What do you guys think of Kempo?

[Tool99]

Months ago I entered to win a couple free weeks of Kempo and as it turns out I won it. I have no prior martial arts experience and have been to like 2 sessions so far. We use the horse stance, i'm not sure if I like it yet (kinda seems dumb). I guess my question is do you guys like this (am I wasting my time), is it practical (will I actually be able to kick someones ass). I just spent 170 dollars for the next seven weeks of lessons, but if it sucks I will stop after the seven weeks and find a better martial arts. Any oppinions are appriciated.

[jules]

Originally Posted by Tool99

Months ago I entered to win a couple free weeks of Kempo and as it turns out I won it. I have no prior martial arts experience and have been to like 2 sessions so far. We use the horse stance which I dont know what to think about it yet. I guess my question is do you guys like this (am I wasting my time), is it practical (will I actually be able to kick someones ass). I just spent 170 dollars for the next seven weeks of lessons, but if it sucks I will stop after the seven weeks and find a better martial arts. Any oppinions are appriciated.

If you want to kick people's ass then pick up boxing.

[MrPoopy]

I think Kempo sucks. You spent too much money.

[Tool99]

Originally Posted by MrPoopy

I think Kempo sucks. You spent too much money.

fair enough. Any reason why? Anybody take/took Kempo?

[IPON]

Originally Posted by Tool99

will I actually be able to kick someones ass

1. The goal is defense not to go arounfd kicking people asses, becuase you will surely get yours kicked(though I don't think you meant it in that context but just in case)

2. The ability to fight rest 100% with you no style will give you toughnes. You have to work for it with any style. Brazilian jujitsu good style, yes. But doesn't mean you can or will be able to fight. I have heard ppl on this forum complain about how hard the training is and they quit after a few months, then ask what style they should take..what difference does nit make if you are unwilling to work hard.

#1-2 are not really directed at you unless they apply. No flame - just comments.

Regarding Kempo..hmm...I have not heard bad things $85 a month would be reasonable to me but I guess it depends where you live. Does the school have a link or can you provide the instructors name that may help for the ppl that know Kempo

[Seifer2399]

Originally Posted by Tool99

is it practical (will I actually be able to kick someones ass). I just spent 170 dollars for the next seven weeks of lessons

1. As far as the practicality and "kicking someone's ass" - you should really rethink why you're taking kempo. If you're looking for a fight, go to a boxing school.

2. The money sounds reasonable enough, but what are the benefits? How many classes a week / how many classes a day / for how long / gym time / separate coaches / any other perks for joining?

Best regards,

Seifer2399

[m.artist]

im doing ed parkers system of kenpo right now and i like it alot....sure the horse stance is nowhere near being effective. h2h is right. use the traditional sparring stance cuz that way ur center line is protected and u can still fight..i like it alot. im doing alot of very cool techniques , personally my fav is mace of aggression...but wow...170 for 7 weeks..i paid 160 for 2 yrs and im at an actual dojo...not the ymca or boys and girls club. alot of people like and dislike kenpo...my teacher has been doing kenpo for 42 yrs so i know i can get alot out of him and not only that he knows hung gar and shotokan and he is incorperating some of those techniques along with bjj as well. so the kenpo i am studying is going really well. it's a very effective art and can teach u to take on multiple opponents at a time. i don't think u've wasted ur time...it's just like with ne other activity or thign u do. u always do the boring things first....then as u get more skilled u get into the techniques that can really help u and can be really fun to learn. i'd say keep with it...whos your teacher? does he know ne other arts? does he put them with his? how long has he been doing it?

[TylerDurden]

Unfortuneately Kempo/Kenpo schools are very hit and miss. Some are good, some are very bad. Spar with some of the students who have been there awhile. If they beat you pretty easily, then they have something you can learn.

[gregimotis]

Good advice so far, here's some more...

Many, many people start martial arts, get bored after a few weeks and quit before they gain enough skill (and conditioning) to start having fun. I say, go to your classes as many times a week as you can for the next seven weeks. If, at the end, you want to try something else that's fine but, put seven good weeks in and don't let yourself quit at week four or five- you will be tempted.

All the real fun in martial arts starts after six months or a year of training

[bvermillion]

H2H please explain to me why a crescent kick is useless. If you are fast enough and have the power in your kicks it is an excellent kick. I have use it many times to knock my opponents guard down and then reverse side kick them in the chest.

[kodankan]

Originally Posted by bvermillion

H2H please explain to me why a crescent kick is useless. If you are fast enough and have the power in your kicks it is an excellent kick. I have use it many times to knock my opponents guard down and then reverse side kick them in the chest.

even though the crescent kick is in most styles of martial arts i would have to agree that it is not the best kick.
The reason is that if landed solidly it puts a lot of sideways pressure on the knee joint. the axe kick tends to be the same way. You just have to be careful where and how you aim and land it.

[Tom Yum]

Originally Posted by HandtoHand

another strike in which you go and push your palm down low and bring your wrist up with the fingers pointed down to the chin.

Its deceptive and doesn't telegraph. Can you see the applications? Who expects to get hit by their opponents wrist with enough force to rock your jaw? that downward palm could make a nice parry against a low punch.

My opinion on kempo; if its a good school you will learn alot about economy of motion, how to relax to generate power, fight with an open hand (palm) and flow. The really good kempo guys flow so well, its hard to tell where their power and attack are coming from.

Like someone said earlier, it really boils down to how hard you're willing to work and apply your art.

[Tom Yum]

Throat strikes are all good, but have to justify defending your life.

If someone like Mr. T punches pee-wee Herman in the throat, police officers and prosecutors will have a cake walk.

If pee-wee is backed into a corner, Mr. T mumbles some words that sound threatening and pee-wee lands a 'lucky' solid throat strike, he will have a good self-defense case.

That could change though if the pee-wee guy is actually someone like Ramon Dekker

[Tom Yum]

BTW, nice quotes in your signature. Do you know of any good sources for famous quotes?

[cfr]

There was a post on another web site/ forum a while back titled "disadvantages of kenpo". The author was a kenpoka that was, from what it appeared, trying to approach his art with an open mind. I posted the following and of course one of the Kenpo Elitists got his panties in a twist and geeked on me. I should make it clear that its just not for me. If it works for you, then go for it. I know that I school I go to wouldnt work for everyone and thats fine too. So this was my response:


I only took Kenpo for 3 months. Ive also been in MA for only 2 yrs now. Im aware that because of this, my opinion doesnt count to alot of you and thats fine. In addition to that forgive me as Im sure some of this has already been covered. The problems I see with Kenpo are:

1; The emphasis on forms. Obviously this can be said for any traditional MA that uses them. As I see it, you are on 1 side of the fence or the other with this topic. I know that alot of you say it makes you a better fighter. Cool. Great. I wouldnt dispute that due to my lack of Kenpo experience. Opinion of course.

2; The close minded-ness. This could be argued of course that this is from the people in Kenpo and not the art itself. Lets take the ground fighting topic for example. Too many Kenpo people insist that they can apply their techs on the ground. No proof to back it up. But they just know they are right. Why? Because all the other Kenpo people are agreeing with you? My school doesnt do as much ground work as I would like to see. Not even close. Now I could claim that the concepts from my school would enable me to fight off the best bjj guy. But I find it more realisitc to say: "Yes my techs probably could be applied on the ground. I'd try them if I needed to. BUT I DONT KNOW. I DONT KNOW CAUSE I HAVENT TRIED IT. IM OPEN TO MY SYSTEM NOT BEING COMPLETE." Not just insist that Im right and that my system is perfect.

3; I know this has already been said. But since Im writing more in this post than I have all year, I will go for it. The over analyzation is lame. I dont want to be hanging out, intelectualizing, conceptualizing, and theorizing, when an average street fighter walks up and smacks me in the face. Try it. Dont talk about it. Now I know alot of you are saying "you just dont understand" and thats fine.

4; The complexity of techs. Im of the school of thought that techs should be simple. Not hard. Now I know that if I just practiced for 47 years those techs would be simple. But I want to learn to do what comes naturally without it taking the rest of my life.



Again, if it works for you, then nothing I or anyone else can say can talk you out of it. But if you've got that little nagging voice in the back of your mind like I did saying stuff like, "what a dumb stance", "that couldnt work", "how long are we doing katas", "will we ever stop punching the air" etc. etc., then you better head out.