If you are already a certified Black Belt in an existing Kenpo system and are looking to add to your curriculum offering for your students and to potentially be an ambassador of the art to those in your region then becoming a Certified Instructor of Five Animal Kenpo may be a path to consider pursuing.

Our instructional DVDs are organized into Five Stages of Progression (Beginning, Intermediate, Advanced, Refinement, and Weapons).  Upon learning each stage of the material via our online and DVD resources, you will schedule an in person training session with me that will involve further polishing the skills of that material and addressing the method of instruction of that material.  Upon successful completion of that training, you will be certified to teach and award authorized ranking that spans that stage of material. 

Because teaching the art involves additional skills than being able to execute the art, not all applicants will be accepted into the Instructor Certification program.  We are not only looking for applicants with skill in executing Kenpo, but communication skills in sharing the art, and the integrity to represent the Five Animal Kenpo system with dignity, decorum, and humility. 

To earn ranking in Five Animal Kenpo through our distant learning program is a balanced orchestration of taking advantage of the instructional DVD series, additional online resources available at our Five Animal Kenpo Website, interactive resources for distant learning (video review, private lessons via Skype), and actual in person visits for ranking tests and hands on correction and polish.  

I WOULD NOT recommend anyone attempt to do this without some previous Kenpo foundation that was gained from a hands on, physically present instructor. This course is ideal for either the Five Animal Kenpo student who has moved away and wants to continue to progress in the style but cannot regularly attend classes or another Kenpo stylist looking to cross train and perhaps become ranked in Five Animal Kenpo as well.  

If you cannot physically commit to "in person" instruction at least once per year then the "Ranked Student" Tier is not structured to meet your needs and you should look at the previous post regarding Tier One: Recreational exploration.

Tier One: Recreational exploration of Five Animal Kenpo movement and concepts.  Whether you are an existing Kenpoist or have experience in another style of martial arts, learning additional concepts and movement theory to compliment your original art can be fun and rewarding.  

Our goal for students at this tier is to target the products and services that will help best support your recreational interest in Five Animal Kenpo.  Perhaps you already have more self-defense techniques than you can shake a stick at -- but not a single fighting method of using that stick.  Our detailed weapons DVDs might be the perfect compliment to your interests and needs.  Or you enjoy kata and want some additional forms to challenge your Kenpo growth but want to still move in ways consistent with Kenpo stance and movement theory then our Five Animal Form, Tiger-Crane Form, and Snake-Leopard Form will compliment your tastes.  This approach is a "take what is useful" offering from the buffet table and is fine for the casual introductory and exploration of FIve Animal Kenpo as an icing to your pre-existing Kenpo or other martial arts style cake.  

Obviously, this approach would not result in being ranked in the art but you are welcome to take advantage of these a services to compliment the DVD instruction and written resources available to you:

1. Video review and correction.  A maximum of ten minutes of your performance and I will watch, evaluate, and provide correction as needed with a video response.  Allow 10 day turn-around time.  $30 service fee assuming I receive video electronically and am able to respond electronically.  

2. In person training at my Dojo.  Private lessons $30 per half hour and $100 for a two hour block. Group classes are an hour long and are $10 per class. 

3. Private lesson via Skype.  $35 per half hour.  If you are working on techniques, you will want to have a partner handy!  Likewise, I will need to know in advance to I have a parter to demonstrate on.

The other two Tiers will be described in detail soon.

Tier Two: Ranked Student of Five Animal Kenpo.  

Tier Three: Certified Instructor of Five Animal Kenpo.

The most important clarification to make first is that distant learning is not a distant ranking program.  Five Animal Kenpo instructional DVDs and other resource materials make it possible for a student who has actual "hands on" Kenpo experience to learn additional concepts and techniques.  Until I figure out a way to project my three dimensional image through a computer to make hands on corrections I do not think it likely I can truly teach the system of Five Animal Kenpo to somebody who does not have a base of some interactive knowledge of a Kenpo style first.

Furthermore, anyone who wishes to achieve ranking in Five Animal Kenpo will have to contact me personally to arrange a schedule of combining distant learning tools with actual physical appearances to my Dojo in Chattanooga, Tennessee. 

Learning from a distance -- whether it be just a few new ideas or an interesting new form, is a fabulous idea.  I am committed to adding more resources to support the cause of continued education and distant learning of Five Animal Kenpo.  I am not, however, trying to create a "Distant Ranking for the masses" program