Uniforms

[Kenpo-Zen]

I was wondering in keeping with AKLA and representing them properly as if you were going to go and perform in a tournament doing Katas. Where do I place the patches on the uniform. AKLA, Parker patch etc. Thanks. I know its just patches but if I wear it in performance I want to represent the AKLA the right way. Thanks.

Kenpo-Zen

[Tombo]

Good question! My best "guess" would be that the organization you are representing at the tournament would go over your left chest. It is really up to Eric & Kevin to make the call though.

[The Tabasco Kid]

Mr. Deslongchamps, the AKLA Regional Representative in Missouri, has posted class pictures and a guide to patch placement on his website (http://www.warriorscholarkenpo.com).

The Parker patch goes on the left chest, centered on the left nipple. The AKLA patch goes on the left shoulder. No written guidance is given for how far from the shoulder seam it goes. The pictures on the Warrior Scholar Kenpo site show the AKLA patch on the left arm, centered between the shoulder seam and the elbow.

I once heard a tip for those who go between different Kenpo schools. For example, the Kenpo studios in my area all have different arm patches. The tip I got was not to attach a school patch directly to your uniform but attach a square of black Velcro (loop side) in its place and attach the hook side to the back of the school patch. This allows you to remove your particular school's patch should you visit another school for a protracted period of time or should you change schools altogether.

[Tombo]

Yeah that's why I pretty much don't bother with patches. At my school we are only required a patch for testing and I have a separate Gi top for that anyways.

[administrator]

The proper placement of the AKLA Patch is centered on the left breast. However, we know that many desire to wear the IKKA crest on the left breast. If that is the case, we always allow the AKLA patch to be worn over the right breast, never the or the leg.

This brings up the issue of patches in general. I had once asked Ed Parker if the patches were necessary, and if the placement has to completely followed as outlined in his IKKA membership book. The concern was that it is really tough getting all of those patches sown onto the correct place. Plus, I like to have more than one uniform because I like mine clean for each workout.
His answer was, you don't have to have the patches at all, and you can wear them wherever you want. But ... he said that he gives back the same respect that you put into your efforts, be it patches, attitude, words and actions. He said the IKKA crest over your heart is to represent putting your heart into the kenpo he teaches, in which case, he would put his heart into teaching you. If you wore the crest on your shoulder, he would simply brush his shoulder off, as if getting rid of some dandruff.

Now, the IKKA no longer exists. I still maintain my IKKA uniform because I was a member, back then, when Ed Parker and the IKKA was alive. However, wearing the uniform outside of ceremonial purposes is anachronistic. It is like flying a flag from previous periods in American history. Every now and then you hear of trouble rising when someone in the south flies a confederate flag. Sure, he has his rights to expression, but the flag that I pledge allegiance to has 50 stars.

So, I know that the IKKA crest is highly identified with American Kenpo, that is why we will allow the AKLA to be placed on the right breast. But, should you chose to place it elsewhere, then, like Ed Parker indicated, we give back the same respect and devotion that is given to us.

Kevin Lamkin