Quote:
Originally Posted by godwine
Hi Amnell,
That is correct, Kung Fu is not specific to any style.
Kenpo actually was a style of Karate, that is based on a mix of several different arts. I am not an expert in Kenpo, but I am not sure if it is considered as one of the major traditional style of Karate. Again, I don't know much about Kenpo
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If you're talking about "American Kenpo", that is correct: it stems from traidtional Karate styles and has borrowed from a few other arts--especially Escrima. It's also often and probably more accurately called "Kenpo Karate".
In Japan, however, saying just "Kenpo" is a reference to "Chinese martial arts in general".
What I love about Kenpo Karate is how it somehow manages to keep a flowery look to it while still being very efficient and direct.
As far as self-defense goes, it's about the best of the marketed 'styles' that you'll typically find here in the states (Krav Maga is still pretty hard to find, at least in California). I say that because Kenpo Karate is very direct and practical in its mindset. At the same time, a good school will have blended many principles from styles like Judo and Aikido to teach you how to blend into your opponents energy and use it against him. More still, the art that KK borrows from (I think) the most is Escrima, which is pretty much the best *practical* weapon style available to Joe Anybody.
The only reason I'm not taking Kenpo right now is that the nearest KK school that isn't a McDojo is almost a forty minute drive, and that just isn't practical with gas being right around 4 USD a gallon.