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INSTRUCTORS

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Paul LaPointe
Jujitsu Black Belt

Kajukenbo Black Belt

Kung Fu Black Belt

 

Martial Arts have always been a passion for me. Growing up in the 80s/90s, it was represented all aspects of media. This introduction to martial arts via media is where I credit my earliest training (I was totally that kid who ran around the house with a plastic ninja sword and rubber shuriken after watching TV or playing a video game). Media aside, I began my formal training at the age of 9 years old and haven't stopped since. Over the years, I have studied various martial arts (Okinawan Karate, Jujitsu, Judo, Kajukenbo, and Kung Fu) and currently hold Black Belts in Jujitsu, Kajukenbo and Kung Fu. 

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My Jujitsu & Kajukenbo Story began in 1994 under under Professor Vinson Holck (the son of Kajukenbo co-founder Dai Shihan Joseph Holck (the Judo/Jujitsu behind Kajukenbo)) and continued up until his eventual retirement due to health reasons in the early 2010s. During this time I trained rigorously, usually clocking 10+ hours a week, traveled the southwestern US (including Hawaii) competing (consistently placing in the top 3) and eventually teaching as an instructor under Holck in mid 2000s. Prior to Holck's passing in 2017, I earned the rank of 5th degree Black Belt in Holck's Matsuno Ryu Jujitsu and Kajukenbo systems.

 

​My Kung Fu Story started tin 1997, when a fellow student of Holcks encouraged me to try a local Kung Fu class that he was cross training in. Since then, I have studied under two primary instructors, starting with Sifu Clem Daems (Northern Praying Mantis & Chen/Yang Tai Chi Chuan) and later with Sifu Tony Puyot (7 Star & 8 Step Praying Mantis).

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Training Outlook & Wushu Sanda

When it comes to my outlook on training, I am an advocate of the fact that you never stop evolving as a martial artist, the value of sport martial arts competitions for training, and the effectiveness of traditional martial arts (Both Holck (Police SWAT and Military hand to hand instructor) and Puyot (VICE detective) utilized their training in their professions prior to retirement). 

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While Sanda wasn’t a competition platform option during my early martial arts career, it has grown in recent years, with multiple events each year in the Southwest. Seeing Sanda as a natural bridge between the striking and grappling arts I study, I've come to see it as a great avenue for teaching, coaching my students for competing and am dedicated to seeing it grow. 

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Mel Kemp
Kung Fu Black Belt

SCA Armored Combat Knight (Black Belt Level)

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At the age of 28 and living in South Dakota, Mel was introduced to Mantis Kung Fu by two friends as a way to stay in shape during the long, cold winters. At the time, Mel was already conversant in a form of western armored combat and was looking to diversify his martial abilities as well as stay in shape. On moving to Tucson in 2002, he found himself unexpectedly fortunate enough to have Shifu LaPointe teaching a nearly identical style of Mantis Kung Fu. He has studied under Shifu LaPointe since that time as well as continued to study western armored combat under the auspices of the SCA.

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Stylistically, Mel is more interested in the direct, practical application of techniques as they apply to a self-defense situation rather than

 

flashier show aspects that apply best to performances. Mantis Boxing’s focus on the application behind the techniques taught in the forms feeds that interest in the practical and fosters a deeper understanding of application over the simple search for the next move. Mel began studying weapons combat in 1992 as a member of the SCA and continues to practice it today, training students and competing in tournaments on a regular basis throughout the year. Given his prior and continuing background in western armored combat, Mel has an affinity for the weapons forms taught in Mantis Boxing. He places the same focus on the practical application behind the weapons forms as he does the empty hand forms. While people may not carry swords or spears anymore, in self-defense situations, those skills can be transferred to a wide range of everyday items, from a broken chair leg to a piece of pipe and in many ways, are as applicable today as they ever have been.

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Mel currently holds the rank of 6th Degree Black Belt in Mantis Boxing Kung Fu and the rank of Knight in the SCA, the equivalent of black belt in the SCA.  In addition to his ranks, Mel is a previous winner of the Crown armored combat tourney, one of the hardest fought tournaments in the SCA.

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Michael Reynolds
Kung Fu Black Belt

Kajukenbo Black Belt
Karate Black Belt

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Michael Reynolds began his martial arts career when he realized that the three hours of self defense instruction received from the Corrections Officer Training Academy was totally inadequate for the environment in which he worked.

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After trying/studying several different styles, in which he attained the rank of Go Kyu (5th Kyu), Reynolds started his Matsuno Kajukenbo Kai training under Paul Haber in July 2001.

 

Michael currently holds the ranks of Matsuno Kajukenbo Kai 4th Degree Black Belt and Shukokai Karate 3rd Degree Black Belt under Haber.

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Michael is currently expanding his training to include Kung Fu under Sifu Paul LaPointe, where he has earned the rank of 3rd degree Black Belt.

 
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