... but not until later in the student's training. I introduce the idea of self-offense very early on, but do not train it until I have had enough time with the students to assess their moral character and personality. By Purple, Blue, or Green - I have a good feel for the person, not just what they want me to see (hopefully.)
This is good and bad. I have lost students who are too aggressive, not without a bunch of warnings, counseling, or even in one case, a probationary period.
You especially need to be judicious in teaching aggressive Kenpo to kids or UTES ('youths' - a joke from John Sepulveda's Spirit Camp in Idaho this weekend.) You have to teach not just the "Way" to be offensive, rather how to be on the offensive, but the Perceptual, Psychological or Mental, and then address the "Hows".
Of course we teach it ... I would hope all instructors do. However, "do we practice it" is a question that begs an answer. I see the vast majority of most Kenpoist training as being "reactive" as in a self-defense technique line - how often, outside of freestyle sparring, do we practice this?
This is good and bad. I have lost students who are too aggressive, not without a bunch of warnings, counseling, or even in one case, a probationary period.
You especially need to be judicious in teaching aggressive Kenpo to kids or UTES ('youths' - a joke from John Sepulveda's Spirit Camp in Idaho this weekend.) You have to teach not just the "Way" to be offensive, rather how to be on the offensive, but the Perceptual, Psychological or Mental, and then address the "Hows".
Of course we teach it ... I would hope all instructors do. However, "do we practice it" is a question that begs an answer. I see the vast majority of most Kenpoist training as being "reactive" as in a self-defense technique line - how often, outside of freestyle sparring, do we practice this?
