Kenpo Karate Pledges
Yellow Belt
I come to you with only karate, empty
hands. I have no weapons, but should I be forced to defend myself, my prinicles
or my honor, should it be a matter of life or death of right or wrong, then
here are my weapons, karate, my empty hands.
Orange Belt
I understand that I am but a beginner
in a new and fascinating art which will direct me to greater obligations and
responsibilities. To honor my obligations and responsibilities I pledge myself
to serve my instructor, fellow students and fellow men.
Purple Belt
I hold the art of American Kenpo
sacred and freely take upon myself the obligation and responsibility that I
shall never misuse my skill to hurt or make afraid. I shall fight only if forced
to defend myself and shall be slow to anger, loath to take offense, quick to
forgive and to forget personal affront.
Blue Belt
I shall never let pride rule my passions
and will defend, with all the skill I posses, the weak, the helpless and the
oppressed. I pledge an unswerving loyalty to the association and my instructor.
In addition, I pledge an unending effort to earn the self-same loyalty from
those who look to me for training.
Green Belt
I pledge a continued effort to sharpen
my skills, to increase my knowledge and to broaden my horizons. I shall obligate
myself under the direction of my instructor to learn the skills of a teacher
which will enable me to teach my skills in the prescribed manner outlined by
Mr. Ed Parker.
3rd Brown Belt
I pledge that as my skill as a teacher
progresses I will never condem, ridicule, embarrass or shame any student or
fellow instructor in the presence of a class or group. All grievances or disputes
shall be conducted in private away from group observation.
2nd Brown Belt
I understand that like a doctor,
the private affairs of students and fellow instructors that come to my attention
during the exercising of my responsibilities are privilege communications and
must never be discussed
1st Brown Belt
I honor and hold sacred the right
of all men to protect themselves. I further hold that as a trained martial artist
in American Kenpo I will take upon myself all obligations and responsibilities
deemed sacred to my god, family, country and association.
1st Black Belt
I hold that my time and my skills
are the assets of my profession, assets which grow in value as I progress in
the art until as a Third Degree Black Belt, I stand as a fully qualified instructor.
It shall also be my responsibilitiy to protect any student from ravenous indiviuals
who would try to take advantage of personal weaknesses to divest the gulible
into unprofitable paths, to preserve the sacred things, god, family, country
and association, I pledge my all.