Evaluation of the Elite

[Theban_Legion]

I would like to hear evaluations of the Elite-Fighter System from those of you who have been training in this system for the last couple of years.

I see on the promotions page that several people have used this system for advancement to 4th and 5th degree black belt in American Kenpo. I would like your honest opinions about how the EFS has effected your training in Kenpo. Was this just a way for you to advance in rank (no hostility here. Advancing in rank is certainly not a bad thing. Espescially with American Kenpo existing in a constant state of fractured disunity), or has the EFS had an impact (whether significant or not) on your Kenpo training and/or life? Do you find EFS to be superior to Kenpo? If so, have you abandoned Kenpo?

Opinion: EFS is clearly not American Kenpo; it is something else. EFS appears to be thoughtfully structured in an attempt to truely deal with every possible fighting scenario. My impression of EFS is that the teaching methods may very well go beyond what Kenpo was meant to accomplish.

Do any of you find my opinion to be accurate? What is your opinion?

I have not yet begun to collect EFS training material; my intentions are to do so. I intend to continue training in Kenpo with the confidence that there is a way to gain greater skill and advance in rank. I would like to see recent opinions from those training in EFS. Don't be shy :)

[Dragon77]

I've been training in the Elite Fighter System for almost 2 years. My back ground is in Ed Parker Kenpo (1st black belt) and a little Tracy's Kenpo (Purple belt) and some TKD, Jujitsu, and Aikido here and there. I'm certainly not an authority on the Elite Fighter system, but I can share some of my experiences and opinions.

As far as rank goes, the EFS emphasises more on acquiring skill rather than rank. You can read alot about this on this Forum and on their website. This can be intimidating at first. I guess there is a certain amount of comfort having a rank or certificate on your wall. Even if you stop training, you can look at it and say, "Well at least I have my black belt, no one can hurt me." However, it was a complete revelation to me when I began training the EFS and began to focus on developing and tracking my skill! Now that I look back, there is a bit of emptiness when I think how I used to covet belt colors. Now I have an excitment everytime I practice which drives me forward.

I was intimidated at first because you have to look at yourself honestly (something we should all do from time to time), but the system is designed to grow and adapt with changes in our life as we age. This has been a relief to me as I am 42 and I am certainly not as fast nor as flexible as I was when I was 18, but having studied the EFS I can say with honesty (and humility) I am a better fighter now than I have ever been.

As far as its comparison to Kenpo goes...well its hard to compare it to any martial art. It is so revolutionary in its approach that other martial art styles don't really equate. I have a particular fondness for Kenpo. I have found that it has not only broadened my understnading of Kenpo, but I believe that it is the ultimate fulfillment of it. The EFS fulfills many of the larger ideas of Kenpo that are mentioned in seminars, internet chats, etc., but never explained fully. Particularly how you can take a few moves and defend yourself in any situation. It has a complete grappling and groundfighting program that is integrated into the training rather than being a seminar topic of a few cool moves. I could go on, but I don't think that I could type anything which truly express how revolutionary the system is.

From conversations I have had with Mr. Eric Lamkin, I have come to believe that they have an understanding of Kenpo that no one can match and it is that understnading that has lead them to developing the EFS.

Look, all I can say is that I have never regretted studying it. You will find that it will not only enhance your understanding of Kenpo, but of ALL martial arts and the fighting sciences. Don't be intimidated, don't feel that you are leaving kenpo for something else. You will never have any regrets studying this art!!

I would like to hear some of Mr. Lamkin's views on these things. Perhaps someone could email him with a list of questions?

PS. I have heard of some exciting things regarding the EFS coming out soon, but I'm not sure if they are rumors or not. Does anyone have any info? Perhaps we could put this on our list or create a thread for him?

[administrator]

I see on the promotions page that several people have used this system for advancement to 4th and 5th degree black belt in American Kenpo. I would like your honest opinions about how the EFS has effected your training in Kenpo. Was this just a way for you to advance in rank (no hostility here. Advancing in rank is certainly not a bad thing. Espescially with American Kenpo existing in a constant state of fractured disunity), or has the EFS had an impact (whether significant or not) on your Kenpo training and/or life? Do you find EFS to be superior to Kenpo? If so, have you abandoned Kenpo?
I know that you address your post to some of the participants; however, there are a couple of things that i would like to address for clarity.

The advanced Black Belt Degrees of the AKLA require a very intensive training program. You will learn a great deal of new material, with the goal in mind that you will understand the Family Groupings and Master Key Moves more completely. Practitioners of American Kenpo should not stop learning at 3rd Degree Black Belt, and then just enhance their previous materials through the higher belts for rank advancement. There is a great amount of information that kenpoists still need that is no longer taught.

For Kenpoists, we do not want them to abandon kenpo - just keep moving forward. We have paved a path to allow for higher rank, without the politics and favoritism that currently is what awards so many high ranks. However, we know that not everyone wants to work for their rank. Therefore, we designed our testing and advancement system to weed out those individuals who seek rank as big as their ego, rather than devoting themselves to the rigorous discipline of training.

But, we also know that there are many martial artists that have no desire to obtain rank at all, only tactics and fighting fitness. That is how and why we designed the Ranking Trials.

I hope this helps to anwer some of your questions. I am sure that some of our promotees will also help to enlighten.

Kevin Lamkin
Site Administrator

[warrior-scholar]

This may be an indictment against me, but the truth hurts sometime (I like to sound cliche). I started the program two years ago and have still not taken the trials for the first level. Why? I could certainly pass the trials and move forward. In fact, I could have passed the Defender level and probably be quite far along with the Guardian level. In just about any Kenpo system I would have already done so. However, the new testing structure has forced me to step back and completely overhaul my perspective. I don't just want to pass...I want to take everything I do two or three levels beyond my former training. Issues with weight have always made my martial arts abilities less than they should have been. It is just recently, through hard training and an overhaul of my diet, that I have started to master this issue in my life. Why have I mastered this issue at this juncture? Simple...the Elite System demands it of me. I realized a long time ago that this battle must be fought and won before true progress could occur. The journey has not been a swift one.

My students currently learn the American Kenpo system. I do not force them to wear belts during our session. Many students feel more relaxed when the atmosphere of learning is not dominated by competition or hierarchy, but cooperation. This is modern educational theory at work. I eventually want them to transition into the Elite System. While I do not teach the Elite System (mainly because I haven't passed any of the trials), the students are aware of the grading system. It just makes sense! The Kenpoist should look at his or her own system through this lens. I don't really make a distinction between my Kenpo and the Elite System. This is not to say they are the same, but that I see Elite as a guiding framework for my entire endeavor. It refines, develops and builds integrity within my training. I am not looking for the praise of man. My students don't expect to move on to the next level because they have trained for so many months. They understand that one advances at the right time. This may be three months or 2 years. It is also understood that moving on doesn't abnegate one's responsibility for what has already been learned.

If you get really bored just count how many times i use the word SYSTEM.

Jeremiah 9:3 And they bend their tongue, their bow of falsehood; and they are grown mighty in the land, but not for truth; for they proceed from evil to evil, and Me they know not, saith the LORD.

[Theban_Legion]

Outstanding replies! Thank you for your honesty. I hope to hear more.

As far as the "rank" issue is concerned, I do not personally hunger after a any specific color to wrap around my waist; however, I do enjoy the external, symbolic recognition of mostly internal accomplishments. Why on earth shouldn't one take pride in the fact that he/she has gained skill and brought meaning to a worthless piece of cloth? Perhaps because of all of the rank grabbing that occurred after Mr. Parker passed away. There will always be people who see the color of the belt as more important than that which it is supposed to represent.

Thank you Mr. Lamkin for your clarification. I am very interested in having a more complete understanding of Kenpo and the EFS.

One of the reasons that I continue to visit your web-site is that there isn't any politics/favoritism involved here. Another reason is that information is not withheld from your students. Secretive associations are a real "turn-off." I would like to tell them, "If you are going to teach, then teach all that you know."
Honestly, what good is a teacher who refuses to pass his/her knowledge on to his/her students?

I like the fact that each rank within EFS is further divided into designations of skill. I would very much like to see this concept enacted throughout all of the Kenpo schools.

[Dragon77]

There are designations of rank which are worn, but they are not in the form of belts.

D77