American Kenpo

Histoire

Kenpo is the Japanese reading of the Chinese "quanfa" ("fist method"). In Hawaii in the 1940s James Mitose and William Chow taught a kenpo mixing Japanese karate with Chinese boxing.

Ed Parker, a student of Chow, developed American Kenpo in California from the 1950s, with fast hand combinations and self-defence techniques that have names and stories. In 1964 his Long Beach tournament hosted Bruce Lee's famous demonstration.

Le saviez-vous ?

• American Kenpo techniques have poetic names such as "Five Swords" and "Delayed Sword".
• Elvis Presley trained with Ed Parker and earned a black belt in kenpo.
• Kenpo is often called "American Kenpo Karate" and is grouped with karate styles.

Glossaire des techniques

Five Swords

classic self-defence technique

Delayed Sword

technique against a push

Universal Pattern

map of attack and defence lines

Figures clés

• James Mitose (1916–1981) — taught kenpo in Hawaii
• William Chow (1914–1987) — Ed Parker's teacher
• Ed Parker (1931–1990) — founder of American Kenpo

Sources: Encyclopaedia Britannica