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The Parker Patch Click on an area of the crest to learn more about it. |
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| The Shape (Top) | ||
| The top of the crest is like a roof which gives shelter to all who come under it while the sides are curved conversely like the roof of a Chinese home to send back evil to where it came from. Look at the bottom of the crest and you will notice the shape of an axe. This represents an executioner, symbolising that should a member shame the Kenpo style or be influenced by evil ideas and thoughts contrary to the style's philosophy, he will be cut off - never to co-exist with members again. | ||
| The Tiger (Top) | ||
| The tiger represents earthly strengths derived during the early stages of learning. This is the stage where the individual is impressed with his own physical prowess. | ||
| The Dragon (Top) | ||
| The Dragon represents spiritual strength which comes with seasoning. This mental attitude is attained during the individual's latter years of training. It is placed above earthly strength on the patch since the individual at this stage has learned to develop humility and self-restraint. | ||
| The Circle (Top) | ||
| The Circle is symbolic of several things. It depicts life itself; a continuous cycle with no beginning or end just like the art of Kenpo which is also a cycle of unending and perpetual movement and motion. Techniques follow a cycle just as the various movements. Physical prowess, humility and self-restraint are no more than components of a progressive learning cycle. The circle is the base from which our alphabet stems; all moves evolve from a circle whether they are defensive or offensive. The circle also represents the bond of friendship that should continuously exist among association members. | ||
| The Dividing Lines (Top) | ||
| The Dividing Lines In the circle they represent the original 18 hand movements and directions in which the hands can travel. They are the angles from which you or an opponent can attack or defend, and they also form the pattern in which the feet can travel. | ||
| The Oriental Writing (Top) | ||
| The Oriental writing is a reminder of the originators of the art - the Chinese. It offers respect to them but doesn't denote that we serve them. The Chinese characters on the right say 'Law of the Fist and Empty hand' while the writing on the left - 'Spirit of the Dragon and the Tiger' - are a constant reminder that we should strive to attain a spiritual level and that the physical level is only a stepping Stone or vehicle to reach a higher, spiritual level. | ||
| The 'K' (Top) | ||
| The 'K' at the bottom of the patch simply stands for Kenpo. | ||
| The Colors (Top) | ||
| The white
background is significant of the many beginners who form the base of the
art. The yellow or orange
represents the first level of proficiency - the mechanical, dangerous
stage of learning. This is a time when the student it more impressed
with the physical and thinks he knows all the answers.
The Circle
The circle is grey which
symbolizes the brain. The other colors represent proficiency,
achievement and authority.
The Tiger
The Brown
in the tigers eye represent the advanced students though not great in
number. Also at this level the student becomes more observant. His eyes,
like that of the tiger, are keen and ever so watchful and critical, always
looking up to the higher levels of proficiency; striving for perfection
and preparing for the day he bears the label of 'expert'. This level of
expert proficiency is represented by the color black.
The Dragon
The red
of the Dragon represents professorship over and above the black belts.
While predominately red, the dragon includes traces white
in the eyeball; yellow or orange
on his fins; Brown in
the iris of the eyeball and black
in the pupils. These colors are there to remind even the 'professor' that
he should always be humble and able to return to any level. He should also
be able to perform the things that he expects others at various levels to
do and always be conscious of never demanding too much of his students. |
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