Community Services Online - Kenpo4LifeAdelaide
Covid-19 has meant that clubs have closed and gatherings and social activities are limited to reduce the spread of the virus, however this doesn't mean that people can't continue to practice or participate in society, with remote lessons becoming the new social norm. Many community organisations are using a range of tech tools and resources to facilitate this change, move online and keep in touch with their members.
Community Services Online - Kenpo4LifeAdelaide
One such organisation includes Kenpo4LifeAdelaide, the family-based martial arts school run locally in the Gepps Cross Enfield area. The school is currently offering online training to connect with their members to continue to teach practical self-defence in a motivating, friendly and bully-free team environment.
SAcommunity lists 301 services offering Martial Arts, the cultural traditions, art and methods of combat span across many disciplines including Judo, Karate, Kung Fu and Tae Kwon Do. There are many different fighting styles, systems and derivations, so the team decided to find out more about the Kenpo4LifeAdelaide school from Sensei Maurice Howie.
Kenpo4LifeAdelaide offers the Dragon Arena Martial Arts (DAMA) self-defence programme for children aged 5 to 14 years of age. Established in 2009, it takes the best from various martial art styles like Ming Chuan Kung Fu, American Kenpo and Arnis. They also offer a range of programs including Women's Tactical Self Defence, Kenpo Karate Australasia for adults and Teen Kenpo Australasia for teenagers.
The SAcommunity team learnt that Arnis is the national martial art of the Philippines, American Kenpo a hybrid with a base in Karate and Judo and Ming Chuan Kung Fu is a style of Chinese Martial Art.
In Dragon Arena Martial Arts, 'The young student is taken on a journey of skill, discipline and confidence in the world of martial arts. They learn the basics from stances, punches and kicks through to combining those skills into forms, sets and self-defence techniques.'
Sensai Maurice Howie explains further: "Part of the Black Belt test is to teach classes, write their own thesis and create their own form using the knowledge that they have learnt over the journey."
Symbolism, tradition and colours are hallmarks of martial arts and Dragon Arena Martial Arts program, 'Our uniforms are comprised of a Red Jacket and Black Pants from White to Brown Belt, with Red representing the Dragon and its Wisdom and Black representing Power and Strength. When the student achieves Red Belt, they are awarded a Black Jacket to represent seniority in the programme, through to Black Belt.'
The skills and practice learnt through the DAMA program can have positive outcomes for students in other aspects of their life, Sensai Maurice Howie highlights how 'other sports can be advantaged by the thought process and technical aspects of our art'.
Interested in finding out more about Kenpo4LifeAdelaide and what it has to offer? Contact the club today! Find their details >>here.
