I heard something about karate...? 2 part question?

Karate = Kenpo.

Any Karate style is a Kenpo.

The problem with the term "kenpo" is that the eclectic people from the 20's - 40's used it for their Mixed Martial Art Styles, since they understood its proper usage.

So today, you say Kenpo and people assume Parker's Kenpo or Kajukenbo, etc.

It's like when you mention Jujutsu these days, everyone assumes you're saying BJJ, although it is not a true Jujutsu.

Heck, even if you type the CORRECT term "jujutsu" into google, it suggests that maybe you were looking for "jiujitsu" instead! Ain't that a hoot?

Funakoshi called his art Ryukyu Kenpo.

I teach a totally different style but if I want to, I can also say that I teach Ryukyu Kenpo. Anyone who teaches any Okinawan non-weapon art can say they are doing or teaching Ryukyu Kenpo.

If you're doing a Japanese form karate, you can say you're doing Nihon Kenpo.

So yeah, most people miss the point.

I'm actually interested to know where this is going...

I understand that there's no distinct Shotokan (shotokan referring to Kunakoshi's training hall, not really the art), but many branches teaching roughly the same thing derived from his teaching? I understand that it was built upon Shuri-Te, Naha-Te, and some Jujutsu, and that Funakoshi only ever referred to it as karate (空手 - Empty Hand, as opposed to 唐手 - Chinese Hand).

The idea of an art being, on it's own merit, "better" is laughable. I suspect at some point you'll be drawing a parallel between the kempo/kenpo that Naha-Te is partly influenced by, and the kenpo that is supposedly better than shotokan?

@jeff b: Don't ever let an Okinawan hear that Karate is Japanese ;)

Edit:

As I understood it (and again, I'm no expert, I just love martial arts) but Shoto was a pen name of sorts, related to his poetry [edit: actually, calligraphy. Though, if you've done it, there's little difference], not his martial arts, and Shotokan was the name of his dojo [edit: I should clarify, not built by him, but for him by students]. I get your point – Shotokan is Karate is Kenpo – Karate, being Chinese Hand, is the term used to describe Kenpo which is the direct Japanese translation of the chinese Quanfa. I'm just curious where you're going with this that hasn't already been gone before.

. Funakoshi Sensei only refereed to it as Kara Te Do. He changed the first word from Kara meaning Chinese to Kara meaning empty. He is the first credited with using the "Do" at the end in conjunction with an Okinawan Art to signify a way of life and not just a killing method, at least to my knowledge.

Oh and the standard no art is better, some are more complete.

Edit: I see where you are going to here, clever and obscure.

He also refereed to it as Ryukyu Kempo and Rentan Goshin Karate-jitsu.

Source: Preface to the Second edition Karate-Do Kyohan.

"San Soo is not a not allowed in tournaments because there are no rules,anything is allowed, i dint stakc the decks in my favors..look at any karate or tkd fight..their all the same..just bashing at each other, and no we will not fall for our training partner if a technique is not well applied." Not all in tournaments.....you are allowed in tournaments if you follow their rules. You don't follow their rules, then no, you're not allowed. This is the same for all martial arts, real fighting HAS NO RULES. But when point sparring in tournaments, you aren't in a street fight. What I mean by stack the decks is that the links you provided were for tournament point sparring, but you claimed it to be like any other street fight. This is wrong and biased. That's why I said you were stacking the deck. I'm not entirely sure how to respond to your CLAIM that all karate and TKD belts fall for their opponents, regardless if the move works. But you totally ignored what I said....that our lower belts do this because they are lower belts and don't know better at the moment. When they become middle to higher belts, they know better. Just for the record, I have responded as a civilized person who knows what he's talking about has. lol There's no anger behind my words, just lack of understanding at how you can come to your conclusions about karate and TKD without having actually taken the classes and learned either of those two arts. And again, I'd like to know what rank you are, it would better explain your notions here. Feel free to email me if you don't feel like telling everybody. And in parting, TKD/MDK have technique. Seeing as how I've never actually taken Karate, I can't answer for them, but I'm relatively sure they do. Our "One Steps" is exactly like the demo links I provided in the Part 3. So, once again, try actually taking a class of Karate or TKD/MKD....a good class. If you keep an open mind and actually try to learn what they have to offer, you'll probably see where you went wrong in assuming things.

There are reasons as to why some parents should not have the right to procreate. That is just another example of people with little or no knowledge making statement on things they have no idea about.

Maybe we should have an Martial Arts IQ test given before you are allowed to ask or post responses in this section. I know it'll never happen.

I just got a couple of email from some immatture kid that is apparently upset with me and possibly Shihan J for not agreeing with his opinion.

He asked if everyone agreed that the ufc is the closest thing to a street fight since boxing is limited and that he is a boxing fan.

http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;_ylt=AppvX...

This james bond has emailed me twice. The 1st time calling me an idiot because I don't agree with his opinion. The 2nd time I became feeble and clueless in all caps..lol

Just like boxing, there are various styles, just like Kung Fu, there are various styles, and thus,

just like Karate: There are various styles.

Kempo Karate concentrates on a close fight, where hands + strikes are dominate.

Shotokan Karate has a wide spread out stance with a balance between punching + kicking

Shitokai Karate also, is very similar with Shotokan.

That is basically the difference.

Shotokan 松濤館流, Shōtōkan-ryū

People say it is better because karate was developed from chinese kenpo. So basically its like saying they took an football and took the ideas out of it to develop another football.

Kempo is Karate as is shotokan they are just styles of Karate. Karate is Japaneese.

Shotokan is a more tradational style of Karate Kempo is more hybred. Kempo wasn't invented in Japan like most other Karate styles but was mixed by someone(depending on who you ask you get different answers as to who make Kempo so i will not answer that)and Kempo takes parts of Shotokan, Wado Rye, Shito Ryu, Goju Ryu(which are the 4 most common forms of Karate)and mixes them into one art.

As to which one is better really depends on the person learning it and the teacher teaching it and what your purpose is learnng it.

Thats only an opinion of some people.

Same reason why people say BJJ and muay thai are the best.