Is Kenpo better than karate?
No and here’s why. No situational awareness - Karate (namely Kenpo) lacks situational awareness training. This is very bad. Karate trains you to deal with fights. It doesn’t train you to defend against attacks which are unexpected. Alot of Karatek...
Is Kenpo and Kempo the same?
There is no difference between Kenpo and Kempo and both refer to the same kanji word that is used for several martial arts from Japan. The difference in spellings has got to do with the way people have attempted transliteration of the original kanji term for Kenpo or Kempo.
How is Kempo and karate different?
What is Chinese Kenpo?
- Ma-Style Restriction Technique: used against female fighters to restrain during which the undergarment is exposed.
- Ma Style Sentsuu Shintoushou: Also known as Ma Style Thousand Penetrating Soaking Palm, includes leaving shockwaves to decimate the opponent.
- Ma Style Senkyuu: user strikes the opponent by kicking upwards from a grounded position.
Is it Kenpo or Kempo?
Kenpo is a Japanese term used to refer to many different martial arts and is, therefore, a blanket term. The Kanji word for Kempo or Kenpo is made up of Ken, which means fist and Ho which means law. However, when it comes to transliteration, the word is taken as a whole and depending upon the sound, the spellings that westerners arrive at are ...
What is Kempo style?
Kenpo is a style that emphasizes punches, kicks and throws/standing locks. The original Kenpo that came to the United States from Mitose and Chow emphasized more linear or hard-line movements, whereas Parker's later derivation, usually termed American Kenpo, emphasized more Chinese circular movements.
What is the difference between Kenpo and Kempo?
There is no difference between Kenpo and Kempo and both refer to the same kanji word that is used for several martial arts from Japan. The difference in spellings has got to do with the way people have attempted transliteration of the original kanji term for Kenpo or Kempo.
Is Kempo Karate Japanese?
History of Kenpo/Kempo Karate Kenpo is a Japanese unarmed fighting art that was brought from China to Japan about 700 years ago by the Yoshida Clan and was quickly adopted by the Komatsu Clan. The word Kenpo means literally, "Fist Law," and also refers to its Chinese origin.
What kind of martial art is Kempo?
Known as the original “Mixed Martial Art” Kempo allows it's practitioners to benefit and learn from the theories of a variety of styles including Karate, Kung-Fu, Ju-Jistsu, and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu in one comprehensive system.
Is Kenpo effective in a street fight?
Kenpo is not only an effective martial art for practical self-defense, it's also effective when elements of Kenpo's style and techniques are incorporated into the tool bag of any mixed martial artist. That doesn't mean that Kenpo should be the only style utilized by an MMA practitioner.
Is Kenpo good for self-defense?
Kenpō Karate is good for self-defense. As a form of Karate, it's essentially a striking art involving several lethal techniques. Kenpō utilizes grappling too, but grappling makes up 25% to 30% of the curriculum, while the rest is striking.
What kind of karate did Elvis do?
When he returned to Memphis, Elvis earned his first-degree black belt in 1960 under Chito-Ryu stylist Hank Slemansky. Later, he trained in a Memphis dojo under Master Kang Rhee, who bestowed upon him a seventh degree black belt in March of 1973 and his eighth in September of 1974.
Are Kung Fu and Kenpo the same?
The rise of Kenpo's practical self-defense style, though, has become more mixed-martial arts-oriented. Kung Fu does focus more on art as a way of life. It is a philosophy as much as a martial art. That doesn't mean they don't fight.
What is the difference between Kenpo and taekwondo?
Taekwondo is a very popular Korean kicking-based martial art that is now practiced all over the world. Kempo, on the other hand, is rarer and is almost a blend between Chinese and Japanese martial arts (Kung fu and Karate).
Is Kempo a kung fu?
Shorinji Kempo (少林寺拳法, Shōrin-ji kempō, meaning "Shaolin Temple Boxing") is a Japanese martial art claimed to be a modified version of Shaolin Kung Fu.
Is Kempo a Karate style?
Shaolin Kenpo Karate (or "SKK") is a martial art style that combines the Five Animals of Shaolin Kung Fu (Shaolinquan), the core competency of Kempo, the hard-hitting linear explosiveness of traditional Karate, as well as the power of Western boxing and the felling and grappling arts of Jujutsu, Chin Na, and Mongolian ...
Is Kempo a good workout?
Kenpo X is a non-stop cardiovascular workout that will increase your aerobic endurance, burn calories and promote heart health. This martial arts-inspired routine will give a well-rounded core workout, since you will utilize your abs to lift your legs during kicks, and twist the obliques during punches.
History
Origins of Nippon Kempo and its conception by Muneomi Sawayama (real name Katsu Sawayama) were not thoroughly specified in Sawayama's research and/or writings. However, various external sources exists that specify Sawayama's development of Nippon Kempo.
Nippon Kempo overseas
In 1960 Nippon Kempo was introduced to the United States by one of Sawayama's students, Goki Kinuya when the latter came to California to study. He started the American Nippon Kenpo Federation.
Martial arts legacy
Since its inception, Nippon Kempo has a long history of direct striking and making full use of various other techniques, long before the mixed martial arts movement.
School and branch problem
Nippon Kempo is an extracurricular activity at 66 universities and 40 high schools in Japan, but none of its incarnations are practised in Middle-High School.
A (Not-So) Brief (But Possibly Convoluted) History of Kenpo
A not-brief but possibly convoluted history of Kenpo. How’s that for a sub-heading?
The Belt System in Kenpo
Kenpo, like many martial arts, has a pretty standard belt system that delineates rank, experience, and overall badassery. The colors are pretty similar but might not be in the same order as other arts. However, the point is the same: from newbie to master, starting with white and ending with black.
Kenpo Frequently Asked Questions
In the interest of time and space, and in anticipation of some general questions you might have, below is a list of Frequently Asked Questions that might get to the heart of what you may be asking yourself.
Fighting Concept
Nippon Kempo is an art that flows well in any fight. It is an aggressive martial art similar to both Okichitaw and Lerdrit. The art places huge importance on the concept of immobilizing the opponent. By doing this the upper hand is almost immediately gained in any fight.
Moves in Nippon Kempo
As with all martial arts the moves involved are pivotal. The moves make or break the overall techniques and strategies in play for an art. That is why the selection of these is so important.
History of Kenpo karate
In 1916, a young five-year-old boy, James Mitose was sent to Kyushu, Japan from Hawaii to learn his ancestor’s self-defense art form called Koshu-Ryu Kenpo. Kosho-Ryu Kenpo was introduced by two families in the 17 th century called Kumamoto and Nagasaki.
Is it Kenpo or Kempo?
The word ‘kenpo’ is a Japanese translation of the Chinese word ‘quanfa’ which is informally translated as ‘kempo’. Due to the widespread and cross-cultural adoption of this art form, many divergent word meanings and definitions of it have emerged.
Difference Between Kenpo and Karate
The origin of Kenpo and Karate are quite similar as they both developed because of the exchange between Chinese and Japanese martial arts. Both the art forms use a combination of hard and soft techniques and have similar attack and defense techniques.
Kenpo styles
There are five major styles of Kenpo in use today which share a lot of similarities with each other.
Kenpo karate belt order
Kenpo Karate belt ranking system might vary according to the Kenpo karate style. However, the belts are broadly classified into the following categories.
What is American Kenpo?
As mentioned above, American Kenpo is the most popular form of Kenpo. It was developed by Ed Parker, a student of William Chow in Hawaii.
What is Chinese Kenpo?
Chinese Kempo usually refers to the traditional Chinese art form Chuan fa Kung Fu. This traditional Kung fu also follows a northern and southern system. The northern system follows more long, flowy, and graceful techniques while the southern system has deep, short, and rigid stances.
History of Kenpo Karate
To understand how Kenpo Karate came to be, we need to go further back in history to the origins of Kenpo itself. The first types of Kenpo were developed in Japan, under the influence of Chinese fighting styles.
Is Kenpo a form of Karate?
Originally, Kenpo wasn’t considered a form of Karate, as it developed much earlier. It was stylized through its history to match the new martial arts that started to develop. However, the origins of Kenpo and Karate are quite similar.
Is Kenpo Japanese or Chinese?
As we mentioned before, there is some dispute and controversy about the origins of Kenpo. It is, indeed, very hard to determine where the grounds of Kenpo are, mainly because it was influenced strongly by both Chinese and Japanese martial arts.
How many styles of Kenpo are there?
Today, there are so many different styles and forms of Kenpo. It is hard to tell how many styles exist, but there are five main types of Kenpo, each having its derivations and techniques. The five main types are Okinawa-Kenpo, Kosho Ryu Kenpo, Shorinji Kempo, Kajukenbo, and finally, American Kenpo Karate.
How many belts are in Kenpo Karate?
Although the ranking can vary between different Kenpo styles, the belts are always similarly divided into categories. If we are talking strictly about Kenpo Karate – the teachings of Ed Parker – there are 18 belts in total.
Is Kenpo effective in a street fight?
Without a doubt, Kenpo can be used in street combat to successfully defend yourself from attacks of all sorts. However, this martial art has so many different styles, so it is important to note that not all of them are equally effective in combat.

Overview
Kenpō (Japanese: 拳法) is the name of several arts. The word kenpō is a Japanese translation of the Chinese word "quánfǎ". This term is often informally transliterated as "kempo", as a result of applying Traditional Hepburn romanization, but failing to use a macron to indicate the long vowel. The generic nature of the term combined with its widespread, cross-cultural adoption in the martial arts community has led to many divergent definitions. The word Kenpō translates thus: "…
Shorinji Kenpo
Shorinji Kempo (少林寺拳法, shōrinji-kempō, meaning "Shaolin Temple Fist Method") is claimed to be a modified version of Shaolin Kung Fu (using the same kanji). It was established in 1947 by Doshin So (宗 道臣, Sō Dōshin), a Japanese martial artist and former military intelligence agent, who combined his quanfa and jujutsu practice.
Okinawan Kenpo
Some Okinawan martial arts groups use the term kenpō as an alternate name for their karate systems or for a distinct but related art within their association. This can be illustrated by the official full name of Motobu-ryu style named as "Nihon Denryu Heiho Motobu Kenpo" ("Japan's traditional tactics Motobu Kenpo") and by the International Shorin-ryu Karate Kobudo Federation, where Shōrin-ryū is the actual karate style practiced, whereas "hakutsuru kenpo", or "hakutsuru ke…
American Kenpo
Kenpo has also been used as a modern term: a name for multiple martial arts that developed in Hawaii due to cross-cultural exchange between practitioners of Okinawan martial arts, Chinese martial arts, Filipino martial arts, Japanese martial arts and multiple additional influences. In the United States, kenpo is often referred to as Kenpo Karate. The most widespread styles have their origin in the teachings of James Mitose and William Kwai Sun Chow. Mitose spent most of his ea…
See also
• American kenpo
• Chinese martial arts
• Martin T. Buell – founder of the Universal Kempo Karate Schools Association
• Origins of Asian martial arts
External links
• History of Kenpo Karate
• Kenpokaikan
Overview
Nippon Kempo (日本拳法) is a Japanese martial art, practised wearing protective gear (face, body, crotch, etc.) and gloves and allows full use of stand-up striking, throwing, and ground fighting.
It was founded and created by Muneomi Sawayama in 1932. Sawayama was a judoka who had studied under Kenwa Mabuni, a karateka who would establish the Shito-Ryu school of Karate. There are multiple schools and groups based on the Nippon Kempo Association launched by Sawaya…
History
Origins of Nippon Kempo and its conception by Muneomi Sawayama (real name Katsu Sawayama) were not thoroughly specified in Sawayama's research and/or writings. However, various external sources exists that specify Sawayama's development of Nippon Kempo.
Sawayama was originally interested in "atemi" techniques, and when he was a student at Kansai University in the early Showa period, he researched old-style jujutsu (before Kanō Jigorō's foundin…
Nippon Kempo overseas
In 1960 Nippon Kempo was introduced to the United States by one of Sawayama's students, Goki Kinuya when the latter came to California to study. He started the American Nippon Kenpo Federation.
The style was brought to Mexico in 1971 by the Shihan Tsunanori Sakakura Koike and the Shihan Toshinori Saito.
Style Overview
Nippon Kempo was one of the first modern martial arts to establish the form of free fighting and being practised in protective gear. A Nippon Kempo match is not referred to as Kumite, but "bōgu renshū" (防具練習, eng. Armor Practice, used by Kenpo-kai.) Sora ran is used for semi-contact bouts and sō ran is used for shadowboxing type of practice.
Martial arts legacy
Since its inception, Nippon Kempo has a long history of direct striking and making full use of various other techniques, long before the mixed martial arts movement.
Style founder Sawayama regarded Nippon Kempo as an "zen hōi-tekina budō" (全方位的な武道, eng. omnidirectional martial art). It was one of the first Japanese martial arts to allow punches to the head.
School and branch problem
Nippon Kempo is an extracurricular activity at 66 universities and 40 high schools in Japan, but none of its incarnations are practised in Middle-High School. In order to break through the current situation where the competition itself is not an official national polity event, the All Japan Kenpo Federation (certified by the Cabinet Office on October 13, 2009) has been established as a new competition organization that transcends the boundaries of schools and branches.
See also
• Kūdō - similar Japanese martial art
• Shooto
• Shorinji Kempo
• Hapkido
• Shidokan Karate
External links
• Nippon Kenpo in Japan Home Page
• Nippon Kempo Kai Club de Nancy
• Nippon Kempo Ukraine
What’s All This Killing Art stuff?
A (Not-So) Brief (But Possibly Convoluted) History of Kenpo
- A not-brief but possibly convoluted history of Kenpo. How’s that for a sub-heading? You don’t say. It’s okay, it’ll make sense here in a bit. The not-so is because it’s impossible to just say Kenpo was born, it migrated, it evolved, and here it is today. The possibly convoluted is because there are several major branches of Kenpo today, leading to questions like: 1. Who, what, where, when, wh…
The Belt System in Kenpo
- Kenpo, like many martial arts, has a pretty standard belt system that delineates rank, experience, and overall badassery. The colors are pretty similar but might not be in the same order as other arts. However, the point is the same: from newbie to master, starting with white and ending with black. For most, the colors basically boil down to (in or...
Kenpo Frequently Asked Questions
- In the interest of time and space, and in anticipation of some general questions you might have, below is a list of Frequently Asked Questions that might get to the heart of what you may be asking yourself. Of course, why would you be asking yourself? You don’t have the answers. That’s why an FAQ list is provided.