Kenpo (拳法, Kenpo) is a term used to refer to a wide variety of martial arts, and is sometimes used as a blanket term for martial arts in general, especially in East Asia. The word kenpō is a Japanese translation of the Chinese word "quanfa", meaning "fist principles", "way of the fist," or "law of the fist form."
This term is frequently transliterated as "kempo," as a result of attempting to use Traditional Hepburn romanization (which provides for use of the letter "m" when ん precedes a labial consonant such as "p"), but failing to use a macron to indicate the long vowel.
Characteristics:
Kenpō is a modern term describing one of the more innovative martial arts practiced in Hawaii and the Americas.
It employs linear as well as circular moves, utilizing intermittent power when and where needed, interspersed with minor and major moves that flow with continuity.
Kenpō is flexible in thought and action so as to blend with encounters as they
occur.
Ch'uan shu - Chinese derivation. "Art of the Fist." An encompassing term for certain empty-hand Chinese martial arts.
Kung fu, Wushu, Gwo Shu, Gwo Chi, Chung Kuo Ch' uan, Ch' uan Shu can more or less be considered synonymous, although none is specific enough to denote a particular style.
Practice around the world: Notable styles of kenpo have developed around the world. Chinese Kempo, Japanese Kempo, Okinawan Kenpo and American Kenpo are four of the more recognized country specific styles of kenpo.
Some of the more known styles within Japan are shorinji kempo, nippon kempo, Kenpo Kai, and kenshikan. Influencial and popular styles of kenpo in the United States have included kosho-ryu kempo, William Chow's kenpo, American kenpo, kenpo karate, kajukenbo, Nick Cerio's kenpo, shaolin kenpo, shaolin kempo karate, Tracy kenpo, and karazenpo go shinjutsu.
Outside of Asia, kenpō is mostly known as a mixed style that combines a heritage in Chinese martial arts, especially Shaolin kung fu, with elements of other Japanese martial arts like jujutsu and aiki-jūjutsu. In the United States Kenpo is often referred to as Kenpo Karate.
In Japan, Kempo can refer to a large number of different (and mostly unrelated) systems of martial arts, mostly stemming from families in the feudal period—the term kenpō being used as an abbreviation, since the names are long.
There is a faction of kenpō from Okinawa that has no American influences. This system is known as "Okinawa Kenpō" or "Ryūkyū Hon Kenpō". Hon means "original" and refers to the kenpō from the old Kingdom of Okinawa taught by Seikichi Odo (1926–2002). Odo operated the Shudokan Dojo in Gushikawa, Okinawa. Some of his senior students such as Richard Gonzales, Dennis Branchaud and Larry Gradolf established the art in the U.S. during the 1970s and 80s and continue to teach this old system in its original form. The style is built upon the karate of Shigeru Nakamura, a fellow student of Gichen Funakoshi under Anko Itosu.
It preserves the old kenpō from China with the addition of several kata taught to Odo by Seiki Toma, a student of Choto Kyan. There are influences from the indigenous Okinawan art of Te and there is also a weapons component comprised of 11 different weapons. Odo's weapons art contains techniques from Shinpo Matayoshi, Seiko Kinjo, Shigeru Nakamura, and Seiki Toma.
Okinawan Kenpo is renowned for its unique sparring method called Bogu Kumite. Exponents spar with full contact using body armour that is similar to that worn by Kendo practitioners. The system is a blend of hard and soft (external and internal) arts and includes throws, heavy bag work, and makiwara practice. There is a strong emphasis on character development and maintaining a strict code of conduct.
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