Description of Kenpo

[bvermillion]

Would a senior kenpo practioners please give me a detailed description of Kenpo and its philosophies. I will be making a change of location soon and Kenpo is one of the few arts available where I am goin.

[Colin Linz]

There are a number of styles of Kempo, and they can be quite different. I’m guessing that it’s not Shorinji Kempo, but just in case I’ll offer the links in my signature block as a source of information.

[bvermillion]

As far as what type it is all they told me was. It is Ed Parker's system.

[Clyde]

Would a senior kenpo practioners please give me a detailed description of Kenpo and its philosophies. I will be making a change of location soon and Kenpo is one of the few arts available where I am goin.

Wished I could say it was that easy, do a Google search on American Kenpo and read everything you can, decide if it's for you or not on your conclusions.

Clyde

7th Black LTKKA

[getgoin]

You'll know it when it hits you.

Seriously, go to Larry Tatum's site (http://www.ltatum.com/) , he has a bunch of clips for you to look at. He is probably the closest thing to pure Ed Parker Kenpo you can get.

[bvermillion]

Since no one here seems to be much of a help can I atleast get some answers to a few more direct questions. Are there forms in Kenpo? Are you required to where a gi? Is grappling a part of Kenpo? Am I going to be required to learn weapons I deem useless such as chucks? Are there belt ranks in Kenpo? I am only going to have four mos at this new station will it really even be worth my time to study Kenpo for those 4 mos? I only have experience with Korean Arts. Sorry I haven't one clue about Kenpo except what I have read on the sites you have given me and in BB Magazine.

[KickChick]

This should do it ....

Kempo/Kenpo FAQ's (http://www.urbin.net/EWW/MA/KF/)

:)

[KenpoDavid]

Since no one here seems to be much of a help can I atleast get some answers to a few more direct questions. Are there forms in Kenpo? Are you required to where a gi? Is grappling a part of Kenpo? Am I going to be required to learn weapons I deem useless such as chucks? Are there belt ranks in Kenpo? I am only going to have four mos at this new station will it really even be worth my time to study Kenpo for those 4 mos? I only have experience with Korean Arts. Sorry I haven't one clue about Kenpo except what I have read on the sites you have given me and in BB Magazine.

"Since no one here seems to be much of a help"
Actually, the links they posted would be very helpful, go read them...

"Are there forms in Kenpo?"
Yes. I have not seen any style of Kenpo or Kempo that does not use some kind of form or kata.

"Are you required to wear a gi?"
In every school I have seen, yes. I like my gi, I feel like I look really tough and sexy in my gi LOL. Als, if I din;t have a gi, I owuld probably have ruined more than one t-shirt and sweat pants by now.

"Is grappling a part of Kenpo?"
A little bit. This varies widely by school but in teh last 10 years this has been growing. Most kenpo grappling is standing up: locks and throws, takedowns and takedown defenses. Many schools also offer some cross-training in ground-fighting, mine does aobut every 8 weeks or so we doa week on ground submissions.

"Am I going to be required to learn weapons..."
Usually, no. See my avatar? That's Kenpo's primary weapon - the fist! Kempo = Fist Law. At higher levels some varieties offer some weapons. BUT, we DO train some knife and club attacks but just to help us understand how to defend agaisnt them.

"Are there belt ranks in Kenpo"
Yes. Very similar to karate ranks - white to black, about 10 steps.

"I am only going to have four mos at this new station will it really even be worth my time to study Kenpo for those 4 mos"
Well.... depends on what you want. You won't get much rank in that time, but you will get some skills. Parker's Kenpo is worldwide so you can prolly find a new school when you move and pick up where you leave off.

Kempo is a self-defense style, which is trianed a lot differently than a sport style, so you might be in for a somehwat different experience that you have had before. :D

[bvermillion]

Thank you Kempo David. You post was alot of help. As far as viewing there sites I did and most of my questions still lingered. I don't want to know what some master of kempo thanks I was looking for the students own words.


Kempo is a self-defense style, which is trianed a lot differently than a sport style, so you might be in for a somehwat different experience that you have had before.

That is what I am looking for. I would prefer to continue Hapkido but from my research I can't locate a Hapkido Dojang where I am going. They have Aikido but not Hapkido. I have one more quick question how much of a role do joint locks play in Kenpo.

[JTiedes]

where are you transfering too out of curiousity?

[bvermillion]

Petaluma CA

[JTiedes]

ok, well i cant help you too much at all then. but if you would rather not take kenpo. look around, ask other martial artist's in your area. there is an unlisted ninjitsu temple in syracuse, that you can really only find by word of mouth

[OneDragons]

This should do it ....

Kempo/Kenpo FAQ's (http://www.urbin.net/EWW/MA/KF/)

:)

Why does everyone claim to have Bodidarma as the root of THIER system?? :rolleyes:

[KickChick]

Why does everyone claim to have Bodidarma as the root of THIER system?? :rolleyes:

Please don't shoot the messenger.... :woo:

Definition: The name of the man commonly held to have introduced certain exercises to the Shaolin temple which are often regarded as being the origin of the Shaolin martial arts.

Also Known As: Tamo, Damo

Common Misspellings: Bhodidarma, Bodidarma, Bhodidharma

[KenpoDavid]

Thank you Kempo David. You post was alot of help. .... I have one more quick question how much of a role do joint locks play in Kenpo.

NO problem, I would much rather write about Kempo than write design specifications for automated processing of IRA Rollover account conversions :/ (yes I am blowing off work to read MAP)

joint locks... it depends on the system of Kenpo. I can't speka for EPAK, but I do Shaolin Kempo, and we use them extensively. Its not the main focus of the style but it is an important part of it. It's probably my favorite part of it :D I'm pretty sure EPAK uses less than we do.

why do so many styles refer back to Damo? Becasue he is credited with starting MA at Shaolin temple, and most arts want to trace back to there.


Petaluma? SF bay area? You have hundreds of choices.
try this:

http://www.kenponet.com/studionet/california/california.html
Napa, Santa Rosa, plenty more cities near Petaluma that have Kenpo schools...

[bvermillion]

Transportation out of Petaluma isn't an option. I know I have plenty of choices but still no Hapkido.