About Us

The Path of Dragon Kenpo:

The direction in which Dragon Kenpo leads its practitioners is represented in a sphere, constantly expanding with the final goal only being the beginning of a new stage. An endless highway, as it were.

Art of Karate:                          

Karate-do is a martial art originated in Okinawa, modified and transformed into a way of life by Master Gichin Funakoshi. Until before these modifications, it was just a group of techniques that permitted self-defense without weapons other than your hands and feet. Though there was some Chinese influence, the development was Okinawan, and later mainland Japanese.

Master Funakoshi, inspired by traditional martial arts from the main Japanese islands (kyudo, kendo, judo for example) modified Karate, that until that moment could have been called Karate-jutsu, a fighting art, and emphasized the philosophical aspects. This way all that was learnt could be extrapolated to the daily life of the student. This is why Karate is a way of life: Karate-do (do, means way or road). Gichin Funakoshi, thus, combined Karate techniques with traditional Budo (the martial way), inserting the essence of Budo in the heart of Karate.

The word Karate is also formed by two characters, the first one kara (empty) and the other te (hand), the first one having many ways of defining it. The first definition is the least subtle and the most straightforward, through the practice of karate, self defense techniques are learnt, where no weapons are needed, other than hands, feet or other parts of the body. The second one, and in the words of Master Funakoshi: "Just as it is the clear mirror that reflects without distortion, or the quiet valley that echoes a sound, so must one who would study Karate-do purge himself of selfish and evil thoughts, for only with a clear mind and conscience can he [she] understand that which he [she] receives. This is another meaning of the element kara in Karate-do." Another meaning given by the Master is that of always striving to be inwardly humble and outwardly gentle, thus meaning an internal emptiness of egoism and acting gently and moderately. Finally he talks about the elemental form of the Universe, which is emptiness (kara, ku), "and thus, emptiness is form itself. The kara of Karate-do has this meaning." After what's been said, it is clear that Karate-do and Karate Budo are much, much more than mere self-defense techniques, actually, such a definition is a far shot from the real essence of Karate as a philosophy, which strives to develop the inner qualities of a human being and the search of perfection of your character, through strenuous training in the do and budo martial arts.

Instructors

Ron Pfeiffer ***Nov 28th 2004, Coach Pfeiffer became a Lifetime Member of the United States Martial Arts Association."*** Instructor Ron Pfeiffer acquired the Dragon Kenpo system in 1998 after his instructor at the YMCA announced his retirement (with no replacement). Ron taught friends and family the art as preparations for opening a school progressed. That school opened at the Genenva Lakes YMCA in Sept of 2000. November 2000 assisted in the formation and establishment of the International Dragon Kenpo Association. Sept 8th 2002 Coach Pfeiffer received promotion to 4th Degree Black through the Defensive Arts Academy and Rodney Lacey. In November 2002 Wisconsin Dragon Kenpo and the Geneva Lakes Self Defense Club was recognized by the Unified Martial Arts Association International and Coach Pfeiffer was assigned the post of Wisconsin State Rep for the UMAAI. The classes proved popular and have become a staple program of the facility. Coach Pfeiffer retired from the YMCA in 2008 and opened Midwest Tai Chi & Self Defense in Burlington WI. Thor Sulland (Co-Director Dragon Kenpo Europe) Certified Instructor, WDK Charter United Kingdom thorviking@talk21.com 3rd Degree Black Belt Thor Sulland received his school charter from Wisconsin Dragon Kenpo in February of 2004. He is an an IDKA Member and distance learning student of Coach Pfeiffer's for quite some time, teaches Dragon Kenpo Karate and holds black Belt rank in Ju Jitsu. Paul Corrigan ( Co-Director Dragon Kenpo Europe) Dragon Kenpo Instructor shotman@blueyonder.co.uk United Kingdom, 2nd Dg. Black Belt Founder Tatakai Jikoboei Do Kenpo ( 2003 ) Combat Karate 3rd Dan American Tiger Jujitsu 1st Dan Shotokan Karate 4th Kyu Diploma in Advanced Karate ( British School of Yoga) Defender Self Defence System ( BSY ) Certified in Kubotan/mini stick ( Shorinkenjitsu Academy) Police Self Defence Course Level 2 Pressure Points Certification Edward (DC) Dellacroce (Director North Carolina Dragon Kenpo) Certified Instructor, World Dragon Kenpo ncdragonkenpo@bellsouth.net 2nd Degree Black Belt, Dragon Kenpo Certified N.C. Law Enforcement Officer (1985) Background: U.S. Air Force Police 1975-1994 Shaolin Kempo, Kuk Sool Won/Hapkido Instructor at ABI's Mixed Martial Arts, Goldsboro N.C. Officer Survival & Police Defensive Tactics Certified: PR-24 (Tonfa), Kuboton & ASP Baton, Life Member of IDKA Executive Protection Gabriel Mendiola (Director San Antonio Dragon Kenpo) Assistant Instructor, World Dragon Kenpo 2nd Degree Black Belt-Tae Kwon Do Studied 1968-1974 with Master Atlee Chittim (Father of Texas Karate) and the Master who brought Tae Kwon Do to the United States by bringing Jhoon Rhee. Chief Instructor-St. Matthew Karate Club, San Antonio, Texas  Tim J. Flynn (Director Iowa Dragon Kenpo) Dubuque,Iowa,52003 (563)495-7555 tjfly69@yahoo.com http://www.flynnjujitsu.net 2nd Degree Black belt Dragon Kenpo WDK Iowa State Director Black Belt Aiki Ryu Ju-jitsu Black Belt American Tiger Ju-jitsu Certified Kung Fu instructor Certified Submission Wrestling instructor Certified Founder/Soke of Shira Tora Ju-jitsu Rich Miller, Sr. (WDK Advisor) 4th Degree Black Belt, Certified Instructor International Dragon Kenpo Association World Dragon Kenpo My School and Location: Rich Miller, Sr.'s Dragon Kenpo Karate Mays Landing, NJ and surrounding areas 1rmiller@comcast.net http://home.comcast.net/~1rmiller/   Rodney Lacey (WDK Advisor) 8th Dg. Black Belt Certified Instructor, World Dragon Kenpo IDKA Director of Operations Defensive Arts Academy Mercy Medical Center Wellness Center 1111 6th Ave. Des Moines, IA 50314 defensive_arts_academy@yahoo.com    Bill Torres (State Director N.J.) Shi-Star Self Defense, 6th Dg. Black Dragon Kenpo, Red Belt- Instructor American Stick Fighting, 2nd Dg. Black Combat Ju-Jitsu, 2nd Dg. Black Combat Karate, 1st Dg. Black Modern Kenpo, 1st Dg. Black Combat Aikido, 1st Dg. Black Renzoku Jiu-Jitsu, Green Belt Joseph Capps (State Director Virginia) Dragon Kenpo Instructor wolfndragn@earthlink.net Charles City, Virginia, 4th Dg. Black Belt Pete Solomon 4th Degree black belt W/ oklahoma Dragon Kenpo 3rd degree and Certified Instructor in IDKA 2nd degree in Okinawan Karate 1st degree in japanese jujutsu Military veteran with combat tours in: operation: "just Cause" ( panama) operation: "Desert Storm" (iraq) Founder and Chief Instructor of Oklahoma Dragon Kenpo and Mixed Martial Arts Association Telephone: 918-208-8328 E-mail: peteskk66@kenpo.9f.com  or jksjoan@sbcglobal.net Web: kenpo.9f.com Christopher Gregurich School: Great Lakes Martial Arts Academy, Lansing MI Email: cgregurich@yahoo.com Cerified Instructor World Dragon Kenpo Michigan State World Dragon Kenpo Director Lifetime member International Dragon Kenpo Association 3rd degree Black Belt Dragon Kenpo 1st  degree Black Belt Judo Jitsu Team Marciago Pro Mixed Martial Art Team Member North American Grappling Association (NAGA) Lansing Community College Sport Karate Team Jerry Munday (State Director FL) My school is located at the Cape Canaveral Recreation Center City of Cape Canaveral as Recreation Leader for their Youth Center School Charter Dragon Kenpo Karate from Ed Hutchison Certified Instructor Kenpo Karate from Ed Hutichison 4th Degree Black Dragon Kenpo from Hap Ki Mu Sul Founder Rodney Lacey 3rd Degree Black Kenpo Karate from Ed Hutchison 2nd Degree Black Kenpo/Arnis from Founder of the system Master George Denson CSSD/SC Crimpt-gunting-modular Knife Instructor from Grandmaster Bram Frank 1st Degree Black CSSD/SC Conceptual-Combat Arnis from Grandmaster Bram Frank 1st Degree Black Chinese art of Chun-Li Ch'uan Fa, Difficult Clinging Fist system of Cho Li Chun Chung Kuo Ch'uan Fa, through Soke John Stover/Master George Denson Regional Instructor of the Year through World Head of Family Sokeship Council for 2005 Regional Instructor of the Year through World Head of Family Sokeship Council for 2006   email:modular_kenpo@yahoo.com http://www.geocities.com/modular_kenpo/   Cornelius Matthews mixedarts@yahoo.com Jacksonville, FL Assistant Instructors Jim Patus (State Director Indiana) 3rd Degree Black Belt j.patus@insightbb.com Sellersburg, Indiana Randall Hall rhall@alamoce.net  San Antonio, TX Ken Hansen Whitedragon_wi@hotmail.com Lake Geneva, WI Jeff Hansen re-dec@genevaonline.com Lake Geneva, WI Joe Chambers jchambers@usg.com Lake Geneva, WI Amy Tornow Lake Geneva, WI Peggy Stopple stopfarm@elknet.net Lake Geneva, WI AnneMarie Janikowski Lake Geneva, WI Nicholas Fletcher nj_fletcher@yahoo.com Vista, CA Chris Barela Utah State Director WDK Assistant Instructor Founder of World Reality Self Defense Association 1st Degree Black Belt Shaolin Kenpo Certified Instructor of Jeet Kune Do, Kali, Silat, O.F.T, E.S.S., Tactical Edge (Law Enforcement) Don Morton WDK Assistant Instructor d-bmorton@sbcglobal.net Mexia, TX Allen Taylor WDK Assistant Instructor WDK 3rd Degree Brown Belt a123taylor@yahoo.com Salem, IN 47167 Shorin Ryu Karate, Shotokan Karate, Hapkido, Tae Kwon Do, Shao-lin Do Weapons:Nunchaku, Bo Staff Randy Brown bonsaimaster205@yahoo.com WDK assistant instructor Black Belt, Iron Palm Dim Mak Kung Fu Younger Brother, Systema Russian Martial Arts Founder / Senior Instructor, Black Talon Street Combatives R. Michael Sweet 2nd Degree Black Belt Certified Instructor Pearland, Texas Mike Bachelor WDK certified instructor Instructor: Progressive Combat Dragon Kenpo website: www.progressivecombatkenpo.com email: progressivecombatkenpo@yahoo.com     Email Coach Pfeiffer to have your info posted or with any omissions and additions to our instructor list. New Assistant Instructors and Certified Instructors are qualified for listing

How Traditional Techniques Can Get You Killed.

You can use traditional martial arts, but there are traps that keep 95% of traditional martial arts students from learning even basic practical survival methods, much less combat mastery.

Tradition should serve us, not the other way around. The arts should discipline the body but free the mind. Change, after all, is the only constant. Street self defense has changed dramatically over the years due to the influence of drugs, gangs, and a lessening of value of other people's rights. Typical self defense schools have so many outdated methods and erroneous philosophies they just can't help you even if they wanted to. Feeling brave? Try using a traditional reverse punch against a street attacker. You'd better KNOCK HIM OUT! With your left hand useless at your hip, you'll be wide open for a fierce counter right. Our videos, provide demonstrations of traditional upward blocks and kick blocks being countered and even INVITED by attackers, who are looking to set you up with your own dangerously obsolete methods.

The Text above is from the original DDKA.

Some techniques which are used for training purposes, such as the horse stance to build leg strength or the reverse punch to teach hip rotation, are important and useful tools for all students.

The 20 Precepts of Gichin Funakoshi

1. Karate begins with courtesy and ends with courtesy.

2. There is no first attack in karate.

3. Karate is an aid to justice.

4. First control yourself before attempting to control others.

5. Spirit first, technique second.

6. Always be ready to release your mind.

7. Accidents arise from negligence.

8. Do not think that karate training is only in the dojo.

9. It will take your entire life to learn karate, there is no limit.

10. Put your everyday living into karate and you will find "Myo" (subtle secrets).

11. Karate is like boiling water. If you do not heat it constantly, it will cool.

12. Do not think that you have to win, think rather that you do not have to lose.

13. Victory depends on your ability to distinguish vulnerable points from invulnerable ones.

14. The battle is according to how you move guarded and unguarded (move according to your opponent).

15. Think of your hands and feet as swords.

16. When you leave home, think that you have numerous opponents waiting for you. It is

your behaviour that invites trouble from them .

17. Beginners must master low stance and posture, natural body positions are for the advanced.

18. Practicing a kata is one thing, engaging in a real fight is another.

19. Do not forget to correctly apply: strength and weakness of power, stretching and contraction of

the body and slowness and speed of techniques.

20. Always think and devise ways to live the precepts every day.

"The ultimate aim of karate lies not in victory nor defeat, but in the perfection of the character of its participants"... Gichin Funakoshi

Dragon Kenpo Creed

The classical martial arts present themselves as rivals. One a "hard" style, the other "soft". This one emphasizing kicks, that one specializing in punches, the other takes each opponent to the ground and wrestles. Yet the underlying premise is the same for each: a narrow system is presented as not only superior but holy. Laws are laid down, rituals are set in stone and rigid patterns are put in place. A shrine to the fixed knowledge is created, complete with ceremonies, rites and masters. None may transcend, or even question the institution's unbending view of reality because of its sacredness.

The Dragon Kenpo way, however, is the way of never ending learning and discovery. The techniques taught are guides that develop greater skill, not boundaries that none may cross. Greatness, after all, is not achieved by thinking within limits prescribed by convention. Greatness requires engaging the unknown. It is there, in the mystery, that new discoveries are found.

The traditional arts are in the business of setting limitations. Their primary task is the creation of an imposed order and the production of conformity. To adopt that order is to close out everything not included within it. By banishing the unknown the traditional martial artist advances by learning more and more about less and less. To the "masters" of the traditional styles, an open mind is a dangerous thing. Many have much invested in the status quo. Those who choose growth and expansion should not be surprised to find resistance from those devoted to limits. Choosing to cross boundaries, or even erase them, means coming into conflict with the imposed order.

There are no rules in total combat, so the Dragon Kenpo way is the path of free expression. The methods taught begin the process of endless discovery. We have only two choices are martial artists and as human beings: To be ordinary or to be explorers. We choose to be leaders, not followers.

Regardless of who approves.

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