| Also known as | Kara-Ho Kempo |
|---|---|
| Focus | Vital Point striking |
| Country of origin | |
| Creator | William Kwai Sun Chow |
| Famous practitioners | William Chow, Samuel Kuoha, Bill Chun Sr., Adriano Emperado, Ed Parker |
Contents |
Kara-Ho Kempo (the unity of spirit, mind, soul and body, fist law) is a martial art created in the 1930s [1] by the late Professor William Kwai Sun Chow of Hawaii (July 3, 1914 - September 21, 1987). The system can best be described as a series of rapid strikes (punches and kicks) to the vital areas of an opponent. The system calls for an equal use of both the hands and feet and also teaches self-defense techniques against weapons and multiple attackers.
Also part of the Kara-Ho Kempo curriculum are empty hand and weapons kata featuring weapons originating in Okinawa, Japan, China, and the Philippines with 18 weapons total and 3 kata for each weapon.
Kara-Ho Kempo is overseen by Kwai Sun Company, an organization created in 1978[2] by Professor Chow and his top student at that time, the current Grandmaster of Kara-Ho Kempo, Samuel Alama Kuoha. This organization is responsible for maintaining student records and memberships as well as the training and dan rank promotions for the roughly 150 schools worldwide. All rank certificates and diplomas are numbered and issued directly from Kwai Sun Company.
Kara-Ho Kempo is currently headed by Grandmaster Sam Kuoha (10th dan) but the organization also has an International Board of Directors composed of black belt instructors that aid in creating and maintaining the stringent rules and guidelines for the system.
Professor Chow’s Chinese Kara-Ho Kempo Karate currently has a membership of about 10,000 students, most of which are in the United States.