In general, the goal of Kenpo Karate is self-defense. It teaches practitioners to block the strikes of opponents if needed and then disable them quickly with pinpoint strikes. Takedowns (usually with pinpoint strikes afterward) and standing joint locks are also staples of the art.
William Kwai Sun Chow founded kenpo karate in 1949 after studying under the guidance of James Mitose.
The system which came to be known as American Kenpo was developed by Ed Parker as a successor to Chow's art due to Parker's attempts to revise older methods to work in more modern fighting scenarios.
American Kenpo is a martial art characterized by the use of quick hand strikes in rapid succession. The multitude of fast strikes has a dual purpose, perhaps overwhelming an opponent, while attempting to ensure that at least some strikes effectively hit their target, akin to a striking combination.
Kenpō (拳法) is the name of several Japanese martial arts. The word kenpō is a Japanese translation of the Chinese word "quán fǎ". This term is often informally transliterated as "kempo", as a result of applying Traditional Hepburn romanization 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.
A History and Style Guide of Kenpo Karate
