What is Kenpo Karate?

Included as one of the P90X workouts, many people are curious about Kenpo and what exactly it is. If you have done P90X you know Kenpo is filled with quick moving kicks and blocks. In P90X, Kenpo Karate is used as a cardio routine. While this martial art is a great way to work your muscles and heart, it has much older foundations.
 
Depending on where you look you will get a different story of the history of Kenpo. Some sources claim the roots of Kenpo came from China and later moved to Japan before coming to Hawaii. Others say it started in Japan, moved to China, and later to Hawaii. One thing is clear, the foundations of what we know as Kenpo Karate started in the East and was brought to Hawaii with Asian immigrants. Once practiced in Hawaii, it became the martial art form we know in American today as Kenpo Karate.
 
James Mitose is recognized as one of the first major teachers of Kenpo Karate in Hawaii. He instructed William Chow who studied under him until 1947 at which time Chow opened his own school and eventually instructed Ed Parker. Through these first few teachers (the “fathers” of American Kenpo), a new martial art form was born in the United States. Kenpo Karate quickly spread and grew in popularity.

Kenpo Karate is a martial arts characterized by quick movements made in rapid-fire succession. The idea is to wear an opponent out in Kenpo Karate. This makes Kenpo a great cardio workout, as well as training the muscles of your entire body. As a bonus, when doing P90X you are learning a time honored self defense practice.

As a martial art, Kenpo involves strikes to main vital areas of the body. Kenpo teaches practitioners to attack their opponent when they are not expecting it and put them in vulnerable positions through strikes, punches, chops, pokes, and thrusts. Kenpo also employs kicks, takedowns, and throws. Through fast “combinations” Kenpo Karate practitioners can wear their opponents down quickly and unexpectedly.

For more information about Kenpo Karate, check out some of these sites:

• Kenpo USA
• All American Karate
• Blended Kenpo
• Wikipedia: American Kenpo

Also, if you are ready for a total body transformation like no other including the use of Kenpo, take a look at P90X.