While Kenpo is a Japanese/Chinese version of karate that developed in Hawaii, the American version of Kenpo was developed by Ed Parker and was developed by a series of his masters, most notably Master Chow, in the 1940′s. Kenpo can also be spelled kempo and means “fist law” or “china hands”. It is a blend of the original Shaolin arts and Karate. There were three forms of Kenpo that Ed Parker taught. One was the Kenpo Karate which he taught to his students in Provo, Utah. A second was called Chinese Kenpo, that he wrote a book based upon chinese-influenced moves called Secrets of Chinese Karate. A third form was American Kenpo and this is the style we will focus upon today.

When Ed Parker died on December 15th, 1990, he left no successor, so it is said that American Kenpo is in decline and the martial arts style that he created is only being taught by two of his students today. Ed Parker was known as the black-belted Mormon and he taught his style to many of the students in BYU, in Utah and later in Pasadena, California.

There is a Kenpo creed that says “I come to you with only “Karate” – empty hands.I have no weapons; but should I be forced to defend myself, my principles or my honor; should it be a matter of life or death, of right or wrong; then here are my weapons – “Karate” – my empty hands.” That creed was developed by Ed Parker in 1957. He founded the Kenpo Karate Association of America.

Kenpo techniques are taught in a three part series. The Ideal, the What-If and the Formulation. The reasoning behind teaching a technique in such a way is that one never knows exactly how an opponent will react to a certain technique. Techniques are taught as techniques.

In American Kenpo there are several degrees of belts, White, Yellow, Orange, Purple, Blue, Green, Third Brown, Second Brown, First Brown, and First through Tenth Black. The final phase is called Shodan.