Newark Kenpo Karate

08/04/2026

Some highlights from my trip to Revere MA for the Boston IKC Tournament last weekend. It was so great to see everyone again after many years. The photos are posted a little backwards with the dinner first and the tournament later but oh, well. The weekend started bright and early for me joining Doreen and Dian for a Women’s Forum to discuss topics of concern to women in the martial arts. I think they forgot Kenpo people are mostly vampires because they scheduled it for 8 am. Ugh. But we had a great turnout and great topics of discussion. The tournament commenced without a hitch thanks to Sita Van and Anthony Cogliandro working hard every step of the way. Kudos to them for a job well done and many thanks for the awesome hospitality they showed throughout the weekend.
It was so great to connect to my good friend, Olivia Charels, who took the double Grand Championship in both Forms and Fighting. We met when she was just a kid of maybe 12 or 13 and I could see then that this young lady had a bright future ahead of her in Kenpo. So talented and such a hard worker. Congrats to her and her partner, Kamiel, on their engagement!!
But what really made the weekend special was being able to connect with my dear friends, Gilbert Velez and Norman Sandler. Gilbert, Norman, Doreen and I used to spend many hours training together and it was so fun reminiscing over old times.
In two years, July 2028, the tournament will be hosted by Olivia and Kamiel in Belgium and my plan is to be there!! Can’t wait!!

05/30/2026

For any women in the Newark, Delaware area: I will be doing a Self Defense workshop tailored to Women in 2 weeks on Fri., June 12. This is not a Karate class but is a practical approach to street self defense focusing on a woman's strengths and learning to use them to defeat larger and stronger attackers. The skills and techniques that will be taught do not require size or strength, just the knowledge of how to apply them. Cost is $20 per person with a $5 discount if you bring another friend or family member. Workshop will be followed by refreshments! Come join us.

05/29/2026

Having a great time in our Adult Kenpo Class tonite. I think we have a record for our Post Covid classes. 21 students physically in class and 2 students on Zoom! Working timing patterns and reviewing forms and later I’m going to pull a little coordination challenge out for them. It’s the happening place to be!!

04/22/2026

A Paul Mills Legacy Training Camp was held in Littleton Colorado this past weekend and included 3 days of seminars and testing. The first day brought us a spring snow storm and 3 inches of snow. The test went on anyway and brought us 3 new Black Belts who performed at their peak. Demonstrating Weapons curriculum, standard forms and personal forms as well as the standard basics and self defense, they rose to the occasion and set a strong example for all the lower belts also testing.
Seminars followed with multiple instructors offering classes on Refinement of Basics, Centerline Set, Form 2, Lock Flows, Form 1 Pressure Testing, Explosive Movement, and Technique Refinement. It was great to see 2 instructors participate that I haven’t seen in quite some time, Mr. Greg Hilderbrand and Mr. Larry Kongaika. So good to connect again. Overall it was an awesome time and can’t wait to do it all again in the fall in Delaware!! If interested be sure to contact me here at Newark Kenpo!!

03/01/2026

Congrats to my students on their success at the Salvation Army Boys and Girls Club Winter Warriors Challenge yesterday. Two others placed who didn’t make it into the pictures. Very proud of all of them for representing Newark Kenpo Karate.

02/21/2026

A tough but necessary decision sometimes. Moving a student ahead when they aren’t ready doesn’t help them. It only sets them up for failure when they attempt to do the next level material. They will not have the skills needed to be successful and often don’t understand why. New material is typically built on previous skills and requires successful accomplishment of them before progressing to the next level. Have patience and trust in your instructor and you will achieve your goals.

Let’s be honest...promoting someone who hasn’t earned it teaches them nothing.

No Sensei enjoys telling a student they’re not ready for a belt exam. But a real teacher stands firm. If they don’t, they’re not teaching value. They’re just selling rank.

In a culture of participation awards, many people think showing up and going through the motions is enough. It’s not. That is not how martial arts training works.

We teach the standards. We drill the material. You go home, study, practice, and return ready to prove you’ve mastered it. Only then should promotion even be considered. Otherwise, we are failing to teach how achievement actually works.

There are no participation trophies in a good martial arts school. We push students to become better than they were yesterday. A Sensei must clearly define expectations and stand firm on them. If we don’t, we fail to instill one of the most important traits martial arts builds: indomitable spirit.

That spirit is what carries students to heights they never imagined...both in their Karate and in life outside the dojo.

It’s easy to spot someone who was handed a black belt instead of earning it. The fundamentals aren’t there. What’s tragic is that many of those students might have truly earned it under proper standards...and been GREAT had they had a good Sensei!

If you’re afraid to tell a student they’re not ready, you’re not helping them. Promotion should come only after the work has been done, the standards met, and the skills proven.

Anything less is catering to comfort instead of building character.

That’s how I see it.

02/19/2026

Well said. His legacy truly lives and is being carried forward to the best of all our abilities. I miss him every day.

Two years ago today, the Kenpo world lost a guiding force—but his legacy did not fade. It lives on in the precision of our movement, in the foundation of our principles, and in the relentless pursuit of refinement that he demanded of himself and of us.

Mr. Mills was more than just a martial artist. He was a thinker. A craftsman. A man deeply committed to preserving and advancing the art given to him by Mr. Parker. His dedication to structure, detail, and depth shaped generations of instructors and students across the world.

For those of us who had the privilege to train under him, attend his seminars, and learn directly from his insight, we carry something that cannot be measured in rank or certificates. We carry his standard.

Mr. Mills reminded us that Kenpo is not simply a collection of techniques—it is a living system of logic, adaptation, and personal growth. He challenged us to think, to refine, and to never stop learning.

Though he is no longer with us, his teachings remain alive in every black belt who continues his work, in every student who ties on a belt for the first time, and in every instructor who chooses to teach with integrity.

We honor you today, Mr. Mills.
We are grateful for your leadership.
We remain committed to the art that you left us.

Your legacy continues.

01/27/2026

Newark Kenpo is open for classes. If you have managed to dig yourself out, come join us for some fun.

12/20/2025

Here’s our Holiday Schedule for the next few weeks. Have wonderful Holiday Season and I promise to do a photo dump of all the happenings over the past few months. Hope to see many of you at our Annual End of Year Holiday Party the Saturday after Christmas.

11/27/2025

Happy Thanksgiving to all my students and martial arts friends and colleagues near and far! I’m grateful for each and every one of you and your presence in my life and on my journey. Enjoy your day and don’t eat too much! 😂 Remember the school is closed all weekend for the Holiday. We’ll reopen on Tues for the 1:30 pm class. Adult students stay tuned for a text message about a possible special Mon night class.