Marty Martin Karate Explained

Welcome to Marty Martin Karate Explained, I personally look forward to your joining my programs. Read on as I explain how my karate program is setup and what to expect at each level of training. After you read the full explanation I suggest you click on the link for my Fight Skills program and read that also. Then when you’re ready to get started go to the membership page and select the program that’s right for you. Whether you join today or at a later time, enjoy your journey in the martial arts. Coach Martin

Introduction

Marty Martin Karate has a program for teens and adults and another for children. The children’s program has fewer self defense techniques per set. You will find three levels of training: beginner, intermediate and advanced. Black Belts have their own level of training which is described as you read on.

Beginner Level Sets

Beginning students learn the basic’s of boxing and karate stances, blocks, punches and kicks.  I start students with the four grab release skills of Kenpo self defense as-well-as 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. Students will find this material compliments the instruction they will get as they progress through the Marty Martin Karate curriculum.

Beginner/Intermediate Skill Set

The beginner/intermediate levels of training establish the skills needed for the most common encounters a student may be faced with. The material learned from the yellow belt through green belt level is referred to as the “Skill Set”. Continuing the basic boxing skills students’ further progress through intermediate kickboxing combinations. This develops reflexive and spontaneous response abilities. Students continue with basic wrist control application and progress through the basic locks and twists series of Jiu Jitsu. Students learn combative tactics through hands-on practical application of my Kenpo self defense techniques.  This includes fundamental responses to grab-release moves such as wrist, shoulder and collar grabs, headlock, arm locks, chokes, bear hugs etc. Students also learn defensive tactics against punching/striking attacks, knife attacks and two attackers. Collectively the “Skill Set” material establishes the base techniques, which are the foundation of the advanced training material.

Advanced Training Variations

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 is what I refer to as the “triggers”. Those differences (triggers) of an attack signal the student to select a technique variation/adaptation.  Attack variations drive the dynamics of the fight. By understanding how the technique variations can be applied is stressed in the advanced student’s application and skills development.

Black Belt Blending

At the Black Belt level, black belts learn how to “blend” the parts of different self defense techniques with other techniques. Blending material really means using what you already know in new ways. Rather than learn more material black belts learn how to be creative and more effective with the skills they have worked so hard to learn. I have written an entire book devoted to this subject of Kenpo Self Defense 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 advanced technique variations. With experience instructing further refines a black belts overall martial arts ability.

Black belts will find a higher level of conditioning and mental toughness as well as more devastating moves to finish techniques. With this increased ability comes a higher sense of responsibility. I reward increased responsibility with more knowledge. Black Belts become teachers, leaders and representatives of Marty Martin Karate and they join an elite group of individuals who have gone before them. It is a great honor to join this Black Belt fraternity.

History

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 numerous editions of Black Belt Magazine. One of Ed Parkers students Al Tracy and his brother Jim were the first martial artist in the United States to franchise the art of Kenpo Karate. 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”.

I was promoted to my 3rd 4th and 5th degree Black Belts by Ed Parker through the International Kenpo Karate Association (IKKA). Al Tracy promoted me to my 6th, 7th and 8th degree Black Belt.

I first became certified to teach Karate in 1969. Over the years I made fundamental changes to the structure and method of teaching karate. This was driven by changes in society and advancements in physical sciences. Today, westernized boxing, American kickboxing, and Jiu Jitsu technique influence greatly influence my brand of Karate.

Self Defense Curriculum 

The development of the self-defense techniques within Marty Martin Karate curriculum is based on my knowledge of Kenpo Karate.

Marty Martin Karate curriculum is grouped into specific “sets” of like type attack or related material. Student progression/promotion is determined by completing a complete “set” of material.

Within a “set” are blocks of instruction. Belt stripes signify completion of “blocks” of material. Typically there are four blocks (stripes) within each set or belt level.

Each respective “set” of self defense techniques can be thought of as completing a belt level. The more belt levels the more sets completed.

Each “block” of training material represents proficiency relative to the tactics of that “block’. As an example the beginner (white belt) level contains: introduction to boxing, building block set 1, basic grab-release and basic wrist locks. Belt testing includes demonstration of the material in each block and application of that material with a partner.

Experience Belt Levels Breakdown

Overall there are three general levels of experience within Marty Martin Karate.

  • Beginners (white, yellow and orange belt)
  •  Intermediate (purple, blue, green)
  • 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 (brown belt) level of training. The Red Belt Black Stripe represents a student who has learned the advanced material and is preparing to test for the Black Belt.

Black Belt Testing is a demonstration of all the material learned. Testing includes being spontaneous attacks from other students testing for black belt too.

Train hard, stay focused, improve your mind, push yourself and you will achieve.

Coach Marty Martin
8th Degree Black Belt
Owner Marty Martin Karate, Karate Training Centers
Professor Kenpo Set Karate and Kenpo Jiu Jitsu

Go to Marty Martin Karate Fight Skills to read about the fight skills package and how you can add that to your personal training. Just click the link…

KTC logo

Ready to join click the link to join now…