What is Kempo?

What is Kempo?

Introduction
There are many different variations of kenpo in the world. Many of these variations, at least in North America, share a common lineage at some point. With the majority sharing a lineage through Ed Parker and his original kenpo school in Pasedena, California.

It is this lineage that this paper will focus on.

Kenpo / Kempo

Different versions of kenpo use the “N” whereas others use an “M” and refer to it as kempo. Both are versions of the same Japanese Kanji, 拳 “Ken” and 法 “Ho” which when translated mean Fist and Law. In reality there is no difference in the actual meaning of keNpo vs keMpo, it depends more on which version was favored by the founders of that particular martial art. In Chinese, the same characters also mean Fist Law, but are pronounced Ch’uan Fa and this term is often used to represent Chinese boxing.

Throughout the remainder of this document, it will use the kenpo form of the word, as that is the same version used by Ed Parker, which is the particular branch of kenpo this document pertains to.

Early Kenpo

Kenpo was first taught in the United States in Hawaii by James Mitose (1916-1981). There is contradictory information about where Mitose received his training, but it is generally believed to have been by his maternal grandfather, Sakuhi Yoshida, head of the Komatso/Yoshida art of Kenpo while living in Japan. In 1942 Mitose opened a commercial school named Kenpo Jiu-Jitsu.

One of Mitose’s students was William K.S. Chow(1914-1987), who would be Mitose’s second student to be promoted to black belt. Chow would eventually be an assistant instructor for Mitose until 1949, when he opened his own studio and named it Kenpo Karate.

Ed Parker (1931 – 1990) was born in Hawaii and learned kenpo in Hawaii from William K.S. Chow. During the 1940, Ed Parker had trained in Judo from the ages of 12 to 18 and also some boxing in Hawaii as a youth, and trained with William Chow in Kenpo while Parker was in the Coast Guard.

Chow promoted Ed Parker to Black Belt in 1953, and in 1954 Ed Parker moved to California and opened a commercial kenpo school in Pasadena that year. Early Black Belt students of Ed Parker, who would later go on to create Kenpo lineages of their own are Al & Jim Tracy, Mills Crenshaw, Chuck Sullivan, John McSweeny and others.

Although the Ed Parker lineage of Kenpo is most popular in North America, it should be pointed out that William Chow had other students that started their own schools and lineages in the U.S. mainland. These include George Pesare to Nick Cerio to Fred Villari. This document mostly focuses on lineages from Ed Parker.

Variations of early kenpo

Early Kenpo contained basics and self-defense techniques. The techniques were simply numbered. Eventually a belt system was adopted, and requirements of techniques, and eventually katas for belts were laid out. Eventually the techniques were given names rather than simple numbers.

Through the years, until his death in 1990, Ed Parker continued to evolve and change his Kenpo. Many believe it was for commercial reasons, others believe it was moving to a form to be called :motion Kenpo”. Whatever the reason, many things had been removed from Kenpo. Later variations of Kenpo did not include joint locks or breaks. Many versions removed a majority of the kicks available.

From the late 1950’s until his death in 1990, many of Ed Parker’s students had left his organization to form organizations of their own. Some, kept their curriculum intact from when they left, keeping it as original as possible, the Tracy brothers took this approach. Others made additional changes to Kenpo under their own brand, often opting for speed and “fast hands” in their movements.

Chinese, Japanese and American influence

James Mitose was of Japanese descent, and William Chow was of Chinese descent. Kenpo contains many linear as well as circular movements. Hard linear movements are often attributed to many Japanese martial arts, whereas softer circular movements are often thought to have more of a Chinese Kung Fu influence.

There are unsubstantiated stories that William Chow added some Chinese Boxing and much of the circular styles into Kenpo. While it is not certain where they came from, most lineages of Kenpo still practice both hard and soft movements.

Some prominent Kickboxers have been associated with Kenpo, and have trained with Ed Parker directly or with some of Ed Parker’s early students. This cross training brought an inclusion of some boxing and kickboxing skills to the art. One well known kickboxer was Joe Lewis, who already had a black belt in other martial arts, and was an established kickboxer, who also eventually trained in Kenpo, and made contributions to Kenpo as a martial art.

Advancement

Originally the belt system for this kenpo was white, brown and black. Additional colors were added during the early Ed Parker days to represent the individual Kyu (non black belt) ranks. Currently most versions of Kenpo in this lineage utilize the following belt colors:

• Yellow Belt – Hachikyu
• Orange Belt – Shichikyu
• Purple Belt – Rokkyu
• Blue Belt – Gokyu
• Green Belt – Yonkyu
• 3rd Brown Belt – Sankyu
• 2nd Brown Belt – Nikyu
• 1st Brown Belt – Ikkyu
• 1st Black Belt- Shodan
• 2nd Black Belt – Nidan
• 3rd Black Belt – Sandan
• 4th Black Belt – Yodan
• 5th Black Belt – Godan
• 6th Black Belt – Rokudan
• 7th Black Belt – Shichidan
• 8th Black Belt – Hachidan
• 9th Black Belt – Kudan
• 10th Black Belt – Judan

Different levels of black belt are usually symbolized by a narrow red stripe on the belt. A wide red stripe indicates 5th degree black, and two wide stripes would be a 10th degree. For example, a 7th degree black belt would have one wide red stripe, and two narrow red stripes.

Most lineages require training and proficiency in three different areas for advancement to the next belt. These three areas are Basics, Techniques and Kata.

Basics

Basics often include various blocks or offensive attacks. Stances, punches, kicks, elbows, knees, blocks, parries make up the majority of the basics.

Many of the basics are the same move, yet progress in difficulty as one advances in belt rank. For example, at yellow belt a front thrust kick from a neutral position is required. At orange belt this same kick is done from a fighting stance. Progressing to purple means one does the same front thrust kick, but with various stepping footwork. With blue belt, the same front thrust kick is done with a spinning movement and finally at green, the same kick is done as part of a jump kick.

Basics are also turned into a combinations at orange belt and above. Some combinations are of traditional boxing punches (jab, cross, hook & uppercut), where others may be combinations of multiple kicks, or punches and kicks.

Techniques

Where basics are individual or combinations of movements, a technique combines basic movements within the context of a self defense movement. Techniques can be against grabs, such as wrist, lapel, shoulder, hammer lock, bear hug, etc and grabs that can be classified as chokes. Techniques may also be designed against a strike, such as; right straight punch, left straight punch, hooks, “haymakers”, kicks, pushing, etc. Techniques may vary whether the attacker is stepping or not, and furthermore may vary depending on which leg they are stepping with.

Techniques are typically named, and the number required per belt varies depending on the actual lineage of Kenpo involved. EPAK (Ed Parker American Kenpo) required 10 at yellow belt, 24 for each rank orange belt through 3rd degree black. Tracy’s Kenpo requires 10 at yellow belt, and 30 for each rank orange through 5th degree black. Other kenpo lineages have their own belt requirements for techniques, and usually are in the range of 12 to 20 required per belt.

Depending on the lineage, the technique may have variations, extensions or grafting. In EPAK, the techniques up to and including 2nd brown belt are the base, and belts after that are extensions. That is, Techniques at 1st Brown belt are the same techniques found at orange belt, but with extra movements or extensions added on to the end, 1st Black Belt uses purple belt techniques as the base and adds extensions.

Variations are techniques for the same attack, yet usually the ending is modified based on the reactions of the attacker. For example, there is a technique for a double hand lapel grab. This technique may start with the same movements to break the grab, yet depending on the attackers reaction at that point, one may choose a different variation. His head may move forward based on the grip break, he may remain mostly stationary or possibly he leans/steps back.

Technique grafting is when one takes a piece of one technique and grafts it with a piece form another technique to finish a self-defense move. Some lineages teach a variety of starting moves, and the student grafts their own techniques depending on the individual circumstances.

Practically every variation of kenpo, with a lineage through Ed Parker, utilizes named techniques as a part of their curriculum. Despite what many people believe, the ultimate goal of techniques is not rote memorization, but rather to be able to apply the concepts taught in the techniques to whatever the situation needs.

Kata

Since kenpo self-defense is taught via techniques, rather than extracting bunkai from a kata as other systems do, kata have different purposes in kenpo. Kata mostly is used to reinforce basics or techniques. Kata can be broken down into four categories: basics katas, techniques katas, weapons katas and Chinese katas. Not all lineages use all of the kenpo katas, and their their use in relation to the belt level varies by kenpo style as well.

Basics Katas: These kata are comprised of basics movements and basic footwork.

• #1 short (four shields) – blocking only kata
• #2 short (the cat) – utilizes cat stance movements
• #1 long (shield and mace) – blocking and striking kata
• #2 long (continuous set) – emphasizes many continuous and fluid movements

Techniques Katas: These kata are made of individual self defense techniques, with foot transitions between the movements. These kata can be a good aid at practicing and remembering techniques, and in some cases practicing the techniques on both sides.

There are many who believe some of the technique katas were created for using at karate tournaments and competitions. While not the only reason for creating the katas, that thought likely had some influence on their creation.

• #3 short (single escape set) – this kata is comprised of self defense techniques against individual grabs.
• #3 long (Double Escape Set) – this kata is also comprised of self defense techniques against individual grabs, but does the movement on for both sides.
• #4 long (Definitive set) – With techniques, done on both sides, against various strikes.
• #5 long (Transition set) – Techniques against strikes and grabs, done both sides
• #6 long (Weapon set) – Techniques against attacks with weapons, done both sides.
• #7 Long – This kata has many techniques with large circular movements vs linear moves.
• Mass Attack (A & B) – Kata with techniques designed against grabs from two people. A and B are the same, just mirror images of each other.

Weapons Katas: Except for techniques to defend against weapons, kenpo lineages under Ed Parker usually do not teach weapons. Several weapons katas have been in various lineages more to understand how they work, to better defend against them, than to become proficient weapons masters. Some lineages have taken them out altogether, some have them as optional for the students personal enjoyment.

• Dark Room Staff – this is a basic staff kata
• Skylight Staff – this staff form utilizes more circular motions and more length of the weapon
• Skylight Spear – Spear kata with circular and linear motions
• #1 Sword – Kata with Katana
• #3 staff set – this kata is reputed to have been designed exclusively for competition
• Basic Butterfly – Kata with butterfly swords
• Chinese Sabre – Kata utilizing Chinese Sabre
• #8 Long – this kata is performed with dual daggers

Chinese Katas: Many Chinese katas were integrated into Kenpo to reinforce it’s Chinese heritage and for practicing more circular movements. These katas may incorporate symbolism of the five animal styles kenpo associates with; tiger, crane, panther, snake and dragon. Most of the Chinese katas were added by James Woo in the 1960’s. Many Kenpo lineages no longer require and tech the Chinese katas.

• Book Set (Panther set)
• Tiger & Crane
• Little Tiger
• Tam Tui

Conclusion

Kenpo has gone through many changes since Ed Parker brought it to the mainland United States. Some changes were done by Parker himself, and some were by other lineages and former Parker students.

All kenpo lineages and variations are not the same, and some differ by quite a lot. If one is interested in studying Kenpo, it is always better to check out the school first, then think about the lineage.