Hi Folks!
I saw this thread go from Red Dragon Martial arts in New Jersey to Santa Clara and now to George Elmer...Since I know Mr. Elmer I felt I should write regarding him and my experiences with him.
I first saw Mr. Elmer on the "sportchannel" or "ESPN" network demonstrating a double stick form at Dominic Gacobee's Taj Mahal Tournament. I remembers the swift dynamic,explosive movements and placed a "mental bookmark" to try to find out who this person was at another date. Later, I would attend the New England UKS kenpo camp in Springfield,Massachusetts,sponsored by Mr. Steve Swereki [sp] featuring Bryan Hawkins,Tommy Burke,Howard Silva,Steven Sears as well as many others. This was the first time that I met george elmer. If you knew me at that time, you knew about my "perm" days [why I would opt to have pseudo "pubic hair" on my head I'll never know! :rofl: ] But,anyways, I watched george as he demonstrated his version of the techniques of ACKKS, Again, I saw him move with explosiveness and power and couldn't help but think for a brief moment "He moves like Mr. Parker..." He had formulated his own techniques based on his primary training in the Tracy and Parker systems, with his own unique slant on the actions with his own unique terminology. Simply stated, the man could do Kenpo and do it well and "make it work"! As he did his various techniques I would explain exactly what he was doing in EPAK terminology and could easily describe the technique and it's application. He told me at the time "Joe, you are the first person that has been able to explain what I do and how I do it!"
Since that time I've been a "twin son of a different mother" to George and helped him out in regards to the ACKKS as a style and organization. I've been asked to detail out techniques and for my opinion and viewpoint on various aspects over the years. It was on my recommendation that Mr. Elmer changed his patch so as to reflect his unique system and elements of the emblem are there throughout the design. The ACKKS crest was designed by Kristi Gualco & myself several years ago. I did this because I knew that the EPAK community would question Mr. Elmer on his art and format. I also mentioned to him that he should alter the sysmbol of HIS tenth in HIS art so as to differenciate himself from the EPAK format of rank, but to make it obvious that it indeed is from that influence and indirectly from that lineage.(as chuck sullivan of the IKCA did] As of that date he has not taken my advice and that is his perogative. American -Chinese Kenpo Karate is its own unique entity in the kenpo world and George Elmer is it's founder and creator. He has created techniques,terminology,sets and forms that are uniquely his creation. He acknowledges his foundation and gives credit to those sources. He has chosen to leave distinct footprint in the kenpo sand & realizes that there are those out there who would rather kick sand at him. ACKKS is a "work in progress" and as such will grow and evolve into it's own. It never ceases to amaze me how people are so free to state who should or shouldn't be a "founder". The basic premise of being a founder is to have "found" their own innovation and be proud enough of their accomplishment and claim it as such. Many times I personally have seen martial artists come up with their unique innovations or different slants on a given art, but give all the credit to someone else whose name is "more respected" or "well known" rather than accept the recognition for their own accomplishment. That is truly sad and it does a disservice to the creator of the idea. George Elmer has the "intestinal and testicular fortitude" to claim ACKKS as his own.
I hope that I was of some service,
KENPOJOE
ACKKS Technical advisor