Black Belt should be the beginning of learning.
How can anyone say that they fully mastered a system, especially Tracy’s System of Kenpo Karate, with all of the extra material Great Grand Master Al Tracy added since the 1990’s? We need to align ourselves in a manner to keep Kenpo strong, along with eliminating egos.
There should be an understanding that your students show where your expertise lies, as well as realizing, to make a future for Kenpo, that your black belts should be better than you were at the point they reach Black Belt. Every Black Belt should be better than the ones before them. The knowledge should expand and not stay stagnant. We owe it to the system, so there is a future for the many who have dedicated themselves to their art.
Some tend to say they have “all these years” in, but perhaps not realize it may not be all training and teaching time if there are gaps in the time, due to life’s unexpectancies and challenges. If we only use just “years” as a measure, we are not correct. We need to know if we are diverted from Kenpo during our “years of study”, our time cannot be counted as Kenpo time. Contributions to the art should be a major gauge of value, as GGM Tracy has said, “What can you bring to the table?” Using Grand Master titles indiscriminately does nothing to further real value. Our example is GGM Tracy who never demanded or even expected anyone put titles in front of his name. We, as students, friends, and family, did it without his demand to give him the respect he so deserved. We must remember to be humble and look within ourselves to check our egos.
Another point is the realization there will never be anyone or group that will be able to control GGM Tracy’s way of keeping everyone together and valued. There will never be anything even remotely the same as his way of running his system. We, as his Black Belts, must make sure not to disrespect what GGM Tracy wanted. He would not like what is going on right now. GGM Tracy was emphatic about not having anything change in his absence. Do we want to accept negative things said about him or disrespect his wishes while having accepted rank from him? Is rank that important, or is it the new way?
We wish more people would stand up and strive to follow his wishes. As he said, and documented, that nothing should change in his absence. Look deep within ourselves and see if this is being followed. If anyone would like to share or discuss these thoughts, it would be welcomed and appreciated. Any questions or suggestions, please call Self Defense Studio LLC (708) 935-1840.
Greg Mattson