Dojo Values

Our Mission

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.

Potomac Kempo - Our Mission — Visiting the Shaolin Temple, Henan, China in 2001

The word, “healthier,” hearkens back to my earliest days as a martial artist. Not long after first putting on my white belt, I began to experience the benefits that practicing martial arts has to offer. The conditioning I acquired through my training afforded me well-rounded physical well-being that elevated my abilities in many other activities. I could hike, bike, run, climb, and endure challenges with grace and aplomb while feeling vibrant and healthy.

Finding this mastery of my body led me to discover the possibility of possessing similar results with my mind. I could better stay on task, work toward long-term goals, and modulate my internal states. I became happier. I came to believe that anything was possible.

The concept of being “better” evolved more slowly, and couldn’t become clearly articulated until I laid down the Pillars of Kempo, much later in my career. I feel that the Learning, Integrity, and Service integral to the martial arts are the foundation for building a better life. In the absence of Learning, we are empty; we lack the substance from which to build a life. We must be open to that Learning, in the dojo and beyond. Building a solid life requires Integrity — being honest and fulfilling our obligations. And through Service, we give that life significance.

As I became an instructor, I was able to see my students experience these same benefits. Later, my wife, Holly, became a student and eventually our children, too, began their training. As I write this now, I can appreciate the benefit of martial arts training as a student, an instructor, a partner, and a parent. And I love it.

This life is a shared experience. We live alongside all the other people in our world, and we are continually impacting them — either for better or worse. By elevating ourselves through our martial arts training, we can, in a very real sense, make the world a better place. From one person to many, we change the world by sharing the lessons Kempo teaches us.

It is worth noting, though, that I can do none of this by myself; nor can Potomac Kempo. It is only through our students that we can change the world. To this end, we challenge our students to rise to the occasion, become the best version of themselves, and join with us in making the world a better place.

Reprising our Mission Statement feels particularly poignant as we celebrate the opening of our fifth school. With love and admiration, we congratulate Renshi Cassie and Mr. Cothran on the opening of our newest location: Potomac Kempo – National Landing.

Chris Santillo, Shihan
Founder, Head Instructor

Challenge, Mentorship, and Growth

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 the morning, get dressed, put on our shoes, I walk out into the world in a way that we haven’t before — and accomplish things that we haven’t previously achieved. Sometimes, however, the step is — or at least feels — too big. For whatever we reason are unable to take that step ourselves without support. In those moments what we need more than anything else is a mentor.

We don’t know what we can do until we try to do something we can’t do. But that’s an uncomfortable feeling and one that we instinctively avoid. It’s also something that a good mentor — a good instructor — can help us through.

The mentoring model is simple: a mentor is someone who has already done what you are attempting to do, someone who has traversed the path already. They then must know you and be familiar with your capabilities, and then after careful and deliberate consideration, they conclude that you can succeed. So they look you in the eye, and they say, “you can do this.” You believe them, and so you do.

I might be speaking in generalities, as I so often do. However, in this instance, I’m talking about my friend, and mentor Master Chip Townsend. Last year he told me that I could break a baseball bat, I believed him, and I did. This year he told me I could break two baseball bats, I believed him, and I did. I’m terrified of what he’ll tell me I can do next year 🙂

All my respect and gratitude,
Chris Santillo, Shihan

Potomac Kempo Baseball Bat Breaking Challenge Mentorship Growth

It’s More than Punches and Kicks

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 try harder, learning from their mistakes. My question is why? Why are my juniors so “alive” and confident?

When I’m teaching them, I take 5 minutes to just have them sit, listen, and share. We call it “Sensei Story Time”

We talk about a range of topics, manners, positive thinking, service, sportsmanship, posture, first impressions, trying, focus, the list goes on and on. Often, I don’t have any particular topic, the class dictates the conversation and it turns into this open forum of sharing ideas, successes, issues, frustrations, and sometimes, we just talk about puppies. The point is everyone needs an outlet. Kempo provides a blend of outlets; we get to kick, we get to yell, we get to punch, to crawl, to push ourselves mentally and physically.

When you first enter the dojo, no matter what your age, a benchmark of sorts is set, and after a few months of practice everyone reflects on progresses made. My adult students are able to reflect on this, set new goals and celebrate personal achievements. My job is to quietly direct and guide them pushing them toward ever changing goals. Now I may not stop an adult class for “Sensei Story Time”, maybe I should, but It turns out my adult students push themselves, they create these partnerships helping each other by being “accountability partners” they laugh together, sweat together, applaud accomplishments, congratulate each other, and help one another giving out a had as needed. I’ve even heard many of them talk about puppies.

If you have ever had a desire, no matter what your age, to feel good about yourself and be around others of the same ilk, seek out a dojo. You’ll be glad you did.

Sensei Gary Covington

the Circle and the Line

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 be the fastest way to get from one point to another. But we must consider the all too common case where our limb is already extended from its previous use. At this moment, retracting our limb and extending it again may take much longer than simply utilizing a circular movement from the position we are in. Thus a circular movement may actually be the the quickest movement.

We could do this all day. The point is that all pros and cons are not only relative, they are situationally dependent.

The Circle Beats the Line

So, let us consider the case of a linear attack. It is possible to block each strike with a linear block, but the attacks will continue. Each punch will be fast and followed immediately by another. We may be able to block each one — maybe even counter some of them — but in the end the conflict will go to the person who is faster and more powerful.

Let us consider instead, countering this linear attack with a circular defense. Now, as a hard linear attack comes at us we use a circle to redirect it to the side. Depending on the direction this will cross their limb across their body or open their center. In either case it will help to forestall the next attack. This break in the rhythm of the conflict can be leveraged to advantage.

The Line Beats the Circle

Alternately, let us consider a circular attack. A well articulated circular attack will strike to various spots from a thousand angles. Blocking all of the angles will require an equally skilled series of circular defenses, each one positioned to deflect the attacks at just the right angle. Instead we could utilize a linear defense and strike to the core of their attacks. The speed and power generated from a classic linear attack will be hard to counter with their circular movements.

The Circle Beats the Line and the Line Beats the Circle

And thus we see the line beating the circle and the circle beating the line. It is important not to overstate either case or the self-contradictory nature of the argument will come to the surface. A perfectly executed linear attack can not be repulsed by a mediocre circular defense any more than a perfect circular attack can be defeated by a poor linear defense. It is in the case where opponents are evenly matched that an advantage is gained by utilizing a different strategy.

It should also be noted that combining the two strategies is the best of all possible worlds. None of us are wholly Yin or Yang, nor should we be. A linear block followed by a circular counter and vice versa will have the best results of all. As we have said, all pros and cons are relative and situationally dependent.

Maximizing Linear Effectiveness

The benefits of linear movements are rooted in their power and speed. In order to maximize the effectiveness of any linear movement we much maximize power and speed.

Maximizing Circular Effectiveness

Circular movements require excellent accuracy and timing. Though not as self-explanatory as the notes about linear movement, theses points are no less important. In order for a circular block to deflect a linear attack it must strike the attacking limb very precisely and at exactly the right time. Likewise, a circular attack — lacking the brutish power of a linear attack — must strike to a sensitive area very precisely and — because it has no hope of powering through a block — it much be timed to avoid all blocks. Thus we see that circular movement require the height of accuracy and timing.

The Circle and the Line

So what is better? Neither, of course. What should I employ? Both, of course. Victory is gained through the proper selection of tactics and their superior execution. Good luck!

This Kempo Life

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 filter. In order for an individual to become a student they must first express a desire to learn and they must take action on that desire. They must be deemed of sufficient Integrity by their instructor. Finally, they must reciprocally engage in a Service-based exchange of information and experience with their fellow students.

This means that all students already model the Pillars of Kempo as proven by their status as students. Right? Well, yes and no. Learning, Integrity, and Service are no more bimodal than strength or knowledge. There are many strong and knowledge people in the world, but they have not stopped striving to be stronger and more knowledgable. In fact, by and large, the strongest and the most knowledgeable are the most likely to be pursuing greater strength and knowledge.

In the same way, we, as practitioners of Shaolin Kempo, must daily strive to be the apotheosis of Learning, Integrity, and Service. We should be continually on the lookout for new and interesting things to learn about Kempo and everything else. We should guard ourselves continually to be sure we are people of unsurpassed Integrity in all that we do. We should work to find new and exciting ways to Serve others and help them reach their goals.

Being great people got us where we are. Now it is time to become ever better.

It is in Service to our fellow man, while continuing to Learn and conduct ourselves with Integrity, that we reach the pinnacles of Kempo and of Life.

The Pillars of Kempo – Service

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.
There is an old saying that, “You are only as good as the people you train with.” and it plays out in every Dojo. Seniors students initially help a new student get acquainted with the studio and all students — very literally — offer their bodies to their fellow students for experimentation and the Learning of new techniques.
To learn Kempo a student must practice each movement against a wide assortment of people. Each student takes a turn serving their fellows by offering their body for use as a practice bag. In this way each student is able to practice and learn. Further, they are able to share their accumulated experience directly with each partner.
This practice of Service, both by the instructors and the students, engenders a culture of Service. It creates untold opportunities for people to experience the gratification of helping others to achieve their goals. This encourages people to find more ways, in more settings, to help others achieve their goals.
Life is a shared experience. There are seven billion of us on this planet and we are all connected together. We can — and should — serve each other in countless ways. From a kind work spoken to the offer of a warm meal. From building a house to teaching someone how to tie their belt for the first time. Learning Kempo alone would not be fruitful or enjoyable. Nor would a life be fruitful or enjoyable that was not lived in connection to those around us.