my kenpo teacher told me that kenpo is 80%chineses and 20%japeneses is that true or is it more half and half?

Question

all kenpo people can answer

Answer 1

I agree with what jasdudley has stated, but will go on to add that Kempo/Kenpo also has roots in Hawaii, which has both heavy Japanese and Chinese influence, after being established in Japan. In fact, Ed Parker trained and studied there before bringing Kempo/Kenpo to the mainland United States. Essentially, it is a Chinese system altered by the Japanese, brought to Hawaii, and altered further. This being said, it is even more eclectic than people think!

To put actual percentage value on it is odd to me, though, although I would say it is more Japanese than Chinese based on the linear nature of the art. I suppose one could argue that Kempo/Kenpo is Chinese, but it is so convoluted that I could compare it to tracing my roots back to Adam and Eve.

"katas" are a Japanese word for Japanese forms/sets... If it were more of a Chinese system, one would imagine the practitioners to use the language of.... China!

Answer 2

here is an excerpt regarding Kenpo:

Kenpo is considered by many to be the first eclectic martial art. Its origin evolved from Karate which; according to legend, began over a thousand years ago in China.

At the beginning of the seventeenth century two families, Kumamoto and Nagasaki brought knowledge of Kenpo from China to Kyushu in Japan. Modified throughout many years into its current form, it is referred to as Kosho-Ryu Kenpo, or Old Pine Tree school. It is from here that most modern forms of Kenpo are derived.

here is a link to the site I referenced for the above excerpt:

http://www.kenpokaratedojo.com/index.cfm?page=6/


It is difficult to put a percentage on kenpo's two origins. We can just recognize that it's origins started in China and then overtook some Japanese adaptations.

Answer 3

well i study in the Kenpo Karate system and i see that it appears to me to be more of a chinese martial art...with a lot of Japanese variations....i think that Kenpo is more Chinese than Japanese because all the kata that are in the system are all Chinese named but then again the kicking is an okinawan philosophy (all kicks should be below the waist) so i guess it is pretty well balanced Chinese-Japanese system and well i guess it depends on the instructors way of teaching it to really decide if he/she wants use the Chinese philosophy of martial arts or the Japenese philosophy

Answer 4

All martial arts originated from india.then they spread east to okinowa but they were forbidden to use or practise them.the chinese and japanese took different aspects from there and turned them into thier own styles they then progressed from there but basicly even though they have changed(obviously)there all the same.its there evolution and application that is different.obviously due to the people and their circumstances that evolved them.you also have to remember that the world as we know it has changed.the boundries have changed,names.countries have been split up and divided between others,religions,governments etc.etc.A lot of martial arts began underground as they were forbidden including karate(which by the way tae kwondo WAS based on) thats why its hard to trace their origins history etc.people think if you take a martial art from somewhere change it or improve it that means it's from there but it still has to have its basis somewhere.if you want to be technical the only way you can really know where your style comes from you have to trace the lineage of every dojo,every clan,etc.etc and it will take years and years and you will still come up with india.i suppose you could work it out like this if your really that keen-my style is 5% this9%That 25%from here etc etc but do you really think there is a point?i dont know everything in fact im uneducated theres probably a lot better words to use to make what im saying make more sense but this is the only way i know.And this is based on listening,reading,studying and of course doing martial arts from age 8 to 47.i dont use reference material when i answer anything so i may not be 100%correct.but this answer is as good a place as any to start to find out yourself,you'll never know by asking 1 person or 1 question.1 thing i left out earlier was history repeated itself with the chinese,japanese,okinowan thing which has clouded the issue even more

Answer 5

Alot of animal styles are represented, from china. some rigid stronger moves from karate, Japan. Weapon forms from China and Japan. Some wing chun sticky hands from china. shaolin stuff... china. ours had us counting in japanese. had to say, times may have changed since the 80's.

I say hes right, but then each person instructing brings their own love of it into the mix, and representation may cause the ratio to be different.

we were taught that the Bodhisvata (sp?) travelled throughout asia and learned from Indian boxers, shaolin monks, wing chun practitioners, japanese masters... (you know the myths lol). it was a style of progress. it adapts and absorbs the better moves from other arts. hybrids are always stronger, though the user is key to this as well.

Answer 6

Japan didn't have any empty handed martial arts till the mid 1800's All Japanese Karate is a combination of Chinese & Okinawan. Kempo is mostly Chinese with a little Okinawan.

Answer 7

kenpo is orginally from kungfu.

Answer 8

It's true