Kenpo.

Kenpo

拳法

The modern history of American Kenpo began in the 1940's, when James Mitose (1916-1981) started teaching his ancestral Japanese martial art, Kosho-Ryu Kempo, in Hawaii. Mitose's art, later called which later became known as Kenpo Jiu-Jitsu, traditionally traces its origin to Shaolin kung fu and Bodhidharma. Kenpo Jiu-jitsu emphasized punching, striking, kicking, locking and throwing. Mitose's art was very linear, refraining from the circular motions common in American Kenpo. William K. S. Chow studied kenpo under James Mitose, eventually earning a first-degree black belt, and also studied Chinese kung fu from his father. Chow eventually taught an art, which he called Kenpo Karate, that blended the circular movements he had learned from his father with the system he had learned from Mitose. Chow experimented and modified his art, adapting it to meet the needs of American students.. Ed Parker learned Kenpo Karate from Chow, eventually earning a black belt, Al Tracy claims that Chow promoted Parker to sandan (3rd-degree black belt) in December 1961.

Sensei Lampp's first Kempo instructors was K.T. Blue and Soke Joseph R. Ruiz. Our school started training in a system of Katsu Ryu Kampo. Mr. Ruiz taught a form of Karate in which the Kampo was part of the rank requirements, the name of the system which he taught is Kotosu-HA-Ryu Shito-Ryu Karate. Sensei Lampp was promoted up to 3rd degree black belt in this art. Mr. Lampp as also trained in and received black belt ranks in American Kenpo Karate up to 2nd degree black belt.