With Professor Jeff Speakman
Jaki is a proud member of his
Association: American Kenpo Karate Systems [AKKS]
http://www.jeffspeakman.com/
Jaki McVicar is a 7th Degree Black Belt and Senior Professor of American Kenpo Karate. The system that the teaches and studies is the Parker Kenpo Karate 24 System.
Jaki began her training in the Martial Arts in 1965 firstly in Judo then in Shotokan before taking up Kenpo in July 1978 she was awarded her Black Belt in 1983. Instructed and Ranked by 10th Degree Black Belt Ed Parker the founder of Kenpo Karate under the auspices of the IKKA (International Kenpo Karate Association) until his untimely death in December 1990.
Along with two other 1st generation students of Mr Parker, Senior Professor Gary Ellis and Professor Mervyn Ormand, she is a founder member of The British Kenpo Karate Association (B.K.K.A). In 1996 the B.K.K.A Senior Council elected to join Professor Jeff Speakman’s American Kenpo Karate Systems (A.K.K.S).
Jaki was awarded her 7th Degree Black Belt by Senior Professor Jeff Speakman at his International Training Camp, Las Vegas, Nevada in June 2008, and she is the proud UK Director for Jeff Speakman's American Kenpo Karate Systems (A.K.K.S).
Born in Torquay, a full time professional instructor Jaki runs the Torquay Kenpo Karate Academy which she founded in 1981. Jaki from 1997 worked for seven years as a SIA Registered door steward (citizen ejection technician!!) in one of Torquay's biggest night-clubs. Considered to be one of the top American Kenpo Karate instructors in Europe she has taught at Kenpo training camps throughout the UK and Europe as well as Las Vegas, USA.
- She has during the years won numerous competitions and has held British and European titles in Fighting, Team-Fighting, Kenpo Forms and Kenpo Self-Defence Techniques both within the Kenpo world and in Open Competition.
- She has 31 years of experience in American Kenpo Karate, 29 years teaching.
- She has featured in Martial Arts Illustrated, Combat and Fighters Magazines.
- She is the highest ranking female A.K.K.S Instructor in Europe.
Jaki’s forte is Techniques and Forms. She says "In my formative years of training I was obsessed with getting it right, I perfected my stances and basic fundamentals until they were technically correct. I was very lucky to have as my training partners Professor Gary Ellis and Professor Mervyn Ormand - both big men! When you are big you only need a portion of your power to stop someone in their tracks, when you are smaller you have to hit with your entire body, not just a part or you will not get the desired effect. It was due to the perfection of stances and basics to ensure that every time I struck I was employing all the correct principles of motion and force that I was able to achieve that goal, to stop them!
I very much work on multiple movement and grafting techniques, which is to take bits and pieces of techniques and graft them on demand. The difference being not thinking a specific technique but rather going with the basics you have learned and creating a continious flow of motion. I find that many of my students can perform my made up techniques better than the written techniques. I believe it is due to the fact that they have continual flow and their brains are not putting full stops to the motion thus inhibiting their flow. Of course from a street situation we know that if you hit your initial moves the opponent would not be there for the rest but as I always say what if he is? You need backup, you have to continue your action if he is still active which is where the multiple movement comes in, as Mr Parker used to say "It’s not overkill its over skill".
I really enjoy the freedom of movement, its pure geometry in motion, look at the universal pattern, Kenpo should be fun, that’s what I try and put over.
Where it Begins and Ends
Jaki's Black Belts
Jaki is insured, CRB checked, [Criminal Record Bureau is an executive agency of the Home Office which vets applications for people who want to work with children and vulnerable people], and First Aid Trained.
Jaki Has
31 Years In Kenpo
This Year!
Mr Jon Hill, 3nd Degree Black Belt
"Jon started training with me in 1989 and he is a 3rd Degree Black Belt. Jon spends much of his time helping to train any new senior students in the Academy, his forte is his strong basic fundamentals which provide a solid foundation for beginners to build on. His timing when executing Self Defence Techniques is excellent often causing gasps from the other students in the Academy. Jon has been with me for nearly 20 years, in my opinion he is one of the finest movers in Kenpo that I have seen I count myself lucky to have him with me".
Mr Francis Hadley, 2nd Degree Black Belt
"Francis first started at the Academy in 1995 he is a 2nd Degree Black Belt. Very quite and unassuming with a very dry sense of humour, he needs it as I very often use him as a dummy!. A very talented martial artist in his own right he has demonstrated an unwavering loyalty to the Academy and myself giving up much of his personal time to aid me in teaching the Junior Classes. Francis is an invaluable assent to me and the Academy.".
"I would never be able to run the Academy effectively without the superb efforts of my Black Belts, at the drop of a hat they are always there to support me in any way they can. Jon, Francis and Adam have a combined time in Kenpo with me of 43 years, what can I say ! , I consider myself to be privilaged to have such, humble and talented students their unwavering loyalty and dedication is humbling, I am extremely proud of them".
Mr Adam Gorst, 1st Degree Black Belt
"Adam Gorst started Shotokan Karate in 1995 where he graded to Brown Belt. More interested in the self defence aspects of the Martial Arts he found his way to my Academy in 1997 and gained his Black Belt in 2005.
Adam cross trains in various Martial Arts styles and at present, as well as his continued Kenpo studies, he was awarded his Purple Belt in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu by ‘Italo Ferreira’ on the 8th March 2009. Now living in the UK, American Top Teams ‘Italo Ferreira’ is a Black Belt under UFC fighter ‘Marcus Aurelio’ and is currently the Brazilian Jiu Jitsu coach for Trojan Freefighters, one of the UK’s premier Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) teams. Adam is an excellent well rounded martial artist, a great thinker in terms of dissecting and analysing motion. He is an excellent asset to the Academy".
Torquay Kenpo Karate Academy
21st June 2008 and your Instructor is invited to teach at Senior Professor Jeff Speakman's Camp in Las Vegas. Jaki says "What a great weekend training and teaching with a bunch of very talented individuals I only wish some of my student's had been able to attend they would have thoroughly enjoyed it". The icing on the cake for Jaki was that she was promoted to 7th Degree Black Belt an honour few women have achieved. Jaki says " What an honour, I celebrate 30 years in Kenpo this year and totally dedicate this to all my students past and present particularly my Black Belts for their dedication and loyalty [Jon Hill, Francis Hadley and Adam Gorst] without whom I would not achieved this thank you".