The CoRe Kenpo system is based on what Master Clayton was taught by Mills Crenshaw/Ed Parker Sr. back in the late 50s/early 60s. Master Clayton was awarded his Black Belt by SGM Ed Parker in late ’62 or early ’63.

At the time Master Clayton was promoted to Black Belt (Shodan), the curriculum was much smaller, and practitioners being turned out were much more effective in real situations in a shorter timeframe.

The CoRe Kenpo curriculum is based around a few maxims:

• Be hard to hurt
• Be effective against a single unarmed attacker
• Become effective in 2-3 years
• Gain useful skills from each class attended

How does all this fit into a thimble?

• A focus on a set of basic strikes to build responses to common attacks from
• Building basic body mechanics that lower rates of injuries in defenders
• Responses are conditioned into students from very early on
• Students are taught to analyze positions from very early on
• No reliance on memorization of techniques/forms
  • Techniques and forms can still be used to extract ideas from – but they’re not required

The system also uses Master Clayton’s extensive background in Biomechanics and Kinesiology to clean up less than optimal methods of execution and puts an emphasis on staying within a Connected Range of Motion.