How To Make Your Kenpo Into Power Kenpo!

You can translate your art of Chinese Kenpo Karate into Power Kenpo fairly easily

. Of course, you're going to have to go against the grain of the old school boys, but this isn't always bad. In fact, if you do decide to put power into your Kenpo system, you will be following the footsteps of Ed Parker more closely than the old school boys.

The concept of Power Kenpo is something I made up many decades ago. It actually grew from an incident in 1968 in which I asked my instructor to take a look at a kata I had been polishing. My instructor stepped on to the mat and I took a position and started moving.

The form was actually out of a series of books on Japanese Karate, and the name was Heian Five. It is a traditional form, with solid stance and large, significant movements. As such, it seems to stand opposed to the fast whirling arms of Parker art.

When I ended the kata my instructor observed, "Yes, definitely a Japanese form." He didn't say much more, and I had the feeling that there was an opinion he wasn't voicing. Many decades later, I understand why, he was trying to teach me one thing, and I was working in a completely different direction.

To be honest, Kenpo Karate does not fit well with traditional Shotokan. Kenpo, as I have given hint, relies on fast hands and circling motions. Shotokan holds a disdain for such motion, and preaches the power of a strong stance, facing your enemy squarely, and attacking in a linear manner.

Each system has its strengths, and its weaknesses, but they don't fit together. It is difficult even to shift from one art to another in the middle of combat. The funny thing about all this is that original Kenpo was built upon the Heian forms of classical Karate.

Most people blink when I say such a thing, but it is true. If you can find a copy of one of Ed Parker's first books you will find that it is nothing more than a sequence of the applications of the Heian forms. Indeed, if you link the applications in his book, you are actually doing the Heians.

In conclusion, now you understand what I mean when I remarked about Power Kenpo and being true Ed Parker's footsteps. The fact is that true and dedicated martial artists should study as many different arts as they can. The truth of the matter is that if you want to put power in Chinese Kenpo, or accelerated weapons, or better kicks, then study a separate art that has what you want, and let the power of that other art bleed back to your kenpo, and that is how you build Power Kenpo.

by: Al Case

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