Welcome to the IKCA!

We’ve come up with a few things that you may find help-
ful and get you started on the right foot with our Distance Learning Program:

 Intro Letters from Senior Grandmaster Sullivan and your Certified Video Instructor

 Training Note: Important information concerning training partners.

 Recording Your Test: How to film your test so we can see what we need to.

 Submitting Your Test: Your options for getting your test to us.

 Online Testing Process: How to upload your test.

 Testing Fees: How much our tests are. Prices subject to change.

 Technique Lists: Visual aids and a nice addition to your workout area.

 IKCA Posters: Pictures of wall posters no longer being produced.

 IKCA Takedowns Graphic: A visual representation of all takedowns in the system.

 In addition to these documents we encourage you to visit the Training Aids page on
the Karate Connection website. There you will find many more helpful documents
including:

— Original IKCA Video Testing Sheets

— Testing Scripts
— Critique Sheets
— Instructions for Building a Life-size Dummy
— Spontaneity Drills & Training Guide
— Takedowns Training Guide
— Portraits of Our Founders
Greetings from the IKCA,

I wish to welcome you on behalf of our staff of Certified Instructors, our Certified Video
Instructors, and all of the IKCA Black Belts who have successfully come through our
program, from Beginner to Black Belt.

Welcome, we are happy to have you aboard.

To date, the IKCA has nearly six hundred practitioners that have come through the
Colored Belt levels to the rank of 1st Degree Black Belt. Several hundred of those have
surpassed that rank to move on to the higher degrees of Black Belt, including twelve
who have reached the exulted rank of 10th Degree Grandmaster.

We bid you welcome and well wishes on what we call “The Journey”, and what a
journey it will be. You are embarking on what many of us have made a lifelong
endeavor. To some it comes quickly and easily, to others not as much, but the effort
that you put into this work will pay off in so many ways it will likely astound and amaze
you. There are of course the biological benefits, but there are certain psychological
benefits as well. You’ll be pushing yourself physically and mentally in ways you never
dreamed of. No matter how long or how short a period that you train with us, once
you’re past the basics you’ll begin a journey into a world of self-confidence and self-
reliance you’ve never known before, and the longer you travel with us the more those
benefits will permeate into every aspect of your life. Make no mistake, this isn’t magic,
it’s good old fashioned work, hard work, but satisfying work, and exciting work.

There will come a time, down the road, that you’ll attain a sense of self-assurance and
calm that comes with the knowledge that you walk with a shield of protection and self-
confidence that few others ever come to know. It’s all part of “The Journey” and you’ve
just taken your first step. You’ve signed up to do the work, so let’s get to it. You have
begun at the best of times. In the past this was all done by video cassettes, then DVDs
which needed to be sent through the post office, which was a slow and expensive
process. Now it can all be done on-line, quickly, efficiently and at greatly reduced
costs.

At this time I would like to introduce you to your Certified Video Instructor, who was
specifically chosen for you, based on the information you provided when applying for
our program

Bill Parsons began his study of martial arts in a Tracy Kenpo offshoot syllabus back in
1972. Along the way, he has also studied to various degrees the Chinese arts of Sil
Lum Gung Fu and Wing Chun Gung Fu; the Hawaiian mixed art of Kajukenbo; and the
Korean arts of Tae Kwon Do and Tang Soo Do.

While on active duty with the U.S. military, and stationed in South Korea, Mr. Parsons
achieved his First Dan Black Belt in the art of Hapkido in 1977. Bill received formal
permission from leading practitioners in the art stateside to teach Hapkido upon his
return and did so for 23 years, holding the position of Certified Instructor in multiple
Hapkido organizations.

In early 2000, Bill desired to return to his Kenpo roots and after diligent research
settled upon the Karate Connection. Once he was introduced to and became familiar
with the system, he has been studying and teaching the Karate Connection syllabus of
Chinese Kenpo ever since. Once he achieved his Black Belt with the IKCA, he then
focused all his efforts on one of his most passionate goals, that of being elevated to the
status of Certified Instructor, which he accomplished in 2012. Bill is currently a 6th
Degree Black Belt with the IKCA.

Bill was hand-picked to become an IKCA Certified Video Instructor in 2014, due his
detailed knowledge of the system and his ability to teach what he knows. The patience,
guidance and thoroughness he brings to his Distance Learning Program students,
along with his dedication to the art of Kenpo, and his respect for the accountability of
the role of Certified Instructor is inspirational.
The IKCA is indeed fortunate to count Mr. Parsons as one of its Certified Video
Instructors. Many instructors do just fine in a populated class environment, but it takes
a special concentration and presence in front of a camera to be able to communicate
as if he were live, directly with you, and Bill excels at that. He makes you feel as
though he’s talking to you face to face. A rare but necessary quality for a Video
Instructor, and he epitomizes it.

When you’ve learned the material from the Yellow Belt Instructional Video and you feel
comfortable enough to test, you’ll contact Mr. Parsons
at billparsons@karateconnection.com He’ll answer any questions you might have as to
how to submit your video test to him for his evaluation, and how you’ll receive your
individually personalized private video lesson from him.

As you can see Mr. Parsons comes to the IKCA with a good deal of background,
including extensive experience in other martial arts; but what’s more important is his
passion for teaching and nurturing his IKCA students. He has spent a great deal of
time and effort in learning our syllabus, and is an expert in disseminating his
knowledge and is justifiably proud in what he’s accomplished with his students. You
are now one of that group. Listen closely; you’ll be glad you did!

Welcome aboard!

Chuck Sullivan, 10th Dan, Kenpo

Senior Grandmaster
International Karate Connection Association
Greetings!

My name is Bill Parsons, and I have been selected as your instructor for the IKCA
Distance Learning Program. Whether you are brand new to the martial arts or have
been practicing for years, I know you’ll find this experience challenging and rewarding.
As SGM Sullivan says, “We don’t promise that the program will be easy, but we do
promise it will be possible!”

Distance learning in the martial arts may be a whole new venture for you. As you
begin with us, let me give you some advice and tips that may help the process.

1) Be intentional in your training. We invest in the things that are important to us.
Sometimes that investment is money, but more often than not, it’s our time. Progress in
this program will be the result of consistently taking the time to practice it. Plan your
workouts and do your best to stick to the plan.

2) Self-study takes self-motivation. This is true especially when you run into
challenges. Some folks are very good at motivating themselves, others not so much.
Take the time to really think about what helps to motivate you, and be honest with
yourself. Sometimes the motivation comes from within, sometimes external reminders
help. Find out what works to motivate you, and use it!

3) Don’t get overwhelmed. Take the program one step at a time. Think of it as a
series of building blocks. Question for you: Which test is the most important, the most
difficult one? Answer: The next one; the one you’re working on right now! One step,
one belt at a time.

4) One final point is directed at those who have previous martial arts experience.

There’s an old Zen lesson that speaks of “emptying your cup” so that you can continue
to learn. I disagree; I’m going to tell you to “get a bigger cup”. You as a martial artist
are the sum total of your experiences, no matter where they came from. You may have
had the opportunity to get very high-quality training; or you may have suffered through
terrible teaching. It’s all important and all of it made you the martial artist you are today.

I will not ask you to discard or disregard anything you have learned prior to this part of
your journey. What you do with what you’ve previously learned is up to you. What I will
do is ask you to keep an open mind and maybe temporarily set aside portions of what
you’ve learned to explore something new while you learn from us. As you learn IKCA
Chinese Kenpo you’ll not only learn how we execute the system, but why we execute it
the way we do; and likely, how it will supplement and improve what you already know.

No matter where you’re starting, you will have questions as you study. That’s good.
Ask any and all questions that come to mind. I will do my best to answer each and
every one you have. One thing I promise you—the answer will never be “Well, that’s
because that’s the way we teach it.” It’s my goal as you progress through this system is
to help you develop into a smart, capable, and thinking Kenpoist.

You join literally hundreds of other like-minded martial artists in seeking to learn this
terrific system. If you are on Facebook, there is a private IKCA Distance Learning
Group page where you can communicate with other DLP students and IKCA
instructors and leaders. Feel free to request access.

If there is anything I can help you with concerning the program, please feel free to
contact me. I’m here to help. You can email me at billparsons@karateconnection.com.
I do offer private lessons via Skype and Zoom. If that interests you, feel free to contact
me.

Above all, take time to enjoy the journey, it’s worth it.

Respects,

Bill Parsons, 6th Dan, Kenpo

Certified Instructor/Certified Video Instructor
International Karate Connection Association
 IMPORTANT TRAINING NOTE
The IKCA Distance Learning Program, beginning at the Orange Belt, is designed to be
done with a training partner. Kenpo is based on the ability to recognize an attack and
the position it puts you in, as well as how you can and should cause body reactions
while executing self defense. Having a live body to work with is very important. Your
training partner does not have to be a fellow Kenpo student (though that certainly
helps), but somebody of similar size. What we look for is your knowledge of what is
taught, including blocks, stances, maneuvers, natural weapons and targets. Executing
the self-defense techniques to proper targets, with extreme control, is why you need to
have a training partner.
 RECORDING YOUR TEST
So you are ready to test. What now? You want to take the time to make sure that your
test is the best it can be. Here are some things to think about when recording your test:

The Lighting: A well lit test makes sure that everything is visible. Remember the lower
your camera resolution, the brighter your lighting needs to be.

Camera Stability: When recording the test, please place your camera on a table, tripod
or some other stable platform (not the floor). Having an assistant hold the camera and
try to follow you with the camera actually makes the test much harder to evaluate.

Space: Make sure during the entire test that you don't disappear from view. If we can't
see you, we can't evaluate you.

Body Visibility: The camera needs to just far enough back to see your entire body
during the entire test. This allows the evaluator to be able see everything that’s going
on with stances, stance changes, hand and foot placement, foot maneuvers, weapon
formation, target acquisition and angles. This allows us to make sure the body is
working like it’s supposed to.

Testing Script: Make sure you follow the entire testing script. This enables us to see
the required material from multiple angles. When executing the self defense
techniques, we want to see them slow, then fast, and from different directions. Slow is
to make sure the student is aware of and executing everything mentioned above; and
fast to make sure all that doesn’t go out the window when things are sped up. This
means twice facing to the right and twice facing to the left (or as otherwise indicated).

Follow these suggestions and you're halfway to a successful test. The rest is up to you!
 SUBMITTING YOUR TEST
There are two ways to submit your tests.

Mail-In Method: Record your test on a DVD and send it to the appropriate evaluator.
Your test is evaluated; your customized private lesson and test critique are recorded
on a personal DVD and sent back to you. If you pass, your promotion certificate,
personal acknowledgement letter and critique sheets will be sent as printable pdfs to
the email address you supply.

Online Method: Submit your test to the Karate Connection through the private and
secure servers on YouTube. Only the IKCA distance learning instructor team will see
your test when it has been uploaded. Once evaluated, your test critique and
customized private lesson will be posted in the same way and you and only you will be
able to view the results. If you pass, your promotion certificate, personal
acknowledgement letter and critique sheets will be sent as printable pdfs to the email
address you supply.

PLEASE NOTE: The process described in the document below is the only way we will
receive tests online! DO NOT email video files to any email associated with the Karate
Connection or the IKCA. They will be deleted. They take up way too much room in our
Inboxes and could very well shut down our email system.

Important Note: Receiving your promotion materials as electronically printable

documents is only applicable to colored belt tests. All passing Black Belt tests will have
their promotion package shipped to them.

Questions? Drop a line to info@karateconnection.com

 The IKCA Online Testing Process
1. Go to YouTube and click Sign In. If you already have an account, go ahead and sign
in. If you don’t have an account, click “Create an Account” and follow the steps. This
process will create a Gmail address for you. You’ll need this address.

2. Before you begin your video upload make sure you know where on your computer
your test video is stored.

3. Look for the “Upload” button in the upper right hand corner of the page, it is a small
bar with an upward pointing arrow, click on it.

4. These next steps are the important part. Play close attention!

a. Click on the word “Public”. This will activate a drop down menu and select
“Private”.

b. Click on the large arrow above “Select files to upload”. This is where you
select your test video and then click on “Open”. How long uploading your test will
take depends on the file size and your internet connection.

c. On the right hand side you’ll see a button that says “Share”, click it. Enter the
email ikcatestevaluation@gmail.com then hit “OK”. When it returns you to the
previous page, look for the blue box “Share” and click it.

5. When your test has been successfully uploaded and processed, the web address of
your video on YouTube will be displayed. VERY IMPORTANT – This is the web
address (URL) you will share with your video instructor via email.

6. Send an email to your certified video instructor, telling them what the URL is for your
video. EXACTLY! If you send us the wrong address, we won’t be able to find your test.

7. Once your instructor is able to view the test, they will send a request for payment.
Once your payment is verified, they will evaluate and grade your test and film your test
critique and private lesson. Once your evaluation is complete, your critique and lesson
will be privately uploaded to YouTube and we will send you the URL you need to put
into your browser to access it. It’s that easy!
 TESTING FEES
Online Colored belt testing method is priced at $69.95. Due to the cost of shipping and
supplies, the price for the traditional mail-in method colored belt testing is $84.95.

The cost for 1st Degree Black Belt testing is $225.00 and Black Belt Advanced
Degrees testing is $125.00. All Black Belt fees apply to both testing methods.
Yellow Bel
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 Knife-edge Kick to Back Leg Inside
Stop Kick to Lead Ankle Knee check to side of lead knee -
Knee Rear Leg Buckle to Back of Lead
With Arm Drag & Heel-Palm to Elbow Knee check to back of lead knee
Leg with Shoulder Push

Knee to Back of Near Leg with Leaping Tiger Beheading the Dragon Circling Serpent Modified Tai
Rising Elbow to Chin Outside/Front Qtr Outside/Front Qtr Outside/Front Qtr Otoshi Body Drop

Arm Bar Escape Clapping Tiger

Small Circle Outside/Beside Inside/Front Rear Leg Buckle-Front of the Leg
Outside Wrist Lock with Rising Elbow to Chin

Controlling Disaster Raking Hammer

Outside/Beside Inside/Front Qtr

45 degree Roundhouse Kick

Speared Lightning IKCA Clashing Hammers Foot Sweep to Back of Ankle
to the Back of the
Outside/Front Qtr Outside/Rear Qtr Rear Claw to Face
Thigh/Knee-Top of the Calf Takedowns

Dropping the Storm Trapped Lightning

Inside/Front Qtr Outside/Front Qtr

Foot Sweep to Back of Ankle

Osoto-gari Repeating Hammers Blinding Dagger Outward Handsword to Throat
Major Outer Leg Reap Outside/Rear Qtr Outside/Front Qtr

Up the Circle Gathering the Dragon

Inside/Front Qtr Outside/Beside

Knife-edge Kick 45 Degrees to Back of Figure 4 Elbow Lock to Leg

Knee Lead Leg with Collar Pull Buckle to Forward Leg

Rear Leg Buckle-Front of the

Rear Leg Buckle-Front of the Leg
Leg with Forearm Strike to
with Rising Elbow to Chin
Base of the Skull