
Dragon
From The Dragon,
we learn Knowledge, Wisdom and its legendary fighting spirit. It is the dragon's incredible will to continue to
fight against all odds that are to be emulated. Spinning Dragon tail and circular movements help us study
the "Dragon Style" of
fighting. The Dragon can change into any animal at any moment. This is a key part of the secrets
of movement. It is the
dragon spirit that we must dig down deep for to sustain in a fight or any situation where you feel like
quitting, in doing so you will
likely emerge successful.
Tiger
From the Tiger we learn Strength and Tenacity. Strength can be defined
as the ability to endure great hardship. Tenacity is the
driving force within that refuses to quit until a goal is reached. The Tiger is very powerful and
direct. The Tiger commits its entire
mind and body into each move. There is no hesitation in the Tiger's mind.
2 Basic Kempo's
Half moon forward left foot, left inward palm block. Right thrust punch stomach; Left thrust punch kidneys,
right palm heel face.
half moon back with right foot, #2 block. Right front ball kick stomach then landing forward
with right foot, right palm heel to
face.
Rules
SELF-CONTROL: Your ability to control your emotions and actions.
Self control is the ability to control your
own actions and emotions. As we mature into adults, we are expected to develop our
levels of self-control. When studying martial arts, self control is essential. We expect our students to
show control of their
bodies when practicing a technique or sparring. We also expect our students to control their minds when
we intentionally make
situations frustrating. Self control will not only help you avoid panic in a dangerous situation, but more
importantly, it will help
you avoid negative situations all together. Practice self-control in the controlled setting of the Dojo
so that you will possess it in
the uncontrollable setting outside the Dojo.
SINCERITY: The honesty and integrity of your intentions.
We say that Sincerity is an honest promise. This means that you are an individual who keeps your word. We all know someone
who often promises things, but rarely delivers on their promises. Conversely, most of us know someone who
rarely fails to keep
a promise. Obviously, we would rather be associated with the one who is sincere. Remember that others also
feel the same
way the next time you have the opportunity to keep or break a promise.
CHARACTER: Who you really are
as a person.
Character is the sum total of personal qualities that make you who you are. We say that a person?s character
is who they are
and what they do when they think no one is watching them. Everyone can be honorable and forthright when
they know the
public is a witness to their actions. We see the REAL person when an individual has the perceived opportunity
to do something
wrong without getting caught. Your character determines if you will do the right thing or the wrong thing.
ETIQUETTE: Using good manners.
Etiquette is the culmination of your personal manners. Etiquette is a generally accepted
code of conduct when dealing with
other people. Those who treat others in the way that they would like to be treated are most often using
good etiquette. In the
Dojo, students exhibit good manners by removing their shoes and bowing upon entering. Students who show
up for special
events, and help keep the Dojo clean are also showing their understanding of etiquette.
EFFORT: The
work that you do.
Effort is the exertion of strength (physical and/or mental) in an attempt to achieve a desired result.
The results gained from effort
are directly related to the amount of effort exerted. Our objective is to require slightly more effort from
our students than they
think they can give. This allows them to slowly increase their ability to sustain maximum levels of effort.
