Category Archives: School Pictures and Videos

Events, New happenings around the Dojo, School Pictures and Videos

Another one for the books

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Words do no justice, yet here are a few that describe what transpired between the hours of 2:00 pm and 8:30 pm Sunday August 11, 2019 and the emotions that came with. We begin with a run…a bit more than two miles to warm up, and the day was nice. Afterwards more than an hour of intensive PT then material for hours on end. All of it. By the time we get to fight, no one knows which end is up. Minds are numb. Hearts and heads are pounding. For the hundredth time each of the candidates asks themselves why. Why am I doing this? When will it end?

The pain and the exhaustion is fleeting in the grand scheme of things, the anguish of your failures are temporary and most importantly; they are necessary. They are the building blocks of our character, that which defines us. The bruises and the blood are a badge of honor. A reminder that you are not only human and fallible, but you are resilient. You are a survivor. You are:

Warriors….every one.

There are only a few people in this world who can dedicate themselves to what we do. To the lifestyle that we choose. To the brotherhood /sisterhood that we embrace. A family that sweats and bleeds for and with each other. And there are even less people who will be able to understand why we do what we do day in and day out. Until they need us.

Because the warrior’s purpose in life, although we immerse ourselves in defending against the threat of violence, is to instill and keep peace. Peace within our hearts, peace within our minds, peace in our daily interactions. But if war comes our way, and our inner and outer peace cannot quell the rising tide;

We shall be prepared.


It is my honor to be your guide on this journey. It is our mission to continue to build on the foundation of integrity and honor, failure and success, honesty and the removal of ego, confidence, discipline, work ethic, and community. All these things that are needed for success, but are being forgotten by so many. Spread the Kempo love.

With great pleasure and the utmost pride and honor, on this day; Sunday August 11, 2019, I have gladly promoted the following warriors to the rank of Shodan…the first step.


Shodan Michael Gagliardi – Time in training 10 Years, 1 month

Shodan Anne Cavanaugh – Time in training 10 Years

Shodan Alex Mulhall – Time in training 10 Years, 8 months

Shodan Bradley Altman – Time in training 12 Years, 4 months

Shodan Abhinav Yadav – Time in training 6 Years, 11 months

Honor your rank, associates, fellow rank holding brothers and sisters, as well as yourself. May your rank forever uphold the standards set forth by Cutting Edge Kempo Karate as we continue to strive for unity and proficiency in the arts.

A special thank you to Grandmaster Rich Fescina for proctoring our exam, without you, we would not be doing what we are doing, at the level you have always demanded. We will never fold to the ideology that some things are ‘just too hard’ for the people of today. We will always uphold the standards and practices that you demanded of me. If necessary we will be the last bastion of hope in a society that seems to be losing it’s way.

We will keep the flame alive.

So here we are. Another group of dedicated brothers and sisters. Another generation of hope. Another bunch of bumps and bruises and broken bodies. Another band of folks who have earned something that not everyone can. Another pile of bodies that need to;

Get back on the mat.

Events, School Pictures and Videos, Sensei's Musings

Congratulations Gentlemen

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Our second Black Belt test as Cutting Edge Kempo couldn’t have gone much better.

A true test.

These three young men deserve all the accolades they worked so very hard for. Three people. Five hours of non stop movement. A two mile run. Every technique in the system. Right handed, left handed, Mushin (no mind), grappling, weapon defense, sparring and Kata…we did it all. Each and every one of these young men put their all into this exam, as well they should. Nothing short of one hundred percent would have been acceptable, and each had their moment to shine as they excelled at their strongest attributes and powered through to overcome their weakest. These three men emerged victorious, and should be proud of their dedication.

Warriors. Every one.

Words do no justice in explaining how very proud I am to hold the honor of being your instructor and brother in the arts. Each and every one of you have survived, thrived, and will continue to excel, not only on the mat, but in the real world as well. Your respect for the arts and others, the discipline you have shown, and the indomitable spirit that it takes to reach this level of training with us is commendable, especially in a world where our art has been brutalized by others through the adoption of the “It’s just too hard” mentality of society today. We stand strong in the face of adversity. We will be the last bastion of real world life lessons. We will never fold to those that would take the easy road, for that is not how real life works. Reality is hard. Life is full of loss and failure. What defines you is how you learn from those losses and failures. How you overcome and grow.

How you RISE.

Let it be known, I have proudly promoted the following people in the art of Kempo on November 12, 2017;

Congratulations to:

Shodan Andrew Gansrow (1st degree)- Time in training = 8 Years

Nidan Peter Poliey (2nd degree)- Time in training = 20 Years!!! – Time from Shodan to Nidan = 2.5 Years (Time from candidate to Shodan 11 YEARS! Way to stick it out sir!)

Nidan Joseph Nuzzi (2nd degree) – Time in training = 11 Years – Time from Shodan to Nidan = 2 Years

When you see them, give them a big hug and congratulate your brothers, there is no doubt they earned it. I could not have asked for more out of you three.

A special thank you to Sandan Josh and Sandan Matt for helping me to proctor this exam, your input was invaluable. And now you all know the routine. Heal your bodies, get a day’s rest and then…

Get back on the mat.

Events, New happenings around the Dojo, School Pictures and Videos, Sensei's Musings

To My Faithful Students, Senior Grandmaster Rick Kingi, and Grandmaster Rich Fescina

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First and foremost; For those of you that came and represented Cutting Edge Kempo Karate and had the honor to train with Senior Grandmaster Rick Kingi, thank you. Thank you not only for upholding the standards of true Martial Artists with your never ending want to learn and expand your knowledge, but thank you for your dedication to our art , your level of training, and your respect for Senior Grandmaster’s time and efforts. Thank you for inspiring me to continually strive for the best; you are all my inspiration, and you all make me proud to be given the privilege of sharing what I learn. I am so very honored that Senior Grandmaster got a chance to see what we here at Cutting Edge Kempo Karate are all about, and your performance of SGM Kingi’s forms was second to none. I applaud you all.

Senior Grandmaster Rick Kingi; Once again thank you for your time and guidance on my journey through this life of a Martial Artist. Thank you for all your kind words about my students and their performance. Your accolades are so very appreciated, and it was our honor to show you how we do what we do. Thank you for your unending support of my instructor and friend, Grandmaster Rich Fescina. Without you and he, we would not be where we are today. Thank you for being a true human being, your personality and ability to share without the presence of ego is so very refreshing, and is something I constantly strive for in my own life. I was so very happy to have my students who could attend see someone in your venerable position not only on the mat, but really there with us, not above us. Thank you for the opportunity to let me show you some of the knowledge I have attained in the Kajukenbo system, and you have my word that I shall represent you and your family with all the honor and integrity I have always put forth in the past.

Thank you for the promotion, sir. I am honored to be a Fourth Degree Black Belt in Kingi’s Kajukenbo, and I look forward to either your next trip to the east coast, or my next trip to the west.

Thank you Grandmaster Rich Fescina for your unending support and your friendship. Words cannot explain what it means to me. Without you, sir, only God knows where I would be.

…and finally Thank you Sensei Walter Chan for joining your Cutting Edge Kempo family on the mat for this event, it was wonderful seeing you back on the mat with your brothers and sisters training the way training was meant to be done. Now don’t be a stranger.

And now for you all, the mantra of the life of all martial Artists, all students, instructors, and Grandmasters and Senior Grandmasters alike…

Get back on the mat.

 

Events, New happenings around the Dojo, School Pictures and Videos

2017 Tournament Photo Day

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Save the date!

Sunday May 7th @ 2:00 PM

All tournament competitors meet at the Dojo, and bring your medals and trophies, be in uniform and bring a camera and we will take an awesome group photo of all of our fantastic competitors together in one shot!

For everyone’s convenience please use a piece of masking tape and a marker and write your name in an inconspicuous area of your trophy (if it is not personalized already) so we may set the trophies up for the shot, and know who to give the trophies back to at the end of the photo shoot!

The photo shoot shouldn’t take any longer than a half an hour or so, please be punctual and I look forward to seeing you all there! Great job everyone!

2016 Tournament Competitors

Events, New happenings around the Dojo, School Pictures and Videos

Congratulations to all students who passed their June exam

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Everyone did a fantastic job yesterday, I see improvement in many aspects of our students ability to push themselves and survive through harsh conditions while learning how to successfully defend themselves. Beginners are advancing their skills and growing day by day.

Those that survived the advanced test, your hard work and dedication as you strive to prove that you can accomplish anything you set your mind to through the most stressful conditions makes me proud.

You are warriors.

Very few could endure what you put yourselves through yesterday and performed at the level which you did. Now try harder. Push yourselves further. Never be satisfied with your level of training. Better, stronger, faster. Proud but humble.

I am proud to be your instructor, each and every one of you. Keep up the great work and you can dominate anything that comes your way. Cutting Edge Kempo Karate forever.

Now get back on the mat.

(Click the images below for full size slideshow)

Events, School Pictures and Videos

2016 Kempo Tournament a great success for Cutting Edge Kempo

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With 62 competitors in the 2016 Kempo Martial Arts Invitational tournament, all of our Cutting Edge Kempo students represented their Dojo well. Winning a trophy has nothing to do with competing in a martial arts tournament. It takes a lot of guts to perform in front of a large capacity crowd, in front of judges you are not familiar with, but the experience of meeting other martial artists and sharing your love of the arts is irreplaceable.

As your instructor I am proud of all of you, trophy or not. You all are winners for taking on the daunting task of training the way we do, in hopes of enhancing your life skills while getting in shape. Great job everyone!

Here are a few of the photos people have shared of the event, and I will post more as I get them.

Click any image to view full size.

Events, New happenings around the Dojo, School Pictures and Videos

More successful testing in February

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After a grueling three hour mental and physical exam, our second set of intermediate and advanced students endured and all did a fine job. These kids have been training most of their lives at this point, some for almost ten years now and it really shows, even when they are put under pressure.

After the more advanced group, another group of beginners came in to do their very best, and much like their advanced brothers from earlier, they killed it! I see lots of potential in these beginning students, both young and ‘young at heart’.

Great job everyone, I am very proud to be your instructor.

Now get back on the mat.

 

School Pictures and Videos, Sensei's Musings

The way of the warrior

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Our first Black Belt test as Cutting Edge Kempo has come and gone, and I could not be prouder of everyone who did their part on Sunday November 15, 2015. Through all the muscle failure, cramping bodies, mental stress and hours upon hours of physical and mental pressure and non stop movement, you all emerged victorious. Even our one student who could not complete her test due to an unforeseen injury early on in the test should hold her head up high knowing even the few short hours she spent with us was tougher than what most people she knows could endure, and there will be another time for her, and she will rise to the occasion and perform as I know she can. I can not express how proud and elated I was when she walked through the door at the end of the exam to be a part of the ceremony for her brothers and sisters in the art. That is one of the hallmarks of the warriors we train to become.

Our panel of Black Belts did a fine job both judging and guiding the students through their experience, helping them along the way to better themselves and offering their knowledge freely to enhance everyone’s martial skill. It is good to have panel members who do not know the capability of each student, as we get a fresh perspective on areas that may need improvement as well as strong points for each individual. Thank you Grandmaster Fescina, Sensei Caracciola and Sandan Goldberg for joining me and my students for the six hours plus that was our first test.

CEK First Black Belt test

 

School Pictures and Videos, Sensei's Musings

Congratulations to all our newest advanced ranks!

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Everyone who trains with me knows that we hold our advanced tests but a few times a year. Our students work hard to advance and progress in their training. Our higher ranks are held in great regard and the amount of time in training, both mentally and physically, should be applauded.

Not everyone can do this.

MANY people quit, even with our guidance and support.

Here at Cutting Edge Kempo you will earn, not receive. You will pass, not be promoted. You will become better, stronger and faster. As your body hardens, so shall your resolve. As your spirit grows, so shall your will to persevere. Life is not about winning at everything you do, life is hard and mean and uncaring. With a proper Martial Arts background you can face ANYTHING that comes your way in REAL LIFE! Not only will you be able to face life’s trials head on, you will do it with integrity and you will forge on knowing that all experiences, even those that are the farthest from positive, are learning experiences that help you to become the individual that you are. Life is a learning experience.

Train for life, because life is training.

I am so very proud of all of our students who persevered and showed their true spirit and heart in yesterday’s exam. You should all be proud of yourselves; although your bodies are hurting today, your spirit is stronger. Your bumps and bruises are your trophies. Wear them with pride.

This was one of our largest advanced tests in quite some time, and these people are true warriors.

A huge congratulations to:

Bradley, Black Belt Candidate, time in training = 8 Years

Nick, Black Belt Candidate, time in training = 9 Years

Tyler, Brown Stripe, time in training = 6 Years

Mike, Brown Stripe, time in training = 6 Years

Anne, Brown Stripe, time in training = 6 Years

John, Brown Belt, time in training = 8 Years

Gene, Brown Belt, time in training = 4 Years

Abhinav, Brown Belt, time in training = 3 Years

I will add more pictures when I get them. Great job everyone.