Updated Black Belt Family Tree

Here is my updated family tree of black belts: 1. Simon Ball 2. Ethan Bragg 3. Adam Brandejs 4. Dana Broadhead 5. Jennifer Brock 6. Vince Brock 7. Craig Cote 8. Janel Cote 9. Kurtis Cote 10. Michelle Everitt 11. Brent Fowler 12. Justin Franklin 13. Geordie Gauld 14. Josh Girges 15. Maia Goldman 16. Michael Greenberg 17. Graham Harden 18. Geoff Kent 19. John McDonald 20. Chris Newsome 21. Rick Robson 22. Michaela Saker 23. Mike Saker 24. Morgan Seabrook 25. Scott Southwell 26. Lee Stanley 27. Jesse Toth 28. Matt Trejo 29. Alexa Vreman 30. Brennan Weatherhead 31. Ryan Welsh 32. Evan Wiley 33. Dave Wolfe 34. Reese Wunnink 35. Darren Wynes

Blast from the Past - 2006

This photo from was taken in Baltimore, Maryland at the 2006 LTKKA Championships. I was honored to be one of the main camp instructors, alongside Grandmaster Larry Tatum.

Advanced Black Belt Grading

Last night I tested my first two students ever to 5th Degree Black Belt in American Kenpo Karate - Matt Trejo and Evan Wiley. Additionally, Darren Wynes was promoted to 4th Degree Black Belt. As part of their test, the three candidates performed all 154 American Kenpo techniques (+ Aggressive Twins, Spreading Branch, and Intellectual Departure), all 96 technique extensions, and Long Forms 4-8. Each candidate also had several stand-up sparring fights, and several fights on the ground.

Unlike many advanced black belt promotions at this level which are considered "honorary" based on "time in the art", or that require students to perform 5-10 of their favorite techniques based on a 5-minute test, these three candidates did a 3-hour grading and performed every self-defense technique in the system. That's how a promotion at this level should be - and these three exemplified what 5th and 4th degree black belts in American Kenpo should move like.

Southwell's Kenpo is bringing back Grandmaster Larry Tatum!

Grandmaster Larry Tatum is returning to Southwell's Kenpo October 4-5, 2019. Everyone who is serious about their Kenpo training should definitely attend. Larry Tatum is in a league of his own and is truly an inspiration to Kenpo practitioners across the globe.

Check out this picture from his last event in June 2018:

Updated Family Tree of Black Belts

Below is my updated family tree of black belts (32 black belts in 24 years of running my school):

Simon Ball
Adam Brandejs
Dana Broadhead
Jennifer Brock
Vince Brock
Craig Cote
Janel Cote
Kurtis Cote
Michelle Everitt
Brent Fowler
Justin Franklin
Geordie Gauld
Josh Girges
Michael Greenberg
Graham Harden
Geoff Kent
John McDonald
Chris Newsome
Rick Robson
Michaela Saker
Mike Saker
Morgan Seabrook
Lee Stanley
Scott Southwell
Jesse Toth
Matt Trejo
Alexa Vreman
Brennan Weatherhead
Ryan Welsh
Evan Wiley
Reese Wunnink
Darren Wynes

Our Holiday in Cuba

Hi Everyone,

Happy New Year to all! We had an amazing holiday and spent Dec 23-Jan 5 in Holguin Cuba. The weather was awesome, with temperatures between 30-35 Celsius every day.Here are some photos of our time there.

Noah Bragg Promoted to Junior Black Belt

Last night, Noah Bragg was promoted to Junior Black Belt in American Kenpo Karate after more than 6 years of training at Seabrook Martial Arts Academy in London, Ontario. His testing consisted of full-contact continuous stand-up sparring, a jiu jitsu roll (ground fight), and American Kenpo forms and sets. The pictures on the left were from his Junior Black Belt testing and those on the right are from when he was still a beginner at our school. Congratulations Noah!

When to Use a Modified Mount

One reason to use a modified mount is when the opponent is trying to use an elbow escape to get out of the mount position. When their elbow or hand pushes on our knee, immediately modify the mount to take away their elbow escape attempt. The modified mount is effective because it decreases the likelihood that the person trying to do an elbow escape can hook your foot that is now located in the opponent's stomach. Additionally, a modified mount is more advantageous than a full mount when the opponent rolls over to their side.

Escaping the High Mount Position

When you are being mounted and your opponent is sitting low on your hips, the elbow escape, trap and roll technique, and hip thrusts are very good options to escape. However, these techniques don't work well when the opponent is able to establish a high mount on you. Although it's possible for you to wiggle back down to try these same techniques, sometimes the opponent is effective at maintaining the high mount. In this situation, a good strategy is to place your hands in the opponent's armpits with stiff arms (assuming his hands are on the ground), bump your hips, and to place your feet quickly in the opponent's armpits to come out the back door to escape.

Timothy Brock Promoted to Junior Black Belt

A huge congratulations goes out to Timothy Brock who was promoted to Junior Black Belt in American Kenpo Karate on October 29, 2018. Timothy has been training at Seabrook Martial Arts Academy for over 7 years now, and is now on a path where he will start learning all of the self-defense techniques required for promotion to 1st Degree Black Belt. Congratulations Timothy!

Women's Assault Prevention Seminar

On October 19, 2018, Matt Trejo and I teamed up to teach a women's assault prevention seminar in London, Ontario. The class was packed! We taught how to strike effectively, how to establish a strong base, and how to defend against front chokes, wrist grabs, bear hugs, and to defend if you are on the ground and the opponent is on top of you. We also taught self-defense techniques against hair grabs and rear chokes. More seminars to come!

MGM Grand

One of my favorite places to be - the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, Nevada! This place has hosted such historic fights such as Mike Tyson vs. Evander Holyfield 1 & 2, Oscar De La Hoya vs. Floyd Mayweather, and Daniel Cormier vs. Jon Jones 1.

Maverick Helicopter Ride in Las Vegas

Last night Chantel and I had the opportunity to take a helicopter ride over the strip in Las Vegas for our wedding anniversary. We had such a great time and I highly recommend taking this ride if you are ever in Las Vegas.

Swinging Pendulum - Common Problem

I thought I would share a common problem I see in students when practicing Swinging Pendulum (although this could apply for any technique in Kenpo that starts in a neutral bow where we move up the circle to get out of the way of an attack). When the roundhouse kick comes at us, and we step back with our left foot and use a positional universal block to the opponent's kick, be sure that your feet are in a straight line and that they don't cross. In other words, stepping back too far with your left foot so that it is behind your right foot means that you are getting in your own way, thus limiting your ability to effectively use your back leg.

Blast from the Past Photo

This photo goes back almost 4 years (November 24, 2014) and was taken immediately after Brennan's promotion to 1st Degree Black Belt in American Kenpo at Seabrook Martial Arts Academy.

Ontario Open International Jiu Jitsu Championships

Here is a picture of Matt and I before we fought in the Ontario Open International Jiu Jitsu Championships in September 2016 in Toronto, Canada.

Kenpo Karate Techniques on YouTube

Hi Everyone,

I have decided to put every Kenpo Karate self-defence technique that I teach at Seabrook Martial Arts Academy up on YouTube. This will obviously take some time, but my goal is to have each video lasting anywhere from 1-5 minutes so that someone watching it can get a broad understanding of the application of the technique, and demonstrated at a high level of proficiency. Obviously, the more advanced the self-defense technique, the longer the video will be. The techniques will not be put up in any sequential order, but they will all eventually be available. A couple of days ago, I uploaded Delayed Sword, Lone Kimono, and Five Swords.

Jamie

More pictures from the 1st degree black belt grading

Reese Wunnink - 1st Degree Black Promotion

After 9 years of training at Seabrook Martial Arts Academy, last night I promoted Reese Wunnink to 1st Degree Black Belt in American Kenpo Karate. For the final portion of his testing, Reese had to fight 4 black belts at the same time: Matt Trejo (4th Degree), John McDonald (4th Degree), Brennan Weatherhead (3rd Degree), and Vince Brock (1st Degree). Reese Wunninck is the 32nd student I have promoted to 1st Degree Black belt level since opening my school 23 years ago. Congratulations Reese!

Pictures from my seminar at Southwell's Can-Am Camp

Here are a couple of photos from my seminar at the Can-Am Camp. As always, it's a huge honor to be able to teach at the same event as Grandmaster Larry Tatum.