HISTORY OF AMERICAN KENPO KARATE
The most popular theory of the origin of the Chinese Martial Arts is credited to an Indian Buddhist teacher named Tamo. Tamo (know by the Chinese as Bodhiharma and by the Japanese as Daruma Daishi) arrived in China about 527 AD. Tamo introduced Zen philosophy to the Chinese people which became the foundation of their religious structure. Tamo taught in the Shaolin monastery (Sil Lurn in Cantonese and Shorin - ji in Japanese) in the Hunan Province. The monks were religiously devoted to his teaching, but they lacked concentration and would fall asleep during meditation. Tamo devised and exercise program which he called the 18 hands of Lo-Han to help strengthen them physically and mentally. It is believed from here came the birth of structured Chinese Boxing.
The next great transition took place about 1206-1333 with the monk Chueh Yuan redefining the system to 72 Hand Form. Pai Yu-Feng and Li Ch'eng students of Shuen Yuan along with the studies of Tamo formed te basis of today's Shaolin style of Kung Fu with the bones, spirit, and chi. The essence of the animals were used to teach this principle. They were the tiger, leopard, snake, crane and the dragon.
From 618 - 1308 the martial arts spread to include Okinawa, Korea and Japan with the travels of students and priests from the Shaolin. Chinese - Okinawa relations were very close, but 1470 saw the ruler of Okinawa confiscating all weapons. A few Okinawans emigrated to china to learn what was then known as Chinese Kenpo. The martial arts continued to be studied in secrecy in Okinawa (1609 - 1903) because of Japan's domination. It was during this time Karate (Hands of China) was changed by the Japanese to mean Empty Hands.
By 1903 Okinawa had formed five main styles (ryu): Kobalyashi-ryu, Shoreiji-ryu, Shito-ryu, Goju-ryu and Uechi-ryu (which were named after their founders). Shorei was taught Chinese Kenpo by Buddhist priests in Southern China. About 1916 Gichin Funakosi Introduced his technique to Japan and later formed the Shotokan system. Around 1840 the Chinese Martial art form Ch'uanshu was brought to Hawaii by way of Chinese slaves. The art was only taught to the Chinese and not to the other races. Soon the Hawaiians were included in their studies.
James Masayoshi Mitose brought Kenpo teachings to the Hawaiian people just prior to World War II. According to his ancestors, Tamo was the founder of their system -- Shorinji-ryu Kenpo and Kosho-ryu Kenpo. Mr. Mitose called his art Kenpo Jiu-jitsu. Mr Mitose then taught His Kenpo to Professor William Chow. Professor Chow had two senior students who then went on to found two of the most important martial arts in the United States. His two students were Edmund Parker who is popularly known as the Father of American Kenpo, and Adriano Empardo who is the founder of Kajukenbo.
American Kenpo 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, Chiese martial arts, Japaese martial arts and multiple additional influences. 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. The American East Coast features a branch of Kenpo created by Nick Cerio, 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.
Mitose was nominally Chow's senior, but the true nature and extent of their relationship is controversial. 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, Flashing Mace to provide a memorization tool to the student.
The next great transition took place about 1206-1333 with the monk Chueh Yuan redefining the system to 72 Hand Form. Pai Yu-Feng and Li Ch'eng students of Shuen Yuan along with the studies of Tamo formed te basis of today's Shaolin style of Kung Fu with the bones, spirit, and chi. The essence of the animals were used to teach this principle. They were the tiger, leopard, snake, crane and the dragon.
From 618 - 1308 the martial arts spread to include Okinawa, Korea and Japan with the travels of students and priests from the Shaolin. Chinese - Okinawa relations were very close, but 1470 saw the ruler of Okinawa confiscating all weapons. A few Okinawans emigrated to china to learn what was then known as Chinese Kenpo. The martial arts continued to be studied in secrecy in Okinawa (1609 - 1903) because of Japan's domination. It was during this time Karate (Hands of China) was changed by the Japanese to mean Empty Hands.
By 1903 Okinawa had formed five main styles (ryu): Kobalyashi-ryu, Shoreiji-ryu, Shito-ryu, Goju-ryu and Uechi-ryu (which were named after their founders). Shorei was taught Chinese Kenpo by Buddhist priests in Southern China. About 1916 Gichin Funakosi Introduced his technique to Japan and later formed the Shotokan system. Around 1840 the Chinese Martial art form Ch'uanshu was brought to Hawaii by way of Chinese slaves. The art was only taught to the Chinese and not to the other races. Soon the Hawaiians were included in their studies.
James Masayoshi Mitose brought Kenpo teachings to the Hawaiian people just prior to World War II. According to his ancestors, Tamo was the founder of their system -- Shorinji-ryu Kenpo and Kosho-ryu Kenpo. Mr. Mitose called his art Kenpo Jiu-jitsu. Mr Mitose then taught His Kenpo to Professor William Chow. Professor Chow had two senior students who then went on to found two of the most important martial arts in the United States. His two students were Edmund Parker who is popularly known as the Father of American Kenpo, and Adriano Empardo who is the founder of Kajukenbo.
American Kenpo 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, Chiese martial arts, Japaese martial arts and multiple additional influences. 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. The American East Coast features a branch of Kenpo created by Nick Cerio, 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.
Mitose was nominally Chow's senior, but the true nature and extent of their relationship is controversial. 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, Flashing Mace to provide a memorization tool to the student.
