What's the difference between American Kenpo and Japanese Kenpo?

Answer 1

The question is a bit incomplete. Is that American Kenpo Karate and Kempo Karate (because there is also jujitsu, etc.). If it is AKK then it was founded by Ed Parker. Take a second look up Ed Parker. He studied boxing, judo and karate and such. He designed the system along with some other folks through the years. His Karate has more defense and offense geared towards the situations he faced so there is a lot more protecting of the face rather than the chest which is what you find in Japanese Karate (although Japanese Kenpo?). The AKK is both linear and circular attacking a person's depth, width and height. Typical Japanese Karate and the Kenpo from the system is very rigid and linear. This does not mean it is bad... just the way it is originally designed. They are both hard styles. Now from both founders there are lot of branches as what the founders designed has grown out and in some cases in some schools away from the original designs.
Ed found more inspiration from China and he has some books and there are website that talk about him and his philosophy.
Sorry here is some more. AKK does not kick above the waist in its original form. Kicks to the head occur when some has been knocked down or bent down. The forms they practice are not called kata as it is in Kempo it is called Forms. The forms are characterized by doing the same motions on the right and left and there is always something that doesn't follow the normal pattern within the form.
Best of luck.

Answer 2

This Site Might Help You.

RE:
What's the difference between American Kenpo and Japanese Kenpo?

Answer 3

MMA Fighter:
never heard that! shoulinji kenpo? a style of japanese karate

That would be Shorinji Kempo (the World Shorinji Kempo Organisation's preferred romanisation of 少林寺拳法). This is not a style of karate. For more information try the link below.

As for American kenpo, try looking up Ed Parker or James Mitose.

Answer 4

There is no such thing as 'plain Karate'. There are hundreds of different Karate styles from around the world, Kenpo happens to be one of them. Most traditional forms of Karate come from Okinawa or Japan (Karate is a japanese word, meaning literally "empty hand"), Kenpo is basically a Chinese form of Karate.

Answer 5

The answer to your question is such.
Okinawa/Shoto/Whatever Ryu Karate's from Japan vary intensely from the money money money karate of america in the fact that not only are there training techniques different but so is the conditioning. The Martial art will reflect the society. Alot of japanese karate is practiced on hardwood while american often times tends to be trained on mats, sometimes even plyomat.
Conditioning Drills as well as overall focus tend to be different within a school. Lots of american karate is family oriented while japanese is a path often followed to a fanatic extreme by more zealous students.
Both use katas, and forms, with static kicks that expend tons of energy and linear attacks that often tend to be a bit overdone as "karate-men" tend to over emphasize power.

Answer 6

american kenpo, a hybrid of japanese karate, chinese kung fu, kickboxing...
japanese kenpo? never heard that! shoulinji kenpo? a style of japanese karate

Answer 7

The way it's spelled. One one you notice the original spelling of "Japenese," and on the other you see "American." That's basically the difference.