Student Profiles

Growing up, my energy was consumed by playing year-round soccer, not to mention the other seasonal sports I did such as basketball, track, and cross country. Every school break was reserved for national tournaments or state cups. I felt, and still feel to this day, very passionate about soccer, for it has been a well of life lessons and a source of stress relief. As a child, my dream was to play collegiate soccer at Brigham Young University and then play professionally. Despite the time I put into soccer, though, my religion and family were always my top priorities in life. Since I was so absorbed with my soccer dreams, religious activities, and family relationships, I never saw myself having the time or energy to devote strength to any other interest, especially not martial arts.

After a year of playing college soccer, I met the man of my dreams and it changed my goals and life around. Raising my own family was now the top priority and professional soccer didn’t appeal to me any more. I finished out my four years of soccer eligibility, graduated from college, and then moved out to the East Coast because of my husband’s job. The time since I moved out here until now have, hands down, been the most challenging, yet rewarding years of my life. Adjusting to being a young mother of two small children changed my life and identity.  Because of my involvement with family, church, and having a very inconsistent lifestyle due to my husband’s medical schooling and Army obligation, I never thought I could add another thing to my plate. With all that was going on, and through a process of various events and circumstances, my sister-in-law came to live with us to help us out. 

Having a child diagnosed with cancer a year and a half ago has been an almost-insurmountable trial, but my teenage sister has been an amazing help and blessing to our family. While I recognized that I am not her parent, I felt it would be beneficial for her to engage in an extracurricular activity to continue her personal development. Because of her spunk and gumption, martial arts seemed like the perfect fit.

When I researched Potomac Kempo online and had her participate in a trial class, I got really excited for her. I may even have been more excited then she was! However, I never considered myself ever doing a martial arts class even though I thought it was super cool when I saw other people do it. I felt respect for all those who develop the skills; but, even though I didn’t understand all the details and the meaning of martial arts, I did know that having a Black Belt was an impressive accomplishment. Despite this, I just didn’t feel like I had the time, energy, and consistency of life to devote any time to it. After a few months of my sister learning Kempo, Sensei Gary talked me into doing a Kali Seminar. I absolutely loved it! As a result, I convinced myself to sign up for private lessons.

At the time these lessons began, I was going through a particularly intense period of anxiety and depression. I had been battling to overcome these feelings for two years now. I was desperately trying to find tools in my life to overcome the internal torment I was facing. I loved the way that Kali challenged me and helped me to push my mind and my focus. Every time I left a private lesson, I felt more motivated and rejuvenated. Despite the fact that I felt comfortable memorizing the movements, however, I also felt a little lost with Kali because I had no foundation for fighting. Sensei Gary explained to me that Kempo was the perfect starting point to develop a martial arts cornerstone.

At the beginning of this week, I finally decided that I loved Kempo and Kali and I really needed to make martial arts a priority in my life. My husband just left for a two-month military training and I felt that this was an essential outlet that I needed to strengthen myself, which, in turn, would fortify my family. I officially started just this week but I now love Kempo as much as I love soccer! My goal is to work really hard and in time earn a black belt. I have a long road ahead of me, but I am very excited to start this process.  

When I started Kempo, I wasn’t sure what to expect. I was looking to try something different, a new challenge. I found that, and more.

Kempo has improved my physical well being drastically. Before I started Kempo, I was constantly hindered and immobilized by chronic neck and back pain due to Degenerative Disk Disease. Kempo has been, hands down, more successful in managing this pain than both physical therapy and a chiropractor. The pain is now much less frequent and the (non-good) soreness much less severe than before I started Kempo. My goal is to continue working towards being as pain free as possible.

Beyond decreasing my neck pain, Kempo has improved my overall physical fitness. Before Kempo, I had a hard time motivating myself to do the same old boring workout routine everyday. However, Kempo offers something new every class. Every day presents a new challenge to overcome, a new lesson to learn, and I barely notice that I’ve worked up a sweat while practicing and training. Alongside strength and stamina, better balance and flexibilty are key physical traits that I am constantly looking to develop. I would also like to improve the speed and efficiency of my movements (Kempo-related or otherwise), while also maintaining control of my body.

Over the last few months, I’ve found myself much more mindful and mentally peaceful. For example, if something isn’t going well or how I would like, I find myself not being frustrated or upset, but much more patient, relaxed, and able to accept that which I cannot change. I have become much better at not dwelling on the past and not thinking anxiously about the future. I attribute much of this personal growth to Kempo. Kempo has taught me that if I can’t do something today, with some hard work, I have a good chance of being able to do it tomorrow, or in a month, or a few years from now.

I am striving to continuously improve my mindfulness. Kempo is a great aid towards this goal. Each class offers an opportunity to escape any stresses and concentrate on my training. It is also great practice for improving my focus and mindfulness outside the dojo.

 

A New Beginning

After immigrating to the United States of America (USA) last year, much has changed in my life. I have given up a successful career that I loved; left my family and friends, and given up my home. This was all a sacrifice, one for my family’s future. Moving to the USA has given me a chance to start fresh, not that my life was bad before, but I think my family and I can achieve an even happier future.

Joining Potomac Kempo has been a step towards achieving my ultimate goal of a happier and healthier life. Throughout the events of the past five months I have sacrificed too much for the cause, as I started to loose my health. As someone who sufferers with the chronic illness Ankylosing Spondylitis (AS), ‘looking after’ myself is key in my managing my condition. More specifically; maintaining flexibility through rigorous stretching and exercise regimes is paramount, ensuring that my daily pain and overall deterioration is kept to a minimum.

Moving to a new country and leaving your friends and family behind is difficult. But what is more difficult is making new friends. Being an expatriate can be isolating; especially when you are a stay-at-home parent. Finding a group of people I could socialize with who also shared a common interest was important to me. This was another driving force behind me approaching Potomac Kempo.

So far Potomac Kempo has exceeded all my expectations. Every person I have met at the Kingstowne branch of Potomac Kempo has been friendly and approachable. This has certainly helped me ease back into martial arts, and has helped to motivate me to continue to better myself, both physically and mentally. Even though I have only been a student at Potomac Kempo for just three short weeks, I have already noticed a change in my physical abilities, as well as making early progress to one of my long term goals of losing 30lb in weight.

It is my hope that in the coming weeks, months, and years, that my studies in Shaolin Kempo help me not only with my daily physical challenges, but will also help me to become more mentally resilient, so that I can be prepared for the challenges I may face in future years. Of course becoming a Black Belt is something I aspire to; but gaining the knowledge and experience that precedes the achievement — at this moment in time — is something that holds more value to me. My overall ambition is to become better than I once was, regardless of whatever rank that ends up being.

Written by Ricky White

(Essay requirement prior to taking the Yellow Belt ranking)

 

 

Five years ago, Brett’s 4-year-old son Nicolas went poking around his father’s closet and discovered several karate belts.

He said, “Dad, I didn’t know you did karate,” Brett remembers. “I told him, ‘Yeah, 20 years ago,’ and he said, ‘You should be a white belt!’”

Brett had, in fact, been considering a return to the dojo. When he went there for Nicolas’s classes, he found himself talking to the instructors and was intrigued enough to think about getting back into martial arts.

At that point, Brett, who runs an international company, knew he was overworked, out of shape and about 30 pounds overweight. After hanging out at the dojo, he says, his competitive spirit got the best of him, and he signed up for a class. And another. And the by the third class, the shock wore off, and his body was exhausted and sore.

“I saw Master Santillo and said, ‘Boy, I need a lifestyle change,’” he said. Brett promised himself that he would train three days a week. That was five years ago. Last summer, after some torn muscles, broken toes, bruises and years of hard work, he earned his Black Belt.

“I had never really thought of being a Black Belt, but I realized it would be a good example for my son and a good way to get in shape,” Brett says. (He now has two sons training—9-year-old Nicolas is a second degree brown belt, and 6-year-old Anthony is a purple belt.) “I was determined to see it through that first phase of the goal.”

When Brett was in his early 20s, he practiced a powerful style of Japanese karate that involves weapons. The instructor was a former Marine, and workouts were extreme, such as running through the woods barefoot. He trained for about two years, until he earned his green belt, and then not again until he was 45.

After two decades, Brett said he had forgotten most of his previous training. “The instruction I got from Master Santillo and the other teachers really set my foundation,” he says. “It was like starting from ground zero.” Plus, in his 20s, Brett—a lifelong competitive athlete who had played football, hockey and baseball–was just looking for a good workout. These days, he’s seeking more.

“I think when you’re older and do Kempo, there’s a more mature approach to it in terms of the benefits,” he says. “It’s not just physical, but mental and spiritual. There’s a very contemplative process that can impact your ability to handle fast-paced business.”

Brett’s business, which imports granite for upscale buildings, involves a significant amount of international travel, which he says wreaks havoc on his body. He often works 12-14-hour days. “Being Type A and running a business for more than 100 employees, it gets stressful,” he says. “But now, in addition to improving my cardio, stamina, flexibility and strength, I feel less anxious and stressed about everyday outcomes in business. It’s given me a more temperate mentality.”

Brett has kept his commitment to leave his desk and go to the dojo three days a week, no matter what else needs his attention. He’s found that Kempo is a good antidote for all the work-related stress. He does an ancient form (which he learned from monks in China two years ago) before each workout, which he describes as, “wringing water out of the sponge. It just cleanses me of any stress I have,” he says. “Between that and a little meditation, I can drop all the problems I have during the day and really focus on training.”

When Brett travels, which is usually close to the Mediterranean, he does forms on his own, by the beach, and he keeps up with his stretching, walking, pushups, jumping jacks and a little running.

Brett knows the community of other students at the dojo has helped him push further than he imagined. For years, he had a consistent training partner who matched his level of competitiveness; the pair earned their Black Belts at the same time. “I’m very competitive by nature, and I like to finish first if I can,” Brett says. “I may not finish first all the time, but I’ll try to do the maximum amount for myself. If you’re always pushing yourself to go the extra mile, you’re probably getting the most out of it.”

As for the self-defense aspect of Kempo, Brett says the practice gives students the confidence to defend themselves, but that’s a last resort. “We’re training to maim someone,” he says. “What we’re taught—and I subscribe to this—is that it’s an insurance policy for a very bad day.”

Brett says he’s still working on conditioning, stretching and kicking in particular, but he knows Kempo is a lifelong art. “No one will ever attain perfection,” he says. “You can learn from everyone in the dojo, no matter what their rank is.”

Now that he’s achieved his first goal, he’s focusing on his second: a Second Degree Black Belt by age 55.

Brett recommends Kempo to a lot of people, but it’s a special person who is willing to take it on, he says. “It’s a long road, and the road has some disappointments.” His advice: be patient, listen, and don’t measure your progress by comparing it to someone else’s. “If you’re diligent and practice and are willing to commit yourself, you’ll meet your goals. And it’s great fun.”

 

When Jonathan decided to give Kempo a try, three-and-a-half years ago, he had no idea how that one decision would change his life. At the time, he wasn’t doing much in the way of fitness, and most of his time was spent at a desk job at the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. He was overweight, out of shape and knew he needed to make a change.

It didn’t take Jonathan long to reap benefits from his practice. He began building up muscle, shedding pounds and feeling better prepared for activities he enjoyed, like hiking. Within six months, he had joined the Instructor Academy, through which he began teaching other students. He quickly moved to a mid-rank belt, and even outside the dojo, he felt better about himself. This new confidence came through on his Match.com profile, where he soon met Rachel.  [Read more…] about Student Profile: Rachel & Jonathan

Growing up, Erica was more of a bookworm than an athlete. She took ballet and gymnastics classes, but she never played sports, and even as an adult, she shied away from activities that were too competitive. She had taken yoga and aerobics classes, but they generally didn’t hold her attention. Plus, she was looking for a new way to increase her fitness level and improve her flexibility and coordination.

In 2008, Erica ran into a Potomac Kempo instructor who offered her a free trial lesson. “When the opportunity came up, I was like, sure, I’ll give it a try,” says Erica, 43. “I had no experience with martial arts, and I didn’t know if it would be really aggressive or competitive—I just knew I didn’t want those things.”

The first class was fun, Erica says, and she signed up for more. At that point, she wasn’t sure if she’d be there as long as seven months. But seven years later, she’s more committed to the practice than ever.

She goes to the dojo three or four times a week and is now a Black Belt. Out of all the aspects of the practice, the ceremonial part—such as acknowledging your Sensei and bowing–was perhaps the most familiar to her, having lived in Japan for a couple years. The biggest challenge: getting accustomed to the physicality of the practice. “It’s a contact sport,” she says. “So learning to be more assertive physically is the hardest part. It’s less the fear of getting hurt and more just the way I was raised–like many women–that it’s not OK to hit people. Mostly it just takes practice.”

Erica says when she spars with other students, everyone is respectful, and the movements are controlled; she never feels unsafe. And she recognizes that the purpose of sparring is to help her and her partner improve—“not to pummel each other,” she laughs.

Much of what has kept Erica engaged in Kempo are the people—instructors and students alike. “I’ve made a lot of friends, and the teachers are tremendous,” she says. “Not just as martial artists, but as teachers. They make people feel like they can be successful, no matter what level they are.”

She has noticed significant improvement in terms of her cardio, balance and core strength, which she knows is important to protect her back as she gets older.

The biggest surprise? “The fact that I’ve done it consistently for so long,” she says. “I love the teachers, I love working with other people, and no two classes are alike.” She says it took her a long time to figure out what motivates her, and she determined that going to the same aerobic class or working out by herself in the weight room weren’t cutting it. “But being part of something social has kept me going. Plus, along with martial arts, sometimes we do goofy stuff, like play dodge ball. As adults, we underestimate the importance of fun and don’t have many opportunities in daily life for silliness. It’s tremendously healthy and tremendously stress-relieving.”