GENEOLOGY - THE BLACK BELTS
GENEOLOGY
The roots of Kenpo Karate can be traced back extensively. Modern Kenpo underwent many changes and came together as a particularly effective version of self defense, known as the MMA of its day. Our Kenpo was born in the 1930's and 40's on the island state of Hawaii. After incubating for some time it spread to the U.S west coast, and then eastward to New England and then Canada.
Below will be listed the direct genealogy of Mike Foley's Kenpo Karate and Foley's Martial Arts. In addition, in the era of MMA our readers here would be surprised to find just how many of the great names of current fighting came from these schools and instructors on this tree. Beginning with William Chow as a starting point with modern Kenpo our roots are as follows:
William Chow, Adriano Emperado, Sonny Gascon-Walter Godin, George Pesare, Jean Guy Angell, Mike Foley.
Included in those efforts, and the students produced in these schools are names such as: Ed Parker, Elvis Presley, Benny Urquidez, Al Dacascos, John Hackleman, Chuck Liddell and so on. Others such as John Leoning of the Kung Fu series fame, Nick Cerios Kenpo were all instrumental in moving the art forward. There are many, many great fighting champions, too numerous to mention here.
OUR BLACK BELTS
There is an honorable mention at the end of the "black belts" listed of the future Adult Black Belts. Those Jr students working hard and showing many of the characteristics to be a "Black Belt" in Kenpo Karate: Work ethic,Devotion, Responsibility, Loyalty and Commitment
While there are many ways to speak to a martial artists commitment such as having taken a trip with a team here, or having done a class or a seminar with a name Martial Artist there..included below, where merited, are short Bio's along side some of the Black Belts names, of ranking or of noteworthy events....major achievements, or of major contribution to the arts! I myself, since the 1970's, have trained with dozens of martial artists of note (World Champions, Internationally renowned teachers) in the martial arts community. None of that is particularly relevant in speaking to the abilities of a Black Belt, other than to say that it makes you a little more knowledgeable as a teacher. Any martial artist’s tales of grandeur should be seen as just that, tales of grandeur. Claims of a 55-0 pro record, or of multi-art in depth proficiencies, as credentials, (which is common now) should cause you to question what you are being asked to believe. As a martial artist of 35 years, I myself was considered a good Black Belt competitively, a good teacher with an expertise in Kenpo, and Kickboxing to a certain degree. My sons are more knowledgeable in other arts and have more capabilities in Thai Boxing and Gracie Jiu Jitsu as a result of our efforts to make this so. The Romans of long ago tried to purchase what they thought were perfect sculptures for their homes, not those that had a hidden filler in side made from wax. Vendors knowing this would advertise their wares as sine-cere(seen a cheer a)...without wax. Below is a list of my Black Belts and the SINCERE claims of their accomplishments.
The Black Belts:
1985 - Carla Stacey (4th Degree Black Belt/Two time World Police/Firefighter Games Karate Champion Sparring)
1986 - Terry Murphy, Tony Griffiths
1987 - Chris Clarke, Derek Dooley, Lori McDonald,Dean Mclean
1988 - Elaine Fowler (4th degree Black Belt, 12 time world Champion, WAKO ,WPKA, WKA for fighting, Kickboxing,Forms, NASKA), Joanne Fowler(3rd degree black belt, Canadian Open Forms Champions), Ray Penney, Tony Philpot, Tanya Hillier, Spencer Vatcher, Darrell Long
1989 - Jake Rideout (Canadian Top Ten Kenpo/ 1st Place Fighting), Glen Barry (Won Western Canada Open Kenpo Black Belt Fighting/ as a Brown Belt)
1990 - Karen Penney, Gina Rideout
1991 - Fred Jeffers
1992 - Julie Emberley, Mike King, Mark Chaytor, Wally Power
1993 - Tom Dunne (Total Martial Arts), Cory Avery, Patrick Cochrane (Owner MPSMA), Junior Hunt, Greg Crane, Kevin Crane
1994 - Bernie Short, Ed short, Neil Chaulk, Danny Tobin, Sean O'Neill, Boyd Coffen, Doug Lake
1995 - Tom Hawco (4th Degree and 2003 WPKA world silver medalist, Greece., Frank Merrigan, Doug Oliver, Scott Pilgrim, Sheldon Clarke, Steve Robinson ( 2003 WPKA world bronze medalist - Greece), Michael Foley Jr. (4th degree/2001 WPKA world Champion, CASK Canadian Low Kick Kickboxing Champion, Owner of Michael Foley's Academy Of Martial Arts, President of Kickboxing NL), Mike " Big Mike" Foley, Steve Thorne, Alicia O'brien
1997 - Wayne Humphries, Tor Munn, Andrew Peacock (3rd degree), Sean Hunt (3rd degree, WPKA world bronze medalist, 2002 African Intercontinental Champion), Robert Shandera (2nd degree, Gracie Jiu Jitsu),Leslie Smith.
1998 - Steve Ryan (3rd degree, 2003 WPKA World juniors first place winner, fighting), Melanie Haire (2nd degree, 2001 WPKA world bronze), Scott Yetman (3rd Degree), Liam Merrigan, Adam Wiseman
1999 - Georgette parsons (2nd Degree, 1st Place Disney Classic 2002), Shane Sullivan, Matt Rushton, Rob Dunne, Rob Hynes, Zack Hawco (3rd degree), Mitchell Chaulk, Ann Norris, Ryan Cullen (2nd degree), Mark Hilyard,
2000 - Jason Foley (3rd degree, 1st place Disney Open 2002, 2nd place Ontario open Sparring/ Black Belt Light Heavy weight and Owner of Jason Foley's Academy Of Martial Arts), Scott Stuart, Perry Barow, Cliff Burke, Mark Forsey, Ken Yetman, Aaron Hawco (2nd degree)
2001 - John Sullivan, Scott Butler
2002 - Mansur Ahmedi, Jean DuPlessiss (2nd degree), Jacques DuPlessiss (2nd degree)
2003 - Kevin Peddle (2nd degree), Megan Winsor, John Slade, Liam Peacock, Heather Forsey
2004 - Paul Green, Neil O'Grady, Collette Peddle, Donna Winsor, Fraser Winsor, Penni Pope, Steve Oates, Brian Gleeson, Astrid Peacock, Dan Ryan, Steve George, Mike Smith
2005 - Kevin Pike, Sheralyn Piercey, Evan Styles ( 2nd degree), Jonathan McDonald
2006 - Jake Reid
2008 - Angi Green, Rita Penny, Jeff Combden.
2009 - Matt McCarthy, Kelly Mercer,
2010 - Cathy Morgan, Colin Shea
Our Future Adult Black Belts
Cody Collins
Ben Wong
Zack Mouland
Jenny Brace
AJ Piercey
Joeseph Long
Jacklyn Morgan
Alexandra Hayward
Lauren Winsor
Sarah Pynn
Conner Whalen
Zack McCarthy
Nick Gaulton
Spencer Shappard
Breanna Sheppard
