Sophie Holm Higgins. 4th Degree Black Belt
My journey with American Kenpo Karate started after reading an article about karate in a Danish psychology magazine in October 2006. What struck me was the combination of physical mastery of the art of self-defense and the mind of Zen. I remember thinking: “This is what I have been looking for my entire life!” The next day, I called all the karate studios in my town.
I started calling the Shotokan schools because that was the type of martial art mentioned in the article. One after the other, they responded: “No, sorry, we don’t accept student’s mid-term. You are welcome to call back in January.” I was not satisfied with their response, so I continued down the list of karate schools, and finally, I got a hold of Mr. Jorn Brandt, who said: “Sure, you can come by tomorrow. I will give you an introductory lesson.” I went to his White Tiger Karate studio in Odense, Denmark the next day. I can only say that I was hooked after walking into the studio and having that first introduction to some of what I now know as the basics of American Kenpo Karate.
I knew then that this was the type of Martial Art I had been looking for my entire life. That is how my journey with American Kenpo Karate started. I was smitten by the art of American Kenpo Karate. I started attending tournaments, and winning medals gave me even more fuel to travel and learn from people worldwide. Among the eye-opening experiences was attending the IKC in Las Vegas in October 2010 as a brown belt and winning gold with my freestyle Bo staff form. At that event, I got to participate in a seminar with Mr. Frank Trejo, who was a true inspiration in how just a tiny motion can take you out of the line of attack.
I got my first-degree black belt from Mr. Jorn Brandt in October 2011. Mr. Brandt unfortunately passed away not long after that. I sought new inspiration and guidance. I started participating in various tournaments and seminars in Europe. I met Mr. Scott Higgins for the first time in 2015 at the IKC in Dublin. At a seminar before the tournament, Mr. Higgins asked, “Why would you choose Gripping Talon over Crossing Talon?” I was fascinated with the more curious and questioning approach to the art and the reasoning behind a concept, such as the nature of the attack. I ran into Mr. Higgins again at an IKKA event on the Island of Jersey in 2016, then again at the IKC in Lisbon in April 2017, where I was promoted to 3rd-degree black belt by Mr. Richard Matthews. Later that year, Mr. Higgins visited Denmark with Ro Gilliot and his school of Kenpoists from Holland and did another eye-opening seminar.
As it turned out, Mr. Higgins and I shared many similar interests, including American Kenpo. We quickly fell in love and married soon after. My journey of American Kenpo Karate with my husband Scott has taken me far and wide through Europe and the United States. We now make our home in Kalihi, Hawaii, a subdivision of Honolulu, where, to my surprise, Mr. Parker was born.
The latest step of my Kenpo journey was recently being promoted to 4th degree black belt Senior Instructor under my husband Scott and Grand Master Mr. Mohamad Tabatabai I had the extreme honor of getting recognized alongside Master Rick Jeffcoat and my wonderful husband Master Scott Higgins, who earned their 9th degree black belts though many years of training, teaching, sharing, and dedication to Senior Grand Master, Edmond Kealoa Parkers art of American Kenpo Karate. I am excited to continue this incredible journey of living and sharing the art of American Kenpo Karate