WELCOME!

Thank you for your interest.  Hopefully you are beginning a pursuit that can last you a lifetime.  We would like to introduce you to the Senior Instructor and Owner of Glenn Haley's Ultimate Academy of Martial Arts.  Mr. Haley is a 4th Degree Black Belt in American Kenpo Karate.  He also has had an outstanding point-fighting career and has fought as a member of the John Sepulveda USA Fight Team in Denmark (1999) and Ireland (2001). He has also competed several times at the famous International Karate Championships held in Long Beach, CA. Mr. Haley has been actively kickboxing for the last 9 years and was ranked 7th in the world by International Kickboxing Federation (IKF). He has an official fight record of 5-1-1 (w/ 4 KOs) and over 8 full-contact kickboxing bouts under his belt. Some of the most notable have included fights at the IKF US National Championships in 2003, two separate bouts for the California Lt. Heavyweight Championship title, and an appearance in "Strikeforce" Kickboxing often televised on ESPN2.

Michael Billings is affiliated with Mr. Haley and consults and teaches at Mr. Haley's school.  Mr. Billings is a 5th  Degree Black Belt in Ed Parker's American Kenpo Karate.  Mr. Billings, is privileged and honored to be a student of Tommy Burks, a longtime private student of Mr. Parker.  With over 40 years in the Martial Arts, 30 of those were spent studying American and Chinese Kenpo.   Mr. Billings has also studied Japanese Shotokan Karate and Korean Tae-Kwon-Do since 1971.  Teaching Kenpo since 1983, he has owned and operated a school in Lubbock, Texas, while his Black Belt students operated schools in Midland and Lubbock, Texas, New Orleans, Louisiana, and Jakarta, Indonesia.  He is affiliated with the American Kenpo Training System (AKTS).

WHAT IS KENPO?

While Kenpo traces its roots to Chinese Martial Arts, American Kenpo is the creation of the late Senior Grandmaster, Edmund Kealoha Parker.  Mr. Parker brought Kenpo to the mainland from his native Hawaii in 1953, and subsequently developed it into the most comprehensive Martial Arts System in the world today.  It is practical, realistic, and can readily be applied in today's environment.  Mr. Parker's Kenpo Karate encompasses logical principles and concepts along with scientific disciplines not employed by other Martial Arts Systems.

WHO STUDIES KENPO?

People from all walks of life study Kenpo.  Pre-school children, boys, girls, women, and men – people who want to exercise and learn self-defense at the same time; people who are looking for different levels of athletic competition, higher levels of self-confidence and improved coordination.  Additional benefits can include increased self-esteem, improved flexibility, and increased stamina and strength.  Most importantly, people who study Kenpo want to be able to defend themselves or their loved ones, with the most practical and effective Martial Arts System available today.  Some of the most famous people who have studied Kenpo include Elvis Presley, Blake Edwards, Robert Culp, and Jeff Speakman (The Perfect Weapon).  Mr. Parker also appeared in the Pink Panther movies and helped choreograph numerous others.  He was in TV episodes of: I Love Lucy and The Courtship of Eddie's Father.  He appeared, or advised, in the movies: Seven, To Kill the Golden Goose, Buckstone County Prison (sometimes known as Seabo.)  And of course he taught many stars & personalities such as...... Elvis, Nick Adams (the Rebel), Julie Andrews & Blake Edwards (her husband), Joe Hymes & Elke Summer (his then wife), Robert Culp (I Spy), Robert Wagner, Robert Conrad (Wild Wild West), Rick Jason (Combat), Audie Murphy, Frank Lovejoy, Joey Bishop (Comedian), Darrin McGavin, McDonald Cary, Jose Ferrar, George Hamilton (Zorro), Warren Beatty, Fabian, Dick Martin (Rowan & Martin's Laugh In.)

IT DOES NOT TAKE YEARS TO LEARN KENPO

From the very first introductory lesson, you will learn self-defense moves that you can instantly put to use. You will learn how a basic hand or foot movement can make an attacker helpless, and you can practice these moves anywhere – in your home or at work.  No special attire or equipment is needed while you are practicing.  Even if you only complete the beginners course, you will feel reassured knowing you have the ability to defend yourself.

KENPO HAS NO RESTRICTIONS

Every member of your family can benefit from learning Kenpo.  It is an activity ideally suited for family participation – whether you are a husband and wife, parents and children, brothers and sisters, or friends, we offer special discounts to encourage family and friends to participate in Kenpo together as an added convenience and support.  Since we tailor our Kenpo lessons to fit your own physical capability, you can develop self-defense skills at your own pace.  We offer programs from the age of 8 and up.  Private lessons for younger children may be arranged.

CHILDREN BENEFIT FROM KENPO

For children to succeed in school, they should be motivated, disciplined, and self-confident.  In learning Kenpo, we encourage our students to develop self-discipline by learning their belt requirements, and participating in a structured learning environment.  This in turn carries over into their school studies and can aid in improving their grades.  Self-confidence learned through Kenpo teaches our students how to interact well with fellow classmates and teachers.  Because of our effective belt ranking system, students also learn to develop goal setting skills.  As our students achieve higher belt ranks through their goal setting, it becomes easier for them to perpetually set lifelong goals.

LASTING RESULTS

Kenpo is a lifelong benefit.  The skills you learn today will last a lifetime.  Have you ever invested in an expensive health product, training equipment, or physical activity and have nothing to show for it?  Well, with Kenpo, even if you only complete the beginner's course, you will always have those acquired skills as a means of self-defense or exercise.  Kenpo can be a valuable investment that will last for years to come, whether or not you desire to make it a career.

COME ON – START TODAY!

We invite you to come in and talk with our instructors and students, inspect our facilities and watch a class. We offer three (3) introductory lessons at a nominal fee with no further obligation (all you need is a tee shirt and jeans).  Make your life a little healthier, safer and much more enjoyable by coming to Michael Billings' Kenpo Karate at the Academy of Martial Arts.  Discover for yourself how you can develop self-confidence as well as a mind at peace.