kevin kilroe
Orange Belt
If you had to get up in front of a group of people and explain what American kenpo is, what would you say?
Kevin kilroe
Kevin kilroe
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kevin kilroe said:If you had to get up in front of a group of people and explain what American kenpo is, what would you say?
Kevin kilroe
parkerkarate said:I think it takes Kung-Fu to a much higher and better level. I mean no offense to anyone that is just my opinion.
parkerkarate said:I think it takes Kung-Fu to a much higher and better level.
Flying Crane said:I don't think this is a fair statement to make. There are many many many styles of kung fu, and many of them are extremely different from each other. I think you would need to specify which kung fu you believe kenpo has included, and why you think it has been taken to a higher level than the originial.
I understand you don't mean any offense and this is just your opinion, but I would like to see you qualify this statement, if you would.
It is my understanding that the art now, is unique as Mr. Parker developed it. However, it does have roots in Hawaii, that go back to Japan, and before that China. The name itself, "Kenpo" implies a connection and acceptance of the Chinese roots, since it is a Japanese translation of the Chinese "kuen fa", or law of the fist. This is noteworthy since the various Japanese karate systems deliberately moved to distance themselves and deny any connection to the Chinese arts. This happened in the early 20th century when the written character for "kara", meaning "China", was changed to a different written character, still pronounced "kara", but meaning "empty". So: Karate - Empty Hand vs. the older version of Karate - China Hand.
So getting back to what I am saying, the use of the word Kenpo to describe an art implicitly recognizes that the art has roots in China. What exactly these roots are is difficult to say due to the time that has passed, and the changes that have been made to the art along the way. I don't think it is possible to connect American Kenpo to any specific Chinese art, and likewise I don't think it is possible to claim that Kenpo somehow includes Kung Fu but on a higher level than the original kung fu.
I love and respect Kenpo, it is my root in the martial arts as it was the first art that I trained in. I believe that my foundations in kenpo have given me a distinct advantage in studying the other arts that I have studied since then. However, I know some really good kung fu people (I keep trying to become one of them myself), and I am often surprised by what I learn from these people, and by what they can do.
Just my two cents. Thanks
michael
clfsean said:How?
parkerkarate said:I know there are many styles of Kung-Fu including all the animal styles. All I meant was that in some parts Kenpo flows and has the same patterns as Kung-Fu. I am sorry I was not explicit enough.
Flying Crane said:fair enough, no offense taken.
Ed Parker’s American Kenpo Karate is a martial arts style characterized by the use of quick moves in rapid-fire succession intended to overwhelm an opponent. It is largely marketed as a "street" self-defense style and is derived from traditional Southern Chinese martial arts, but with significant modifications.
7starmantis said:hmmm