Kenpo Praxis

The first movements of American Kenpo carry the beginnings of everything that follows. In learning where to place a foot, how to receive an incoming line, and when one hand must accept responsibility from the other, the student begins to discover the relationships that give technique its meaning. The foundation takes shape through the attention brought to each repetition.

Written by Marc D. Davis, Yellow Belt opens Kenpo Praxis: The American Kenpo Curriculum Series with ten self defense techniques, eight freestyle techniques, and two Universal Kenpo Drills. Each sequence unfolds from the practitioner’s perspective, with precise descriptions of stance, direction, striking, checking, and recovery. An introduction to anatomical language supports careful reading, while a unified quick reference provides a concise companion for review.

The study continues beneath the visible movement. A dedicated applied science section examines how support changes during a step, how rotation contributes to a striking path, and how timing and contact influence the action that follows. Physics, biomechanics, kinesiology, and motor learning give these observations a more exact language. Throughout the discussion, established principles remain distinct from interpretation, and the limits of an explanation receive the same care as its possibilities.

Original artwork and thoughtful interpretations of the crest and Universal Pattern place the curriculum within a larger commitment to inquiry, teaching, and responsible practice. Created to accompany qualified instruction, this manual welcomes the beginning student while offering experienced practitioners a deeper return to the movements upon which their training rests.

Coming soon, Kenpo Principia will examine the scientific foundations of American Kenpo in greater depth. The Student and Instructor Compendiums will carry that inquiry into the work of learning, practice, observation, and teaching.

Published by Vortex Kenpo Press, Yellow Belt begins with a conviction that guides the entire series: the earliest lessons deserve our deepest care. What we learn to notice in them will shape what we are able to understand, perform, and eventually pass to another.