Difference between Kenpo and Kempo

[marie curie]

I was just reading through the forums and noticed that there are two different styles! (I think I've been reading them both as one) What distingishes one from the other?

[UseoForce]

I tried asking this question once too, see if you can dig it by search under my name and "kempo"

It became an extended discussion, as I remember...

[parkerlineage]

Kenpo is the American version, essentially. James Mitose began calling it that when he wrote his book, and Ed Parker kept the name when he made American Kenpo.

Kempo is generally Japanese, unless it's called Chinese Kempo, in which case - you figure it out. Also sometimes called Chuan Fa, if I spelled that correctly.

And, honestly, I don't know how similar different we are. But we tend to be lumped together and lump ourselves together in the same groups.

[Red J]

This is probably more than you really wanted to know.

http://www.karateforums.com/viewtopic.php?t=15779&highlight=kenpo+kempo

If you want more, put in "kempo and kenpo" in the search under the "karate" sub forum.

[UseoForce]

What about Hawaian kempo, like Chuck Liddell does?

[pineapple]

Most Kempo schools in Hawaii can trace their lineage back to Grandmaster Walter Godin who was a student of Sijo Adrianno Emperado, the founder of Kajukenbo.

[Jiffy]

the answer is simple - NOTHING

There is no difference, it's just a different way of spelling the same thing. I've seen some chinese systems call it Kenpo and others call it Kempo.

Bit like the US "Color" and the English "Colour" or "Organize" and "Organise". The list goes on and on.

[HongKongFooey]

the answer is simple - NOTHING

There is no difference, it's just a different way of spelling the same thing. I've seen some chinese systems call it Kenpo and others call it Kempo.

Bit like the US "Color" and the English "Colour" or "Organize" and "Organise". The list goes on and on.

That may be true for he spelling of the word, but not for the application.

The Japanese or Okinawan systems of Kempo are nothing like the systems of Kenpo that Ed Parker introduced in the US. The use of the "N" instead of the "M" by Chow and Parker, was deliberate.

[Jiffy]

Kenpo/Kempo is orignally chinese, not Japanese/Okinwawan.

What was the purpose of changing the spelling in the American System?

[HongKongFooey]

Kenpo/Kempo is orignally chinese, not Japanese/Okinwawan.

What was the purpose of changing the spelling in the American System?

Yes, I know that Kenpo is Chinese, but the major systems of Kempo are either Japanese or Okinawan styles. Think of RyuKyu Kempo, Shorin-ji Kempo, Kosho Ryu Kempo, etc...

William Chow was Ed Parker's teacher. Chow was also a student of James Mitose, who taught Kosho Ryu Kempo. Chow changed the spelling to an "N" to set his brand of Kenpo apart from what he had learned from Mitose, which was basically Japanese Karate. Chow re-introduced the Chinese influence into the Kenpo he taught to Parker. Ed parker kept the same spelling as Chow to show that his Kenpo was Chinese influenced, not Japanese.