Martial Arts Of The World - Webs

to Kara-hô Kenpô. By substituting the label kara-hô for karate, he sought
to emphasize his own Chinese heritage and acknowledge the Chinese roots
of his system. Regardless of the name changes, his roster of black belt students
is very impressive. A few of his better-known students are Adriano
Emperado, Ralph Castro, Bobby Lowe, John Leone, Paul Pung, Ed Parker,
and Sam Kuoha.
Currently, the modern spelling, kenpô, is indicative of a very vibrant,
innovative set of martial arts subsystems that are rooted in the Koshô-ryû
Kempô Jiujitsu Style of Dr. James Mitose. Professor William Chow’s dynamic
personality and persistent curiosity breathed new life into the
kempô/kenpô arts. He was a major influence on the development of the
Kajukenbo System, under Professor Adriano Emperado; the American
Kenpô Karate System, founded by the late grand master Ed Parker; and
the American Shaolin Kenpô System, headed by Grand Master Ralph
Castro.
Beyond that direct and immediate influence, Professor Chow is a figure
in the lineage for such diverse kenpô groups as Al and Jim Tracy’s Tracy
System of Kenpô. The Tracy group claims to have over a thousand club and
school affiliates teaching their system of kenpô. In addition they offer a
wide selection of training videos, audiotapes, and business-related materials
for martial artists. A number of prominent kenpô stylists have trained
with the Tracys: Joe Lewis, Jay T. Will, Al Dascascos, Steve “Nasty” Anderson,
and Dennis Nackord.
The modern era of kenpô has given rise to a number of groups that
have the common denominator of being offshoots of the Hawaiian kenpô
roots first established by Dr. Mitose and Professor Chow. The following are
just a few of them: CHA-3 (Central Hawaiian Authority #3, the housing
project where Grand Master Marino Tiwanak first taught; later referred to
by some as the Chinese Hawaiian Association) Kenpô, Hawaiian Kenpô
Karate (founded by Grand Master Bill Ryusaki), Worldwide Kenpô Karate
Association (Masters Joe Palanzo and Richard “Huk” Planas), United
Kenpô Systems (Master Joe Hawkins), The Malone Kenpô Karate Association
(Grand Master Ron Malone), the National Chinese Kenpô Association
(Steve La Bounty and Gary Swan), John McSweeny’s Kenpô Karate
Association, and Chinese Kara-hô Kenpô Association headed by Grand
Master Sam Kuoha, successor to Professor W. K. S. Chow.
Currently, kenpô is a dynamic martial art. A careful reading of the history
of this art indicates that innovation and change are its hallmarks. The
art appears to have developed in China and over time was transplanted to
Okinawa, Japan, and pre-statehood Hawaii, a martial system as flexible
and adaptable as the people who have embraced it.
C. Jerome Barber
Kenpô 259