American Kenpo

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American Kenpo
Also known asKenpo Karate, American-style Karate[1]
FocusHybrid[2]
Country of originUnited States
CreatorEd Parker[1]
ParenthoodKarate, Kosho Shorei Ryu Kenpo,[1] Kara-Ho Kenpo,[1] Boxing,[1] Judo[1]
Descendant artsTracy Kenpo, American OkinawaTe
Olympic sportNo
Official websiteInternational Kenpo Karate Association

American Kenpo Karate (/ˈkɛnpoʊ/), also known as American Kenpo or Ed Parker's Kenpo Karate, is an American martial art[2][3] founded and codified by Ed Parker. It is synthesized mainly from Japanese and Okinawan martial arts such as karate and judo,[1] with influence from Chinese martial arts.[4][5]

American Kenpo is a form of Kenpō. The highest international governing body of Kenpo is the International Kempo Federation. American Kenpo is governed by the International Kenpo Karate Association.

Etymology[edit]

The word Kenpo is an English transliteration of a Ryukyuan and Japanese pronunciation of Chinese characters 拳法, which in Cantonese are pronounced Ken Fat.

History[edit]

Early History[edit]

Kenpo evolved from Chinese and Japanese roots.[6] One predecessor, the martial art of Ken Fat, came with Cantonese immigrants through the creation of Tongs. Ken Fat was refined by the Southern Chinese and spread into Fujian and Canton; later, various styles developed in Taiwan, Hong Kong, Ryukyu (Okinawa), Korea, Malaysia, Indonesia, Vietnam, and Japan.[citation needed]

The de facto modern history of American Kenpo began in 1933 when Thomas Miyashiro began openly teaching Kenpo Karate in Hawaii alongside Mizuho Mutsu and Kamesuke Higashiona, students of Choki Motobu. They toured Hawaii, giving public demonstrations of Kenpo Karate in support of the state's first public Kenpo Karate Dojo. They were featured in numerous local newspapers[citation needed] and increased the sport's popularity in Hawaii. They also used books by Mizuho Mutsu and Choki Motobu, which were the most detailed books on Kenpo at that time.

Simultaneously, beginning in the 1920s, the Chee Kong Tong in Maui had been teaching Cantonese Ken Fat since the 1920s to Cantonese immigrants. Sun Chow Hoon emigrated from Canton and trained Ken Fat at the Tong HQ when he first arrived in Maui. He also taught his eldest son, William Chow, who became an enforcer for the Tong. His nickname, "The Thunderbolt", comes from a common punishment for those who break the vows of the Tongs (death by Five Thunderbolts). Enforcements of this punishment are often nicknamed Thunderbolt.[citation needed]

William Chow studied multiple martial arts in Hawaii, including Danzan Ryu Jujutsu, by observing his brother John Chow's classes and working out with him, often using his knowledge of Ken Fat to devise counters to Jujutsu techniques.[7] Chow eventually developed his unique style of Kenpo Karate that blended his Chinese Martial Arts training with the more focused Ryukyuan Kenpo Karate methods popularized in Hawaii.

Chow used many different names for the style over the years he taught, but most refer to his method as Kenpo Karate.[4][5] It agreed with linear and circular motion and emphasized practical fighting techniques to outperform other martial arts common in Hawaii. As he taught, Chow experimented and modified his art, adapting it to meet the needs of American students.[4]

Ed Parker[edit]

Main article: Ed Parker

American Kenpo originates from Ed Parker, the de jure founder of the style.[8][9] Parker started his martial arts training in Judo, earning a black belt. He then studied western boxing from his father, a boxing commissioner in Hawaii, before training in Kenpo Karate with Chow and earning a black belt. He stayed in touch with Chow after moving to the contiguous United States; Al Tracy claims Chow promoted Parker to Sandan (3rd-degree black belt) in December 1961.[10]

After Parker moved to California,[clarification needed] he cross-referenced his martial arts knowledge with Chinese martial arts masters there. Some of his California influences include Lau Bun, Ark Wong, Ming Lum, James Lee, and Bruce Lee. In California, Parker hosted a large martial arts tournament, the Long Beach Internationals, where he popularized martial artists and gave many legends their start. It was out of this work that Parker founded American Kenpo.

In 1954, Parker started teaching other Hawaiian Islanders at Brigham Young University in Provo, Utah. By 1956, he was teaching commercially in Provo.[11] Late in 1956, he opened a studio in Pasadena, California.[12]

Parker published Kenpo Karate: Law of the Fist and the Empty Hand, a book about his early system, in 1960.[13] The book shows a heavy Japanese influence in his early style, incorporating linear and circular movements, "focused" techniques and jujutsu-style locks, holds, and throws. When Parker began incorporating more Chinese arts in his system, he began to refer to his art as Chinese Kenpo. Based on this influence, he wrote Secrets of Chinese Karate,[14] published in 1963.

By 1975, Ed Parker's system, now known as American Kenpo, was a combination of older methods revised to work in more modern fighting scenarios.[15] Throughout his career, he heavily restructured American Kenpo's forms and techniques, moving away from forms recognizable from other arts like Hung Gar. He established a more definitive relationship between forms in the martial art and techniques from his self-defense curriculum.

Parker also eschewed esoteric Eastern concepts and sought to express the art through Western scientific principles and metaphors. He dropped most Asian language elements and altered traditions to favor American English. Although he was challenged numerous times by experts and masters from multiple other martial arts, he remained well-respected in the martial arts world.[citation needed]

Parker's art evolved over time, so his students learned differently depending on when they studied with him. Since many instructors left his practice prior to his later updates, American Kenpo today has several different techniques.

After Parker's Death[edit]

Parker did not name a successor as Senior Grandmaster of the IKKA. He instead entrusted his senior students to continue his teachings in their own ways.[16]

Features[edit]

I come to you with only karate [meaning empty hands]. I have no weapons, but should I be forced to defend myself, my principles, or my honor, should it be a matter of life or death, of right or wrong, then here are my weapons -- karate, my empty hands.

— Ed Parker, the American Kenpo creed from 1957.[1]

Common elements[edit]

Although each American Kenpo school will differ somewhat, many basic principles, concepts, and theories remain the same. Some common elements are:

  • "Marriage of Gravity" — Students are taught to settle their body weight to increase striking force.[4]: 5 
  • Every block is a strike; every strike is a block — Blocks are meant to be directed and forceful enough to injure an opponent, decreasing their ability to continue an attack. Strikes counter an opponent's movement, reducing their ability to mount an attack.
  • Point of origin — Any natural weapon is moved directly from where it originates, rather than cocking it before deploying it. This helps to eliminate the telegraphing of moves.
  • Economy of motion — Practitioners should choose the best available target, choose the best available weapon, and choose the best open angle in the least amount of time to get the desired result.
  • Personalization — Once a student learns the lesson embodied in the "ideal phase" of the technique, they should search for some aspect that can be tailored to their needs and strengths.

Function and technique[edit]

American Kenpo emphasizes fast techniques to disable an attacker in seconds.[1] American Kenpo contains a wide array of open-hand, elbow, and knee strikes, kicks, punches, finger strikes, throwing and joint locking techniques, and club and knife skills.

Kicks are less common and are usually directed at the lower body, as high kicks are slower to execute and potentially compromise the practitioner's balance. Higher kicks are taught to more advanced and capable practitioners.

American Kenpo develops environmental awareness, structural stability, balance, coordination, flow, speed, power, and timing in that order as the student progresses through a step-by-step curriculum. Memorization of the system is optional for gaining functional skills and primarily for students who wish to become instructors. All American Kenpo students are taught how, when, and why to execute each basic movement in the system.

Ed Parker emphasized concepts and principles over sequences of motion. He did not want his students to mimic him, but to tailor his American Kenpo system to their own circumstances and needs. Thus, American Kenpo is not a traditional art, but a combat science designed to evolve as the practitioners' understanding improves. The burden of effectiveness is on the individual practitioner. It is up to them to make their American Kenpo applications effective by correctly applying the concepts and principles to the instructor's ideal phase techniques.[citation needed]

Forms[edit]

At the time of his death in December 1990, Parker had created Short Form 1, Long Form 1, Short Form 2, Long Form 2, Short Form 3, Long Form 3, Long Form 4, Long Form 5 (surprise attacks), Long Form 6 (bare hands vs weapons), Long Form 7 (twin clubs) and his final contribution, Long Form 8 (twin knives).[citation needed]

Parker also created 154 named ideal phase technique sequences with 96 extensions, taught in three stages: Ideal Phase, What-if Phase, and Formulation Phase.[citation needed]

Instruction methods[edit]

Beginners are introduced to the concepts and principles of the system taught through scripted scenarios that serve as starting points for further exploration into the presented topic. Senior Grand Master Ed Parker's approach to American Kenpo was to introduce an updated and practical science of Martial Arts tailored to the needs of the individual and in a manner that would take a practitioner from being a mere follower to an innovator.[17] The mountain of motion[further explanation needed] and principles are available, but after learning the basics, students specialize in whatever areas fit their needs and desires.[citation needed]

Training in this manner aims to increase physical coordination and continuity with linear and circular motion. When correctly executed, each movement leads into the next, keeping an adversary's "dimensional zones" in check, limiting their ability to retaliate. Should the adversary not react as anticipated, the skilled Kenpo practitioner can seamlessly transition into an alternative and appropriate action drawn spontaneously from the trained subconscious. In American Kenpo, you never try to select a specific technique in the middle of a sudden, violent altercation but just let your body do what the Kenpo training has already ingrained in you.[18][16][19]

Students are encouraged to formulate a logical sequence of action that removes the dangers of what-if scenarios, effectively turning a what-if problem into an even-if solution. Every American Kenpo black belt will have its unique and tailored style. However, Parker published minimum requirements for each belt rank instructor in his association - the IKKA - to follow. However, if a Kenpo Instructor starts his association, they can select their student's base curriculum as they see fit.

International Kenpo Karate Association[edit]

In 1956, Ed Parker founded started an international Kenpo association, The International Kenpo Karate Association (IKKA), to formalize and govern the sport.[13][11]

[edit]

International Kenpo Karate Association crest

The International Kenpo Karate Association logo was designed by Dave Parker, Ed Parker's brother, in 1958. The design was meant to symbolically represent the art's modernized form while simultaneously acknowledging the roots of American Kenpo in traditional Chinese and Japanese martial arts.[4]: 122 

Tiger
The tiger represents the early stage of training through bravery, power, and physical strength. The idea is that, in this early stage, it is important to work on the basics (e.g., the horse stance) to prepare the body for later advancement. Also, the Tiger in Chinese culture represents the celestial guardian of the West and the yang aspect of an individual.
Dragon
The dragon represents the later stage of a martial artist's training through quintessence, fluidity, agility, and spiritual strength. The dragon is placed above the tiger on the crest to symbolize the importance of mental and spiritual strength over physical strength. It implies that martial artists must have a good conscience to guide their biological actions. Also, the Dragon in Chinese culture represents the celestial guardian of the East and the yin aspect of an individual.
Circle
The circle represents continuity.
Dividing lines
The lines within the circle represent the original methods of attack first learned by ancient practitioners of Chinese martial arts, as well as the pathways through which an object could travel.
Colors
The colors represent levels of proficiency within the art, alluding to the colored belt ranking system: white for the beginning stages, black for the expert, and red for professorship.
Chinese characters
The choice of Chinese characters acknowledges the art's Eastern roots. The characters on the right are 拳法 ("Law of the Fist", i.e. Kenpo) and 唐手 ("Tang/Chinese Hand", i.e., Karate). The latter is now replaced by 空手 or "Empty Hand" in Japanese Karate. The characters on the left translate to "Spirit of the Dragon and the Tiger".
Shape
The shape of the logo represents the structure of a house. The walls and roof are curved to keep evil from intruding. The axe at the bottom of the crest is a solemn reminder that, should a martial artist tarnish the reputation of the organization, they will be "cut off" completely.[4]: 122 

Belt rankings[edit]

American Kenpo Belts[20]
White
Yellow
Orange
Purple
Blue
Green
Brown
(3 degrees)
Black
(10 degrees)

American Kenpo has a graded colored belt system consisting of white, yellow, orange, purple, blue, green, 1st- through 3rd-degree brown, and 1st- through 10th-degree black.[20] Different Kenpo organizations and schools may have other belt systems.

The black belt ranks are indicated by half-inch red 'tips' up to the 4th degree and a 5-inch 'block' for the 5th. After that, additional half-inch stripes are added up to the 9th degree. For 10th degree black belt, two 5-inch 'blocks' separated by a half-inch space are used. In some styles, an increasing number of stripes on both sides of the belt can indicate black belt ranks.

Syllabus[edit]

There are different requirements per belt depending on the school. Parker's IKKA schools used a 24 techniques-per-belt syllabus, but some schools today have adopted a 16–20–24 technique syllabus as their standard. The 24 and the 16–20–24 technique syllabuses contain precisely the same techniques, but the latter groups them differently, with fewer techniques at lower belt levels and more total belt levels.

In addition to self-defense techniques, Parker set specific criteria for proficiency at each level. The requirements included basics categorized by stances, blocks, parries, punches, strikes, finger techniques, kicks, and foot maneuvers. They also included a specialized moves and methods category, which includes joint dislocations, chokes, take-downs, throws, and other grappling components.

Beyond proficiency, a student's character and attitude can be analyzed as a significant consideration in the promotion to a new rank. Promotion after a 3rd-degree black belt has more to do with contributions made back to the art, such as teaching and other great works of exploration. For example, a third-degree black belt who further explores defending against a knife and brings that knowledge back may be promoted for his excellent contributions.[4]: 122 

Notable practitioners[edit]

This is a dynamic list and may never be able to satisfy particular standards for completeness. You can help by adding missing items with reliable sources.
For a more comprehensive list, see Category:American Kenpo practitioners.

See Also[edit]

Kenpō

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j Chris Crudelli (2008). The Way of the Warrior. Dorling Kindersley Ltd. p. 315. ISBN 978-14-0533-750-2.
  2. ^ a b Franck, Loren (November 1985). "Ed Parker on Bruce Lee, Elvis Presley, Full-Contact Karate and...Ed Parker". Black Belt. pp. 26–31. Retrieved 2015-05-13.
  3. ^ Writer, Author Staff (2022-01-04). "What Is American Kenpo Karate? A Basic Guide To American Kenpo". MMA Channel. Retrieved 2023-09-14. {{cite web}}: |first= has generic name (help)
  4. ^ a b c d e f g Parker, Ed (1982). Infinite Insights into Kenpo, Volume 1: Mental Stimulation. Los Angeles, California: Delsby Publications. ISBN 0-910293-00-7.
  5. ^ a b Wedlake, Lee Jr. (April 1991). "The Life and Times of Ed Parker". Black Belt Magazine. Cruz Bay Publishing, Inc. – via Google Books.
  6. ^ "Kempo's Tai Chi Connection". Kung Fu Magazine. Archived from the original on 2010-01-06. Retrieved 2010-02-06.
  7. ^ Perkins, Jim (July 2005). "William Chow: The Lost Interview". Black Belt Magazine. Cruz Bay Publishing, Inc. Archived from the original on 2008-02-01.
  8. ^ Yates, Keith D. (2008). The Complete Guide to American Karate & Tae Kwon Do. Forewords by Jhoon Rhee and Chuck Norris. Blue Snake Books. p. 13. ISBN 9781583942154. Born in Hawaii, Ed Parker... He began training in kenpo in 1940s under Frank Chow and later William Chow... He opened his first dojo in Pasadena, California, in 1956. He developed his system of karate, calling it American Kenpo.
  9. ^ Conway, Scot (May 1991). Who Will Succeed Ed Parker? Politics and Power Plays Threaten to Fragment Kenpo Karate (Black Belt Magazine, May 1991 Issue). pp. 20–22. Parker was the founder and leader of American kenpo karate and had been teaching martial arts for longer than many American martial artists have been alive.
  10. ^ Tracy, Will (1999-08-08). "Kenpo Karate Setting History Right - The Blackbelted Mormon". A Brief History of Kenpo. Archived from the original on 19 December 2008. Retrieved 2008-11-08 – via KenpoKarate.com.
  11. ^ a b Tracy, Will (March 8, 1997). "Setting History Right 1954-1956". Kenpo Karate. Retrieved 2014-02-17.
  12. ^ Tracy, Will (1999-08-08). "Kenpo Karate Setting History Right 1956-1959". A Brief History of Kenpo. Kenpo Karate. Archived from the original on 1 November 2008. Retrieved 2008-11-08.
  13. ^ a b Parker, Ed (1960). Kenpo Karate: Law of the Fist and the Empty Hand. Los Angeles: Delsby Publications.
  14. ^ Parker, Ed (1963). Secrets of Chinese Karate. Prentice-Hall. ISBN 0-13-797845-6.
  15. ^ Parker, Ed (1975). Ed Parker's Kenpo Karate Accumulative Journal. Pasadena, California: International Kenpo Karate Association.
  16. ^ a b Robinson, D. L. (November 1990). "10 Kenpo Misconceptions". Black Belt. pp. 34–37. Retrieved 2015-05-13.
  17. ^ Corbett, John R. (July 1979). "Secrets of the Magician of Motion: Ed Parker". Black Belt. pp. 21–27. Retrieved 2015-05-13.
  18. ^ Corbett, John R. (December 1979). "Lifting the Veil with Kenpo". Black Belt. pp. 23–27. Retrieved 2015-05-13.
  19. ^ Barboza, Guido (January 1981). "Has the American Revolution of the Martial Arts Begun? The World's Best". Black Belt. Retrieved 2015-05-13.
  20. ^ a b "Ed Parker's American Kenpo Belt Ranks and Titles". kenpotech.net. 2010-05-17.
  21. ^ Pollard, Edward; Young, Robert W. (2007). "Kenpo 5.0". Black Belt Magazine. 45 (1). Cruz Bay Publishing, Inc: 76.
  22. ^ "2017 Inductees – Kenpo Karate Hall of Fame". Kenpo Karate Hall of Fame. Retrieved May 28, 2018.
  23. ^ Holgate, Steve (September 14, 2006). "Guitarist Dick Dale Brought Arabic Folk Song to Surf Music". The Washington File. Bureau of International Information Programs, U.S. Department of State. Archived from the original on June 10, 2013. Retrieved August 29, 2010.
  24. ^ "At 80 and with myriad health issues, surf-rock legend Dick Dale plays through the pain Archived March 17, 2016, at the Wayback Machine" Pittsburgh City Paper, July 29, 2015.
  25. ^ Clary, David W. (March 1993). "Meet the Karate Kid's Worst Enemy". Black Belt. p. 18. Griffith, 32... [interview necessarily conducted before March 1993 publication date]

External links[edit]

  • KenpoTech.Net—A site dedicated to preserving Ed Parker's American Kenpo Karate. Includes full details on techniques, forms, sets & more.
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