Beginning students learn the fundamentals of boxing, basic stances, blocks, punches and kicks of karate
plus the grab release skills of Kenpo self defense and an introduction to wrist control of Jiu Jitsu.
Collectively this is a fast simple effective way to teach new students how to protect themselves right
away and compliments the material students learn as they progress through the curriculum at the Karate
Training Centers.
The beginner intermediate levels of training establish the necessary skills needed for the most probable
encounters a student may be faced with. This material learned from the yellow through green belt level
is referred to as the “Skill Set”. Continuing from the basic boxing skills students’ further progress
through intermediate kickboxing combinations developing reflexive and spontaneous response abilities.
Students continue with basic wrist control application and progress through the basic locks and twists
series of Jiu Jitsu. Training is advanced with the practical application of Kenpo self defense techniques
which instruct basic responses to grab-release moves such as grabs, headlock, arm locks, chokes, bear
hugs etc. Students learn defensive tactics against punching attacks, knife attacks and two attackers.
Collectively this “skill set” establishes the base techniques which are the foundation for the next level of
training.
At the advanced or brown belt level students learn variations of the techniques learned in the skill set.
These variations answer the “what if” questions of technique application. Understanding the differences
in the attack scenarios drives the “triggers” which signal the student to select which technique variation
works best as the dynamics of the fight change. Continued progress is stressed in the advanced student’s
application abilities for their kickboxing and Jiu Jitsu skills.
At the Black Belt level students learn how to “blend” the parts of different self defense techniques with
other techniques. Mr. Martin has written an entire book devoted to this subject of Kenpo Technique
Parts. Understanding the concepts of blending technique parts is truly the next level of training for
every black belt it is the single determining factor which allows the black belt to become totally
spontaneous in all situations. Black belts learn to teach as this re-enforces their knowledge of the skill
set and technique variation, furthers refines their kickboxing and Jiu Jitsu skills.
At the core is Kenpo Karate. Kenpo is a relative young martial art. Kenpo was the system developed by
Ed Parker after he left his teacher Professor William Chow. Ed Parker is synonymous with “American
Kenpo”. The popularity of Ed Parker and Kenpo came about as a result Ed Parker being in every edition
of the first 36 publications of Black Belt magazine. One of Ed Parkers students Al Tracy and his brother
Jim were the first martial artist in the country to franchise the art of Kenpo and this is synonymous with
the name “Tracy’s Karate”. Al and Jim Tracy structured their brand of Kenpo with name changes to the
self defense techniques and katas of American Kenpo. Their brand of Kenpo became recognized
internationally as “Tracy’s International Studios of Self Defense”.
Marty Martin was promoted the his 3rd 4th and 5th degree Black Belt by Ed Parker and his 6th 7th and 8th
degree Black Belt by Al Tracy. Marty Martin became certified to teach Kenpo Karate in 1969. Over the
years there have been fundamental changes as to the structure and method of teaching Kenpo by Marty
Martin driven by changes in society and advancements in physical sciences. Today, westernized boxing,
American kickboxing, and Jiu Jitsu technique influence Marty Martin’s brand of Karate. Kenpo self
defense techniques being at the heart of the material.
Unlike American or Tracy’s Kenpo Marty Martin’s material is grouped in specific sets of like type and
related information. Student’s progression is developed through a building block process whereby the
material in each skill set block builds on the next, all the while students develop and train with “Fight
Skills” instructed after the material in this manual is learned.
Each “block” of training material builds on previous material and represents another level of training
experience. There are three levels of experience; beginners (white, yellow and orange belt), intermediate
(purple, blue, green) and advanced (brown belts). Students wearing the “Red Belt” belt signify a student
who has completed learning the beginner and intermediate material and is preparing to test for
advancement to the advanced level of training. The Red/Black Belt represents a student who has learned
the advanced material and is preparing to test for the Black Belt.
Beginners learn Building Block Set One which includes the basics of karate, an introduction to boxing
and jiu jitsu plus the skill set Kenpo self defense techniques which instruct defense against: the grab arts
– an assailant attempting various grabs, attempted locks, arm bars etc. An introduction to “Fight Skills”
is added to the training and students learn to apply the information in the Platform Theory to the Bo,
baton, knife, boxing, and ground skills.
Intermediates learn Building Block Set Two and Three which includes the next level of basics of karate,
combined boxing skills and defenses and wrist lock and arm-lock jiu jitsu material plus the skill set
Kenpo self defense techniques teaching defense against fundamental striking attacks (punches), knife
attacks and two attackers. Students continue to train in the fight skills with the expectation the student
will demonstrate a marked improvement in their fight skills abilities.
Advanced students learn Building Block Sets Four and Five, develop solid kickboxing and jiu jitsu
application plus Kenpo self defense techniques which now answer the “what if” questions from the
techniques learned at the “Skill Set “ level. This material is referred to as the “Self Defense Technique
Variations.” At this level fight skills fundamentals have been learned and advanced students should be
practicing their skills not necessarily learning new fundamentals.
After completing the material for advancement through the brown belt ranks the student will have
learned all the material needed to advance to the black belt, here the red/black belt signifies and provides
a review level of all material. When the student can complete all the required material with no mistakes
then the Black Belt test is administered.
Black belts become teachers, leaders and representatives of Marty Martin Karate and Kenpo Set Jiu Jitsu
they join an elite group of individuals who have gone before them. It is a great honor to join this Black
Belt Kenpo fraternity. Train hard, stay focused, improve your mind, push yourself and you will achieve.
Coach Marty Martin
8th Degree Black belt
Professor Kenpo Set Karate and Kenpo Jiu Jitsu
