Kenpo Awards Categories
Listed below are the 2026 Kenpo Awards Categories with a description of the award. Click here to go directly to the nomination form.
Bronze Life – 20-24 years in the art of kenpo
The Tracy’s International Kenpo Karate Association 20 Year Bronze Life Award recognizes individuals who have demonstrated two decades of continued dedication, loyalty, and commitment to Kenpo.
Twenty years represents far more than time alone. It reflects perseverance, discipline, personal growth, and a lasting commitment to the principles and traditions of the martial arts. Through years of training, teaching, mentorship, and service, these individuals have helped strengthen their schools, students, and the Kenpo community.
This award honors those whose continued dedication and support have contributed to the enduring strength and continuity of the Tracy System.
The 20 Year Bronze Life Award stands as recognition of a significant milestone in a lifelong martial arts journey.
Diamond Life – 25-29 years in the art of kenpo
The Tracy’s International Kenpo Karate Association 25 Year Diamond Life Award recognizes individuals who have demonstrated twenty-five years of unwavering dedication, loyalty, and service to Kenpo.
Reaching this milestone reflects far more than longevity alone. It represents decades of discipline, perseverance, growth, mentorship, and commitment to the preservation and advancement of the martial arts. Through their continued involvement, these individuals have helped strengthen students, schools, and the Kenpo community across generations.
Like a diamond formed through time and pressure, this award symbolizes enduring strength, commitment, and value within the art of Kenpo.
The 25 Year Diamond Life Award honors those whose lifelong dedication continues to leave a lasting impact upon the art and the people within it.
Silver Life – 30-39 years in the art of kenpo
The Tracy’s International Kenpo Karate Association 30 Year Silver Life Award recognizes individuals who have demonstrated thirty years of continued dedication, loyalty, and service to the Tracy System of Kenpo.
Three decades of commitment reflects far more than time alone. It represents perseverance, sacrifice, personal growth, mentorship, and an enduring belief in the values and traditions of the martial arts. Through years of training, teaching, leadership, and support, these individuals have helped strengthen the foundation and future of the art.
Silver has long symbolized value, integrity, and resilience — qualities reflected in those who continue to dedicate themselves to the art across generations.
The 30 Year Silver Life Award honors those whose steadfast commitment and lasting contributions continue to enrich the art of Kenpo and the martial arts community as a whole.
Gold Life – 40-49 years in the art of kenpo
The Tracy’s International Kenpo Karate Association 40 Year Gold Life Award recognizes individuals who have demonstrated forty years of unwavering dedication, loyalty, and service to the Art of Kenpo.
Four decades of commitment represents a lifetime of discipline, perseverance, mentorship, leadership, and personal sacrifice in service to the martial arts. Through changing generations and evolving times, these individuals have remained steadfast in preserving the values, traditions, and integrity of the art while helping guide and inspire others along the way.
Gold has long symbolized excellence, achievement, and enduring value — qualities reflected in those whose lifelong dedication continues to strengthen the art and the community surrounding it.
The 40 Year Gold Life Award honors those whose extraordinary commitment and lasting influence have become part of the living legacy of Kenpo.
Living Legend – 50-59 years in the art of kenpo
The Tracy’s International Kenpo Karate Association 50 Year Living Legend Award recognizes individuals whose fifty years of dedication, leadership, mentorship, and service have left an extraordinary and lasting impact upon the Art of Kenpo and the martial arts community.
Half a century of commitment represents far more than longevity alone. It reflects a lifetime devoted to training, teaching, preserving tradition, developing future generations, and strengthening the art through decades of leadership and example. These individuals have witnessed the evolution of the system firsthand and, through their efforts, have helped shape its history and future.
The title Living Legend is reserved for those whose influence, accomplishments, and contributions have become woven into the legacy of the art that they practice.
The 50 Year Living Legend Award honors those whose lifelong dedication, character, and service continue to inspire generations of martial artists and stand as enduring examples of the highest ideals of the martial arts.
Foundation Award – 60+ years in the art of kenpo
The Tracy’s International Kenpo Karate Association 60 Year Foundation Award recognizes individuals whose six decades of dedication, leadership, service, and commitment have helped form and sustain the very foundation of the Tracy System of Kenpo.
Sixty years in the martial arts represents a lifetime of perseverance, sacrifice, mentorship, growth, and unwavering loyalty to the art and its people. These individuals are more than long-time practitioners — they are living links to the history, development, and continuity of the Tracy System itself.
Through decades of instruction, leadership, support, and example, they have helped build schools, develop students and instructors, preserve tradition, and strengthen the structure upon which future generations continue to stand.
The 60 Year Foundation Award honors those whose lifelong contributions have become part of the enduring foundation of the Tracy System of Kenpo and whose legacy continues to shape the future of the art.
Bob White Blood & Guts Fighter of the Year Award
The Tracy’s International Kenpo Karate Association Bob White Blood & Guts Fighter of the Year Award honors individuals who demonstrate extraordinary courage, resilience, and an unwavering refusal to surrender in the face of adversity.
This award recognizes those who have faced serious illness, injury, personal hardship, traumatic events, or other life-altering challenges and continued to move forward when quitting would have been understandable. It honors the kind of fighter who proves that true strength is measured not by victories over opponents, but by perseverance through life’s greatest struggles.
Few embodied that spirit more completely than Bob White. A fierce competitor, master instructor, cancer survivor, and lifelong servant to others, Bob White demonstrated that courage, integrity, compassion, and determination are the true marks of a warrior.
The Bob White Blood & Guts Fighter of the Year Award honors those who rise, endure, and continue fighting forward regardless of the obstacles before them.
School of the Year Award
The Tracy’s International Kenpo Karate Association School of the Year Award honors a school that demonstrates exceptional leadership, instruction, professionalism, student development, and service to both the martial arts community and the Tracy System of Kenpo.
A great school is more than a training facility. It is a place where students develop confidence, discipline, respect, character, and lifelong relationships through consistent instruction and positive leadership. The strongest schools help preserve the integrity of the art while creating an environment where students of all ages can grow and succeed.
This award recognizes schools that exemplify high standards in teaching, mentorship, community involvement, organizational excellence, and commitment to the continued advancement of the Tracy System.
The School of the Year Award honors those schools whose dedication, leadership, and positive impact continue to strengthen the future of Kenpo and the martial arts community as a whole.
Grandmaster of the Year
The Tracy’s International Kenpo Karate Association Grandmaster of the Year Award honors individuals whose lifelong dedication, leadership, technical mastery, and service have had a profound and lasting impact upon the martial arts and Kenpo.
A grandmaster represents the highest levels of experience, responsibility, and stewardship within the art. Through decades of training, teaching, mentorship, and leadership, they help preserve the system’s integrity while guiding future generations of practitioners and instructors.
This award recognizes those whose influence extends far beyond their own schools or students — individuals whose knowledge, character, professionalism, and contributions continue to strengthen the art at the highest levels.
The Grandmaster of the Year Award honors those whose lifelong commitment and leadership help ensure the continued strength, continuity, and future of the Kenpo.
Master Instructor of the Year
The Tracy’s International Kenpo Karate Association Master Instructor of the Year Award honors individuals who demonstrate exceptional mastery of the martial arts through leadership, technical excellence, mentorship, and lifelong dedication to teaching.
A master instructor represents far more than rank or years of experience. They embody deep understanding, professionalism, humility, and the ability to develop students and instructors at the highest levels. Through their example, they preserve the integrity, standards, and traditions of Kenpo while continuing to guide its future.
This award recognizes those individuals whose influence extends across generations of martial artists through their knowledge, leadership, character, and unwavering commitment to the art.
The Master Instructor of the Year Award honors those whose lifelong dedication continues to strengthen and elevate Kenpo.
Innovative Instructor of the Year
The Tracy’s International Kenpo Karate Association Innovative Instructor of the Year Award honors individuals who demonstrate exceptional creativity, vision, and forward-thinking in the teaching and advancement of the martial arts.
Innovation within Kenpo does not mean abandoning tradition or compromising standards. It means finding new and effective ways to communicate, develop, preserve, and strengthen the art while remaining grounded in its foundational principles.
This award recognizes instructors who expand understanding, improve teaching methods, develop new approaches to learning, and help students connect more deeply to the concepts and applications of Kenpo. Through insight, leadership, and a commitment to continual improvement, they help ensure the system remains dynamic, relevant, and evolving for future generations.
The Innovative Instructor of the Year Award honors those whose ideas, methods, and dedication continue to move the art of Kenpo forward while preserving the integrity of the art.
Instructor of the Year
The Tracy’s International Kenpo Karate Association Instructor of the Year Award honors individuals who demonstrate exceptional dedication to teaching, mentorship, leadership, and the development of their students.
A great instructor does more than teach techniques. They build confidence, discipline, character, and personal growth while preserving the integrity and standards of Kenpo. Through patience, professionalism, and leadership by example, they help shape not only capable martial artists, but stronger people.
This award recognizes those instructors who consistently invest themselves in the success of their students, their schools, and the martial arts community. Their influence extends far beyond the dojo floor, helping guide and inspire the next generation through knowledge, integrity, and service.
The Instructor of the Year Award honors those whose commitment to teaching continues to strengthen the future of Kenpo.