Kenpō
Kenpō (拳法?) is the name of several Japanese martial arts. The word kenpō is a Japanese translation of the Chinese word "quánfǎ. This term is often informally transliterated as "kempo", as a result of applying Traditional Hepburn romanization,[1] but failing to use a macron to indicate the long vowel. The generic nature of the term combined with its widespread, cross-cultural adoption in the martial arts community has led to many divergent definitions.[2]
American Kenpō
Kenpō has also been appropriated as a modern term: a name for multiple martial arts that developed in Hawaii due to cross-cultural exchange between practitioners of Ryukyuan martial arts, Chinese martial arts, Japanese martial arts and multiple additional influences.[3] In the United States, kenpo is often referred to as Kenpo Karate. The most widespread styles have their origin in the teachings of James Mitose and William Kwai Sun Chow.[4] The American East Coast features a branch of Kenpo created by Nick Cerio,[5] and later built upon and redefined by Fredrick J. Villari who brought the hybrid art of Shaolin Kempo Karate to the general public through his nationwide network of "Villari's Martial Arts Centers". The Villari system integrated the strengths of American Kenpo with the larger scope of movement and grappling available in Shaolin Kung Fu and Chin Na to create a highly unique American Kenpo offshoot system.[6][7]
Mitose was nominally Chow's senior, but the true nature and extent of their relationship is controversial. This lineage also includes Kajukenbo, an art that does not use the kenpō name itself, but which possesses recognized offshoots that do. These arts have spread around the world through multiple lineages, not all of which agree on a common historical narrative. The system of Kenpo Karate taught by founder James Mitose employed hard linear direct movements similar to Okinawan Karate and also some ground fighting from classic Japanese Jujitsu.
The Kenpo Karate that was later developed by Ed Parker became the prevalent system of American Kenpo Karate. It employs a blend of Chinese circular movements and hard linear movements, producing an effective self defense system. Parker created techniques with names such as Thundering Hammers, Five Swords, Prance Of The Tiger, and Flashing Mace to provide a memorization tool to the student.
Okinawan and Ryukyuan usage
Some Okinawan martial arts groups use the term kenpō as an alternate name for their karate system or for a distinct but related art within their association. This can be illustrated by the International Shorin-Ryu Karate Kobudo Federation (http://www.worldbudokan.com), where Shōrin-ryū is the actual karate style practiced, whereas "hakutsuru kenpo", or "hakutsuru kenpo karate" is a related but distinctive style also taught by the association. Both the "n" and "m" romanizations are used by various groups.
See also
References
- ^ Hepburn romanization provides for use of the letter "m" when ん precedes a labial consonant such as "p"
- ^ "Kempo's Tai Chi Connection". Kung Fu Magazine. http://ezine.kungfumagazine.com/ezine/article.php?article=505. Retrieved 2010-02-06.
- ^ Rathbone, Jim. "James Mitose and the Path of Kenpo" 2006 White Tiger Productions.
- ^ Rathbone, Jim. "James Mitose and the Path of Kenpo" 2006 White Tiger Productions.
- ^ Cerio, Nick. "Nick Cerio's Kenpo - The Master's Text" Publisher: Nick Cerios Kenpo (July 1997). ISBN 0966017803
- ^ Villari, Fred. "Hidden Beneath the Shadows - Balance Your Mind and Body for the Millennium" Sumerel Enterprises; 2nd edition (March 1998)
- ^ Ayoob, Massad. "Fred Villari Markets the Martial Arts". Black Belt Magazine, July 1975.