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, literally meaning "fist principles" or "fist method," is 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. Kenpō is a Japanese translation of the Chinese word "''quánfǎ''", 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.
Many variations of Kenpo exist, including Kenpo Karate, Okinawan Kenpo, and Ed Parker's American Kenpo Karate. However, other variations of Kenpo keep it a purely Chinese martial art, referring to it as Chinese Kenpo, Shaolin Kenpo, and even Chuan fa Kenpo, in acknowledgement of the fact that the art has two names, one Chinese, one Japanese
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Contents

Characteristics

Western practice

See also

References

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.^[1]
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.

Western practice

In the West, kenpō is mostly known as a mixed style that combines a heritage in Chinese martial arts, especially Shaolin kung fu and karate (and sometimes called "Kenpo Karate"), often mixed with elements of other Japanese martial arts like jujutsu and ''aiki-jūjutsu''. 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 .
Okinawa 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.
Some practitioners follow that kenpō uses much of the same path as Chinese martial arts, but in order to shorten the amount of time to train a person, methods from karate were used as the basis to quickly allow a person to learn the basics, and techniques. Whereas it often takes 10 to 20 years of continuous effort to master one form of kung fu, kenpō practitioners often can be black belted in around three to five years, depending on the instructor and system.

See also

★ American Kenpo '' (Parker)''

★ Tracy Kenpo '' (Tracy brothers)''

★ Kajukenbo

★ Kenpo kai

★ Kiyojute Ryu Kempo

★ Shorinji Kempo

★ Nippon Kempo

References

1. The Dictionary of Martial arts, , Emil, Farkas, PRC, ,

Ch'uan fa "fist way" can also be read in the book ''Modern Bujutsu & Budo Volume 3'' - by Donn F. Draeger. ISBN 0-8348-0351-8
Information on Okinawan History of Martial arts is available on the Okinawa Prefectural Government website (http://www.wonder-okinawa.jp/023/eng/index.html)