Chinese Kung-Fu (Kenpo). William D. Scott
martial arts.
The Kenpo rankings ordinarily used in the United States are simple. The following chart provides all the knowledge you need:
STANDARD KENPO RANKINGS
| RANK | ATTACK TRAINING | ||
| 8th Kyu | — White Belt | ||
| 7th Kyu | — Orange Belt | One-man (unarmed) | |
| 6th Kyu | — Purple Belt | One-man (club) | |
| 5th Kyu | — Blue Belt | Two-man (club) | |
| 4th Kyu | — Green Belt | One-man (knife) | |
| 3rd Kyu | — 3rd Degree Brown Belt | Multi-man | |
| 2nd Kyu | — 2nd Degree Brown Belt | Multi-man | |
| 1st Kyu | — 1st Degree Brown Belt | Multi-man | |
| 1st Dan | — 1st Degree Black Belt | Multi-man (gun) | |
| Physically | 2nd Dan | — 2nd Degree Black Belt | Multi-man (gun) |
| Attainable | 3rd Dan | — 3rd Degree Black Belt | Multi-man (gun) |
| 4th Dan | — 4th Degree Black Belt | Multi-man (gun) | |
| Awarded for | 5th Dan | — 5th Degree Black Belt | |
| Contributions | 6th Dan | — 6th Degree Black Belt | |
| to the art | 7th Dan | — 7th Degree Black Belt | |
| 8th Dan | — 8th Degree Black Belt |
Each lesson teaches fundamental movements and defense techniques which should be practiced and memorized thoroughly. As you progress to the later lessons, more emphasis will be placed on learning the techniques.
Two lessons describe kata forms. These katas actually originated in Okinawa and are responses to simulated mass attacks under ideal situations. They teach fundamental movements as well as concentration, and should be worked on until they become polished.
Before starting a particular lesson, I recommend that you read it through first, studying the pictures in order to get some idea of what you will be learning.
I wish you good luck, and if you stick with the program, I'm sure that you will achieve Orange Belt — the first step toward better mind-body coordination.
INTRODUCTORY LESSON I
This lesson is a basic introduction to the art of Kenpo. Pay great attention to it, as the following lessons build to a final goal — the attainment of Orange Belt.
THE HORSE STANCE
The Horse Stance is the most basic stance used in Kenpo. To assume the position, stand with your feet together, knees slightly bent (as in fig. 1) and slide your left foot to the left, one and one-half shoulder widths from your right foot. Keep your feet pointed dead ahead and your knees bowed outward (fig. 12). Your hands should be clenched in fists and held over your thighs. This posture is the Horse Stance.
THE FORWARD STANCE
To learn the Forward Stance, stand with your feet together, knees slightly bent. Slide your left foot to the left one and one-half shoulder widths, and then straight back one and one-half shoulder widths. Now bend your right (or front) leg at the knee (your right knee ending up over the center of your right foot) and keep your left leg straight with your knee locked. The final position (fig. 3), feet pointing forward, fists over thighs, is a left-rear Forward Stance. A right-rear Forward Stance is just the opposite (a mirror image) and is illustrated in fig. 4.
If you picture yourself standing in the center of the face of a large clock (fig. 5), the Horse Stance will have your right foot in the middle and your left foot at 9:00. The left-rear Forward Stance has your right foot in the middle and your left foot at about 7:30. The right-rear Forward Stance has your right foot at about 4:30.
This "clock" will be used throughout the lessons to describe where to place your feet. The starting position will always be in the center, and the movement always to a certain time on the dial.
SALUTATION
Before each lesson or practice session, teachers and students greet each other with a Horse Stance Salutation. The Salutation is also given at the end of each lesson.
Slide your left foot out to a Horse Stance while raising your right fist, elbow bent, to a position in front of the center of your chest, as in fig. 6. (This fist signifies power.) Now, cover your fist with your left hand (signifying peace) as in fig. 7. Draw your left foot back to your right, drop your clasped hands to your waist, and bow forward with head and eyes pointing downward. In this way you show respect for your fellow students and for the ancient art that you are about to practice.