Glen King doesn’t pull any punches when meeting 6th Degree Black Belt Karate instructor in Kenpo, Damian Abbott to learn about the art of self defence and how it helps you grow stronger in both mind and body…
The American Kenpo system devised by the late Grandmaster Ed Parker known for choreographing Peter Sellers in the Pink Panther movies, has touched the lives of many including King of Rock & Roll, Elvis Presley. Passionate about the Martial Arts, Elvis regularly incorporated Kenpo moves into his famous stances on stage.
Officially trained under, arguably, one of the world’s best practitioners Grandmaster Larry Tatum in Pasadena, California, Exeter born Damian first discovered Kenpo in 1984.
“At the age of 14 I played the piano and was a wildlife enthusiast so not your stereotypical young lad in to distractions such as football. A bit of a loner I needed a physical pastime to broaden my horizons and to meet new friends. I saw a small advert in the local paper promoting a Martial Arts class,” reminisces Damian. “Since then I’ve been incredibly lucky to travel Worldwide in pursuit of my training including regularly visiting America. Teaching Kenpo has opened up amazing opportunities for me not least right here in Exeter.”
Damian invites me to one of his weekly Sunday lunchtime classes held in a mirrored studio at Fitness First, Exeter. Having in the past experienced some of the better known styles of Karate such as Tae Kwon-Do and the very much in-vogue Body Combat, I expect to see rows of bodies robotically punching and kicking aerobic style, in time to popular music. I soon discover Kenpo is a very different experience. Dressed in the traditional black Kenpo Gi, I join the mixed group of students and immediately feel the high energy radiating throughout the room. Each individual stares unblinking, brows furrowed in intense concentration and totally focused on the act of practicing their fluid moves effortlessly yet with lightening speed and grace.
Damian expands. “Some of the popular karate classes are more about exercise and fitness than self defence in practical terms. It can become just about brand and image where as Kenpo Karate is a passion not a fashion. Our club is based on quality not quantity with people from all walks of life, from charity workers to solicitors and each are here for their own reasons; whether to feel safer on the street; to build self-confidence, broaden their horizons or to make new social contacts. The fact that they will inevitably become honed and toned is an added bonus.”
Following the initial warm up, Damian divides the group into sections according to their levels of ability. As a white belt beginner (the virgin of the group) I receive personal instruction from 2nd degree Black Belt Miles Copp in a basic self defence technique called Lone Kimono. Meanwhile Damian returns to the main group barking rapid instructions which are instantly obeyed without hesitation or question. The fluidity and speed of the controlled moves audibly slice through the air and the grunts and rhythmic stomping of bare feet on wood only adds to the atmosphere – it literally makes the hairs on the back of my neck stand up! From my vantage viewpoint at the back of the class it feels like being engaged in a wave of synchronised emotion - a beautifully staged but macabre ‘dance of death’. From purple belt intermediate Ali Price to the five Black Belts with a combined 100 years experience, the group systematically moves as one. The scene before me feels so real I momentarily think I have inadvertently wandered on to a Jackie Chan film set!
“If a potential ‘Kenpoist’ approaches the system with the mindset that it will become a life-time decision and that the curriculum cannot be rushed or diluted then the benefits will be all the more rewarding” explains Damian. “Kenpo is a thinking person’s art and once you take the time to absorb the basic fundamentals and principles, it becomes an explosive and powerful series of motion which will flow effortlessly.”
Boxing gloves donned, the one hour session culminates on an exhilarating high with a realistic and extremely noisy bout of sparring between each of the Black Belt partners. I look on completely mesmerised at what looks like a well choreographed fight scene from a fast moving action movie as it unfolds in front of me. This not a rehearsed act however; the highly trained students instinctively know the correct moves and techniques to use as they switch effortlessly between an attack or defence position as appropriate.
2nd Degree Black Belt and original team member Neil Thacker tells me how learning Kenpo was a life changing choice for him. “I was in my 20’s, going through divorce and had lost everything precious to me. When I was at my lowest ebb I saw an invitation to a Kenpo Karate class. It took guts to walk into that training hall which was merely an old scout hut, but it turned out to be the best decision I would ever make. It helped to channel my aggression and frustration in a controlled manner; focused my mind; made me stronger in both body and spirit and regain my confidence. Kenpo literally put my life back on track.”
Photographs taken by John Rose
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