Help out a new comer

[TheDevilAside]

Hello...

 

First of all, I guess I should introduce myself.. my name is Gabe and I'm 15 years old. Recently I got to know my math teacher quite well (which is coinsidently my worst subject) and I found out she has a 1st degree adult black belt in Shaolin Kung Fu, and she talked me into taking martial arts classes. Ever since I was about 7 I wanted to take martial arts classes, but I was horribly shy, so I never dared to try them. But now, I've changed a lot. So I decided to start Kempo (or Kenpo) classes in a couple weeks.

 

So I was wondering if some of you could give me a general idea of what it's like. I know quite a lot from my own research and friends... and my teacher ofcourse. But I was just wondering if some of you could give me some more insight.

 

Also, have any of you taken Kempo? Maybe you could explain to me what the style is like. Ofcourse.. I already researched it on the internet. But I'd rather hear it from a person with their own experience.

 

Thanks!

[IAMA_chick]

i am in tae kwon do, so i don't know what kempo is or how the generally run the classes, but good luck in it and welcome!

[karate_woman]

I can't help either other than to say welcome

[Pacificshore]

Hi and welcome. I study Kempo, and it's roots are from China and was developed in Hawaii. Lots of self defense techniques, katas, and weapons. What style of Kempo/Kenpo are you studying?

[TheDevilAside]

There's a TON of Kempo/Kenpo schools around my area.

 

And most of them teach Ed Parker's American Kempo...

 

But there's also one that teaches Kara-Ho Kempo...

 

I researched both styles as much as I could, and I am leaning toward Kara Ho. But most of it depends on how good the school is, so I'll go check out the two closest (Kara Ho and Ed Parker's) and see which school I like the most. If they're both about the same, I'm gonna go with Kara Ho.

 

...But if you have a different opinion on the two styles... Feel free to enlighten me.

 

...And when you mentioned self defense techniques. What exactly are 'Katas'?

[Pacificshore]

Katas are the forms. By the way, let us know what you think about the two styles when you check them out.

[ZR440]

Try looking at the Chinese Martial Arts forum for more information.

[GreenDragon]

Katas and Forms are like a dance. A kata is a pre-determined set of defensive and offensive moves done in succession as a way to practice those moves. I'm sure you have seen it in movies, where the martial artist is moving around by themselves in a room while practicing their moves. There are lots of different katas in each martial art and at each belt level you will need to know a certain number of katas to pass your belt test. Another little known fact to those new to martial arts: at martial arts competitions there is sparring (fighting for points a la karate kid movie) but there are also kata competitions to determine who has learned their katas well and can execute them with great precision. In Japanese martial arts (like karate) they are called katas, in Korean martial arts (like Tae Kwan Do) they are called Hyongs and in Chinese martial arts (like Shaolin Kung Fu) they are just referred to in english as forms (don't know the chinese word for it). Not sure what they are called in kenpo classes, but I am guessing forms.

 

GreenDragon

[JerryLove]

Actually, the accepted history is that it was practiced by the Mitose family in Japan. In 1940, one of the Mitose family moved to Hawaii and started teaching publically.