Ed Parker's Infinite Insights into Kenpo, vol. 1, Mental Stimulation
by Ed Parker
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Delsby Publications (Los Angeles): 1982. Trade paperback: xiv, 122 pages. ISBN-10: 0-910293-00-7 Suggested retail price: $8.95 (US) Tags: history; karate; kenpo; Martial Arts Tactical strength: [4/10] |
In this volume, Parker sets out to explain the mental aspects behind his form of Kenpo Karate. He goes over this history of his form and makes some interesting points, but fails to create a coherent whole from the concepts he presents. Some interesting ideas:
- Although he outlined specific motions for each of his forms, Parker believes that individuals must tailor karate for their specific physiology.
- Martial arts have three major components: basics (the vocabulary of motion), self-defense (applying the vocabulary in a sentence), and freestyle (sparring). Parker divides freestyle training into tournament and street methods as very separate entities.
- While learning, Parker disliked belt ranking systems, but he now believes that a ranking system gives students goals and a means of measuring progress.
Overall, Mental Stimulation does very little to instruct or inspire the martial arts student. He goes over many common sense aspects of self-defense, like awareness of situation and one's natural weapons. Parker seems to write from the perspective that you have to prepare for an attack at all times, as if such attacks occur regularly. A disappointing, poorly written, and poorly illustrated work.
