American Kenpo Karate?

[ThePerfectWeapon]

Hi everyone, I'm new here. I'm really interested in studying a martial art...I always have been. After I graduate college (this is my senior year) I plan on finding a school.

 

I'm thinking about American Kenpo Karate, among other things. I figure I might as well use my strengths to my advantage. I'm fairly strong, and my dad always tells me that I'm the quickest person he knows. So, I figure the multiple attacks of Kenpo could be good for me.

 

I've been attempting to research this art all night, and I haven't found too much info on it. I'm just looking for a type of "Parker Kenpo 101" type deal, where everything about it is spelled out for me, so I can help make my choice.

 

Also, does anyone here practice American Kenpo? I'd love to hear some opinions about it.

 

Thanks!

[Kirves]

American Kenpo uses a footwork similar to many traditional styles like karate. But when traditional karate uses a sort of "one step, one punch" movement, kenpo uses "one step, three punches" movement. When karate tries to shoot with a cannon, kenpo tries to shoot with a machine gun. It has advantages: you can overwhelm the opponent with multiple faster-than-eye strikes to vital targets (eyes, throat, neck, solar plexus and groin being top targets). It has disadvantages too: if you fail to get the initiative and overwhelm the opponent, your strikes will be nothing but weak slashes. You need to get lots of training with accuracy and speed on a real live partner to make it work but it can work well.

[ThePerfectWeapon]

Hmm...thanks a lot for the reply. I needed something like that...a pros and cons of it.

 

I like the idea of fast strikes, but does it emphasize power as well? When you said "fail to overwhelm" the opponent, does that mean "if the opponent is bigger than you?"

[omnifinite]

It focuses on both power and speed in my training. My instructor could put me down with one punch. Or he could put me down with many many strikes in a short period of time . Combine the two and you don't always need many following blows... but at least you're ready to use them if you need them.

[ThePerfectWeapon]

Sounds very enticing. I've been doing research all night, and I finally found some useful stuff. I found an American Kenpo school about 15 minutes from my home, so I'll look into that.

[Kirves]

When you said "fail to overwhelm" the opponent, does that mean "if the opponent is bigger than you?"

 

No. It means, when you aren't skilled enough, and especially if the opponent is somewhat skilled, he may cut off your timing at the critical moment and you've lost the flow. But as I said, it only happens when your skill isn't up to it.

 

So, what I am saying is this: you won't learn 100% surefire self defence in kenpo within the first year or so because the technical finesse required by kenpo tactics needs lots of training action. It is easier to learn self defence in 6 months on other styles. But when you have 3 years or more under your belt, you're getting to the level of skill where you are capable of staying "in the flow".

[ThePerfectWeapon]

Hmm, I see. I'm not sure if I can take an art for 3 years or more, being that I'm graduating college soon, and might be all over the place finding work. Hopefully I'll manage to find a job close to home.

 

Do you or anyone else have any more thoughts on American Kenpo? I haven't found any opinion based web pages about it.

 

Thanks!

[ThePerfectWeapon]

I came up with another question. Since American Kenpo is fairly new, does it still revolve around kata? I don't think I would necessarily mind if it did, but I like the idea of a more "modern" art.

[Kirves]

It has lots of "kata" (that is, long solo forms), but I wouldn't say it "revolves" around them, it just has them for basic technique practise.

[omnifinite]

You don't have to take American Kenpo either. You might be able to find an Okinawan strain of it somewhere.