Martial Arts: Kung Fu

Kung Fu is a broad term that is used to describe all martial arts of Chinese origin. Kung-Fu existing under many different names throught China’s history. Initially Kung Fu was called Ch’uan Fa (fist way).

The Shaolin monastery housed many fugitives from justice, and many warriors turned monk, which sets the roots of Kung Fu in the Shaolin Temple in Northern China. In fact there were five different Shaolin temples in five districts, and so five distinct styles of Shaolin Kung Fu developed.

Martial arts historians stress that Kung-Fu did not start at the Shaolin temple, but simply began to flourish under Shaolin’s influence. Kung-Fu became eventually categorised into Northern and Southern styles. In the south, Cantonese people pronounce Kung Fu as gung-fu. Southern styles use low stances and kicks and strong hand techniques because they are shorter and stockier than Northern (Mandarin) people. The Northern systems are characterised by stylish and difficult patterns and acrobatic legwork, presumably because it was colder in the North so hand movement was restricted by thick robes and the mountaineous terrain enforced the development of strong legs.

Kung Fu as one of the oldest martial arts has been a great influence to other and younger martial arts styles, such as Okinawan Karate styles and subsequently Japanese Karate styles.

In modern times, Wu-shu emerged as a mixture of circus-like acrobatics and martial arts, and in China, national competitions are held in this sport. Jet-Li is a famous exponent of Wu-Shu, popularising the art in the West by appearing in martial arts movies.

Typical Kung Fu weapons are the broadsword and the butterfly knives.

Origin of Kung Fu: China

Martial Arts: Krav Maga

Krav Maga is an Israeli army method of unarmed combat now gaining popularity all over the world. It is considered a “no-nonsense” method of self-defence for a variety of situations. Originally developed during the liberation fighting of Israel, Krav Maga is now practiced by the entire Israeli military - especially its elite forces.

Krav Maga combines elements of boxing, Judo, and Jujitsu as well as the use of weapons such as knives and sticks. This weapon technique is taught to deal with modern day street situations where guns and knives are often involved. There are no kata or other traditional martial arts training exercises.

The techniques of Krav Maga are highly practical and effective for the street. Individuals can attain a high level of profiency within a relatively short period of instruction.

Picture shows Eyal Yanilov, the World Head Instructor for the International Krav Maga Federation (IKMF).

Martial Arts: Kickboxing

Kickboxing is not inherently a martial art, although most kickboxers originate from a martial arts background. Rules greatly vary but generally a certain number of kicks must be thrown per round or the fighter will have points deducted. Many boxers make the transition to kickboxing by training in the martial arts and learning how to kick.

Origin of Kickboxing: America and Europe

Popularised by: Bill “Superfoot” Wallace, Chuck Norris, Benny Urquidez, Jean Yves Theriault, Joe Lewis and Mike Stone.

Martial Arts: Kempo (Kenpo Karate)

Characteristics of Kenpo

Kenpo Karate is a complete fighting system that is particularly popular in the United States.

Kenpo places equal emphasis on the use of hands and feet and uses similar fighting techniques to other Okinawan fighting styles. Kenpo also practises Kata or forms like other martial arts. Whereas most Karate styles use white Gis (uniforms) throughout, a visual characteristic of Kenpo is its use of black Gi’s for higher grades and even the mixing of black Gi tops with white pants and vice versa.

History of Kenpo

Like most Okinawan fighting arts, Kenpo Karate can trace its roots back to the Shaolin monks of China. Master “To-De” Sakugawa (1733-1815) from Shuri, the ancient capital of Okinawa, travelled to China in the 18th century to train with the Chuan Fa masters (Chuan Fa is what Chinese Kung Fu was called at that time). On his return to Okinawa he developed what became known as Shuri Te, from which Kenpo was later born. In contrast, the Okinawan martial arts developed in Naha, the modern-day capital of Okinawa, first became known as Naha-Te, and developed later on into Goju-Ryu Karate).

In 1916 a young Hawaiian named James Mitose travelled to Kyushu in Japan where he learnt Kosho Ryu Kempo. He later returned to Hawaii where he taught William Chow, who further developed the art. To differentiate his system from that of Mitose, William Chow called his school Kenpo Karate. As a visual break from the traditional Japanese and Okinawan Karate styles, Mitose and Chow introduced the wearing of black Gi’s for higher ranks, to indicate that Kenpo was a different and more of a “war art” than the increasingly sports-oriented, white-Gi-wearing Karate styles.

Ed Parker, father of American Kenpo

Ed Parker, also a Hawaiian, was a student of William Chow. Ed Parker is considered the father of American Kenpo, as he had the greatest modern day influence on the spread of Kenpo around the world. Ed Parker opened the first ever university campus martial arts school in Utah USA in 1954, at the age of only 23.

Ed Parker later became a tournament promoter. At one of his early tournaments, Bruce Lee first came into the view of the general public. Ed Parker was also active as a movie actor, stunt coordinator, author and instructor to many famous Hollywood actors.

Kempo or Kenpo?

There is no difference between Kenpo and Kempo, they are different spellings of the same martial art. The Japanese kanji character for kenpo and kempo is the same, yet when translated to English, the N can also be an M. Kenpo or Kempo translates to “Law of the fist”.

Origin of Kenpo: Okinawa

Founded By: Sakugowa

Popularised by: Edmund K Parker better known simply as Ed Parker or “The Father of American Kenpo”.
Among his most famous students where Elvis Presley, Larry Hartsell, Steve McQueen, Robert Wagner, Warren Beatty, Audie Murphy and Dan Inosanto.

Books by Ed Parker
Infinite Insights into Kenpo Vol 1 Mental Stimulation
Infinite Insights into Kenpo Vol 2 Physical Analyzation

Martial Arts: Kendo

Kendo is the Japanese sport of sword fighting where Shinai (bamboo swords), along with protective armour are used. This equipment is used for training in place of the razor-sharp metal swords that Japanese martial arts are famous for. A very popular sport in Japan, Kendo developed from the fighting art of Kenjutsu, which dates back to the 11th century and was the most important martial art of the samurai. Kenjutsu was practised by many famous swordsmen, such as Miyamoto Musashi, author of The Book of Five Rings.

Today’s Kendo rules: In a match, the competitors wear special protective gear and strike at each others head, chest or hand with the bamboo sword.

Of all martial arts currently practiced in the West, Kendo retains the most traditional image, not at least because of their traditional-looking protective armour and face mask and the typical Kendo-swords (Shinai).

Origin of Kendo: Japan

Martial Arts: Karate

Karate translates, as is generally accepted, to Empty Hand in Japanese. Karate is a martial art that uses weaponless techniques such as punching and kicking to overcome the opponent. Typically, fighters wear a white Karate Uniform (Gi) and a belt that indicates their skill level and rank.

The development of Karate began in Okinawa, an island south of Japan. Okinawans travelled to China, where they learnt the Chinese martial arts. On their return to Okinawa they set about blending their own martial arts (initially simply called Te, “Hands”) with what they had learnt in China and called it To-De, Chinese Hands.

From this, 4 main styles of Karate developed - Goju Ryu, Shorin Ryu, Uechi Ryu and Shorei Ryu. Gichin Funakoshi, who trained under several Okinawan Karate masters, developed his own style of Karate that he named Shotokan.

Funakoshi introduced Shotokan to Japan in the early 20th century. Other Okinawan masters soon followed him - Chojun Miyagi with Goju Ryu and Kenwa Mabuni with Shito Ryu. From these masters many new styles were soon developed. For example Kyokushinkai by Mas Oyama, Goju Kai by Gogen Yamaguchi, Wado Ryu by Hinonori Ohtsuka.

There are now hundreds of different styles of karate across the world, but all
can be traced back to the original four from Okinawa.

Origin of Karate: Okinawa

Karate was founded in the 16th century and formalised into different styles in the early 20th century.

Karate is currently popularised by:

• Masatoshi Nakayama, Keinosuke Enoeda: Shotokan Karate
• Morio Higaonna: Goju Ryu Karate
• Gogen and Gosei Yamaguchi: Goju Kai Karate
• Mas Oyama: Kyokushinkai Karate
• Fumio Demura: Shito Ryu Karate
• Richard Kim: Shorin Ryu Karate

All-Karate.com has more detailed information on the following styles:

• Goju Ryu Karate
• Shito Ryu Karate
• Wado Ryu Karate
• Shotokan Karate
• Kenpo Karate

Martial Arts: Kali (Escrima)

Kali, Escrima and Arnis are all essentially the same martial art, all originating from different areas of the Philippines. All of these utilise weapons such as sticks, knives, and swords. The typical Kali/Escrima weapon is the Escrima sticks. Techniques without weapons also taught include kicking, striking and grappling.

Kali was originally used as a method of fighting off the invading Spanish. Kali is now widely practiced both in the Philippines and abroad.

Origin of Kali: Philippines

Popularised by: Dan Inosanto, Escrima Master and friend and student of Bruce Lee

Martial Arts: Ju Jitsu (Jujutsu)

Ju Jitsu is another name for Jujutsu. Please click here to read about Jujutsu.

Origin of Ju Jitsu: Japan

Ju Jitsu founded: Early 1600

Martial Arts: Jujutsu (Jujitsu)

Ju Jitsu (also often referred to as Jujutsu) is a fighting system that employs a wide range of techniques - including strikes, kicks, throws, joint locks and choking. In addition to this Jujitsu also teaches weapons technique. Techniques and influences from Jujitsu can be found in almost all of the martial arts.

Jujitsu developed in many independent schools in Japan over many centuries and as such does not have a clear lineage. As the syllabus of techniques in Jujutsu is very large, invidivual schools today may teach variations and/or a subset of the vast range of existing Jujutsu techniques.

As Jujutsu also provides many practical arm lock and submission techniques, jujutsu techniques have been popular with Police forces all over the world.

Origin of Jujutsu: Japan

Founded early 1600

Martial Arts: Judo

Judo is a martial art that makes use of throws, strangles and joint locks. There is no kicking or punching in Judo. Judo was originally developed from Jujutsu and was accepted as an Olympic sport in 1966.

The lethal techniques and strikes of Jujutsu have been removed from the syllabus, and Judo’s founder Kano designed a syllabus that was meant to aid in the physical fitness of the Japanese people as well as their character development. As such, Judo was always designed more to be a sport than a self-defence system.

The black belt system, that pertains until today in many martial arts (also see: Goju Ryu Karate Belt System) is said to have first developed in Judo. Whereas in the West, great value is placed on the coveted achievement of a black belt, Japanese instructors see the black belt as a stage of the student when the real study of the martial art begins. Judo Uniforms are typically made of heavy material to withstand the pulling and grabbing associated with this martial art.

Origin of Judo: Japan

Founder of Judo: Jigoro Kano - 1882