Kenpo is a name given to various forms of Japanese martial arts. It’s a self-defense system and it’s about finishing a fight as soon as possible. It employs a belt ranking system similar to that of karate and has various governing bodies around the world. Read on to find out more about the most influential kenpo organizations.
Ed Parker’s International Kenpo Karate Organization (IKKA)
IKKA was founded by Ed Parker. Until the early 1960s, it was known as the KKAA (Kenpo Karate Association of America), but once its students began teaching kenpo outside of the United States, a more international name became necessary. It governs the International Karate Championships and has several schools around the world in places like Europe and Canada, as well as the United States.
World Kenpo Karate Association (WKKA)
This organization claims to be the sanctioning body for American kenpo and was founded by Ed Parker’s protégé, Joe Palanzo. Its mission is to preserve the art of kenpo and help it grow internationally. More than 500 martial arts schools have joined the WKKA since its founding in 1991, and the organization has certified thousands of black belts to date.
International Kempo Federation (IKF)
This is a non-profit organization that is made up of National Kempo Federations acting as members. It is a global institution and promotes the Kenpo System 5.0, which helps the IKF stay at the forefront of self defense. It hosts a number of tournaments throughout the year, including the IKF World Kempo Championships, which are held in different locations around the world. The 2014 Team Championship took place in Vagos, Portugal, for example.
United Kenpo Karate Association (UKKA)
The UKKA was developed by Jay Will in 1991 with the aim of ensuring that Ed Parker’s ideas spread without the sideshow of domestic politics. The UKKA wants to give kenpo practitioners the opportunity to be part of a family.
Kwai Sun Company
Kara-ho Kempo was created by William Chow in the 1930s, and one of his best students, Sam Kuoha, helped Chow create the Kwai Sun Company in 1978, which was designed to oversee the creation of hundreds of Kara Chinese schools. -ho Kempo. There are currently more than 10,000 students in more than 150 schools around the world, although most are in the United States.
American Karate Kenpo Systems (AKKS)
The AKKS was founded by Jeff Speakman, one of Ed Parker’s most famous students. Speakman has starred in movies like “The Perfect Weapon” and “Street Knight” which showcases kenpo to the world. The AKKS has more than 50 schools and is an international organization. Speakman also hosts annual camps to help students learn more about American Kenpo.
When trying to learn more about kenpo, it is important not to focus too much on different organizations and just do what you can to improve your kenpo skills. There is likely to be a school that belongs to one of the above organizations in your area, so take a look and see if it’s the right one for you.