The mission of the ALKA is to maintain
a standard base from which to teach Ed Parker's American Kenpo Karate.
In a discussions that I had with Ed Parker,
he made it clear that I understood that "Kenpo Never Changes,
It Perpetually Refines Itself." He concluded our discussion
by announcing that he will begin his video tape system in 1988 and
that franchise rights will be offered to teach his system to those
who became sponsors for his video tape series. It was very expensive
but with it he gave credits at the end of the videos to those who
sponsored him. You will find the names of Kevin Lamkin, Eric Lamkin
and five others listed in the credits of his only two completed tapes,
Advanced Concepts and Principles of Kenpo. He also sent other
tapes of his complete system, "performed exactly as they should
be taught." In addition, Ed Parker outlined
his system to be taught with
24 techniques per belt as listed in Ed Parker's Infinite Insight
Into Kenpo Series, Vol. 5. Kenpo
is a fluid, evolving art. To understand more about what Ed Parker
meant when he stated, "Kenpo Never Changes, It Perpetually
Refines Itself," click
here.
The
AKLA encourages individual growth and tailoring of the system of kenpo
to each individual - that is how Ed Parker designed his system. He
did not, however, envision the fragmentation and devolution of his
IKKA representatives. Individual preferences and internal politics
has created a situation where the base from which to teach Ed Parker's
American Kenpo System is endangered to becoming forgotten, or irreversibly
altered. It is our opinion that the development and tailoring of the
American Kenpo principles is imperative for growth and 'refinement'
on an individual level, but not as a way to 'improve' the way the
kenpo system is to be taught from the 'base' that Ed Parker designed.
For example, Eric and Kevin Lamkin has developed over a period of
years, the Elite-Fighters
System of Martial Arts. The Elite-Fighters system contains material
from other arts besides kenpo, and has emerged into a unique martial
art system of its own. The defensive aspect of the Elite-Fighters
System relies heavily upon Kenpo, however, it is differs greatly from
what Ed Parker has designed with regards to the joint locks and ground
fighting that is incorporated into it. Rather than calling it Kenpo,
we call it the Elite-Fighters System of Martial Arts. The concepts
are advanced and balanced with regard to all of the Family Related
Techniques. In 2004, the AKLA adopted the six levels of the Elite-Fighters
system to be the material for advancement for 4th through 9th Degree
Black Belts
In
an effort to preserve the American Kenpo System developed by Ed Parker,
the AKLA has appointed the above individuals to be the Regional Representatives
of the AKLA. Requirements to become a Regional Representative are
to have one or more of the following:
- Be a 3rd Degree Black Belt from a recognized American
Kenpo School.
- Be an instructor of American Kenpo Karate teaching
the 24 techniques per belt system as designed by Ed Parker.
- Be recommended as a Representative of the AKLA
by a current AKLA Representative or one of the AKLA Founders.
- Be a person of high moral standards, possessing
maturity with a desire to help other instructors and students of
American Kenpo.
- Be self-motivated, self-directed and devoted in
the study of American Kenpo.
General duties of an AKLA Representative include:
- Assist schools, instructors and students within
your region with the proper teaching elements, concepts, principles
and other elements of the art of American Kenpo Karate.
- Authorize belt ranking certification with affiliated
schools within your region.
- Proctor belt promotional exams within your region.
- Instruct and/or assist hosted AKLA seminars held
in your region.
- More specific duties are listed in the ALKA
Representative Forum.
AKLA Representative Benefits include:
- Referrals from the AKLA for you to instruct seminars
in your area of expertise.
- Student/school referrals from the ALKA.
- Listing of all promotions
for your students
- Free advertising of seminar/events at your school
- Wholesale discount in all AKLA
Instructional Materials.
- Official AKLA email account
- More specific duties are listed in the ALKA
Representative Forum.
Cost to become an AKLA Representative:
- There is no charge to be an AKLA Representative
- only benefits!
If you are interested in becoming a AKLA
Regional Representative, email
us your request.
