Kenpō facts for kids
American Kenpo
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| Also known as | Kempo, Kenpo |
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| Focus | Hybrid |
| Country of origin |  Japan |
| Creator | Unknown |
| Kenpō | |||||||||
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| Chinese name | |||||||||
| Chinese | 拳法 | ||||||||
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| Japanese name | |||||||||
| Kanji | 拳法 | ||||||||
| Hiragana | けんぽう | ||||||||
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Kenpō (Japanese: 拳法) is a cool name for different types of martial arts. It's a Japanese word that comes from the Chinese word "quánfǎ". You might also see it spelled "kempo". This is just a different way to write the same word in English.
The word Kenpō means "Fist Method". Ken means 'Fist' and Po means 'Method' or 'Law'. So, it's about the methods or ways of using your fists in martial arts.
Contents
Exploring Different Kenpō Styles
There are many different styles of Kenpō around the world. Each one has its own history and special moves. Let's look at some of the main types.
Shorinji Kenpo: A Modern Japanese Art
Shorinji Kempo (少林寺拳法, shōrinji-kempō, meaning "Shaolin Temple Fist Method") is a style that came from Shaolin Kung Fu. A Japanese martial artist named Doshin So (宗 道臣, Sō Dōshin) created it in 1947. He combined his knowledge of Chinese martial arts and jujutsu to make this new style.
Okinawan Kenpo: Karate's Close Relative
Some Okinawan martial arts groups use the name Kenpō for their karate styles. Or they use it for a related art within their group. For example, the Motobu-ryu style is also called "Nihon Denryu Heiho Motobu Kenpo".
How Okinawan Kenpo is Different
You can often tell the difference between Okinawan Kenpo and other styles by their uniforms. People who practice American Kenpo usually wear black uniforms. Those who practice Okinawan Kenpo often wear white uniforms.
The names of the techniques and forms are also different. In American Kenpo, the names are usually in English. In Okinawan Kenpo, they are often in Japanese.
Okinawan Kempo is a specific martial art from Okinawa. It is a unique style of karate. Its stances are not as wide as those in Tae Kwon Do. When people practice sparring in Okinawan Kempo, they often do it without protective gear. This is because they focus a lot on controlling their movements.
American Kenpo: A Mix of Styles
Kenpo also became a modern term for martial arts developed in Hawaii. This happened because different martial artists shared their skills. They came from Okinawan martial arts, Chinese martial arts, Filipino martial arts, and Japanese martial arts. In the United States, this style is often called Kenpo Karate.
Founders of American Kenpo
The most popular American Kenpo styles came from the teachings of James Mitose and William Kwai Sun Chow. James Mitose learned his family style, Kosho-Ryū, in Japan. He brought this style to Hawaii and taught William Kwai Sun Chow. Chow then taught Ed Parker and Bobby Lowe.
Mitose's Kenpo style used strong, straight punches and kicks. It also included moves that focused on pressure points, circular movements, and joint locks.
Ed Parker's Influence
Ed Parker is a very important name in the history of Kenpo. He studied with Chow in Hawaii for almost six years. In 1957, Parker started teaching the Kenpo he learned. Over his life, he changed and improved the art. This became known as Ed Parker's American Kenpo.
His style uses a mix of circular and straight movements. Parker created special names for techniques like Thundering Hammers and Five Swords. These names helped students remember the moves easily.
These Kenpo arts have spread all over the world. Different groups might have slightly different stories about how they started.
See also
In Spanish: Kenpō para niños
- American kenpo
- Chinese martial arts
- Martin T. Buell – founder of the Universal Kempo Karate Schools Association
- Origins of Asian martial arts
- Ken Ju Ryu
