American Kenpo Karate shares the same roots as most other Asian martial arts. Due to the scarcity of
authentic written records, the exact origins of the martial arts are obscure. Most historians agree that some form
of the martial arts was practiced in China as early as 1000 BC. In dealing with ancient martial art history we must
rely partially on legend and what has been passed down from teacher to student by word of mouth. The most
widely accepted story of the origin of the Chinese martial arts starts with a Buddhist monk and prince of India
called Bodhidharma. Bodhidharma traveled to China in order to spread the principles of Buddhism. His arrival in
China is dated at about 515-530 A.D. Allegedly he was the 28th descendant of the original Buddha. He would
become Abbot of the Shaolin Temple in the Hunan Province shortly after his arrival in China. Legend tells us that
when he arrived at the temple he found the monks to be in a state of physical decay and unable to withstand the
prolonged periods of meditation which were essential to the practice of Zen Buddhism. Bodhidharma decided to
institute a physical conditioning routine to help the monks improve their mental and spiritual stamina. Perhaps this
is one of the reasons why the martial arts are so often considered a means to reach spiritual goals or higher mental
stimulation, apposed to being just another type of boxing.
During this time in China’s history banditry was common place and the wilderness was not a safe place for
travelers or pilgrims. Because of this, Bodhidharma instituted a series of 18 exercises in an attempt to improve the
physical condition of the monks and provide them with a means for self-defense. These 18 hand movements of the
martial arts where for both defense and offense, and would eventually become known as the "18 Hands of the Lo
Han." The monks became formidable opponents and the legends say that in order to graduate from the Shaolin
Monastery, the monk had to compete to travel through, what was termed the "corridor of death." This was a
corridor equipped with 108 dummies which were triggered into action by the body weight of the monk as he
proceeded along the corridor. Each monk could activate up to 5 dummies simultaneously, depending on their
body weight. If the monk made it to the end of the corridor, he had to lift a burning metal urn which branded a
dragon on his left forearm and a tiger on his right forearm. The legends say that these were the marks of the true
masters of the Shaolin Temples.
During the Yuan Dynasty (1260-1368 A.D.) there were noticeable improvements in the Martial Arts. The original 18
hand movements were expanded to 170. As time passed, and China continued to be in a constant state of conflict,
Martial Arts training became an integral part of the Chinese lifestyle. The main factor that would lead to the
spreading of the Shaolin martial arts would be the ruthless domination of the Manchu emperor. Secret societies
were formed for the purpose of restoring the Ming dynasty to power and overthrowing the barbarian Manchus.
Most Chan Buddhists were anti-Manchu and many temples were training grounds for pro-Ming revolutionaries. On
several occasions the Manchus destroyed temples in an effort to stomp out resistance. Fleeing monks
undoubtedly carried their fighting art with them, eventually spreading all over China, Japan and Korea just to name
a few.
The Ming (1368-1644 A.D.) and Ch'ing (1644-1911 A.D.) Dynasties were the golden age of Martial Arts in China and
many of the styles taught today were founded and expanded upon during this period. In 1372 Chinese-Okinawan
relations were consolidated, and in 1470 Sho-ha-shi became king of Okinawa and confiscated all weapons from the
people. This forced the Okinawans to seek other forms of self-defense. As a result, some Okinawans immigrated
to China to learn what was then called Shaolin Chuan Fa from top masters. Upon returning to their native land, the
martial art became known as Shorinji Kenpo. As the years passed, practitioners continued to learn and
demonstrate their skills in private and the Martial Arts improved considerably. Then in 1609, the Japanese
dominated Okinawa and the Okinawans were forced to defend themselves with what they had available, which is
why so many of the Okinawan Karate weapons are farming tools converted for the purpose of combat. The
greatest achievements in the Martial Arts where made between the years 1609 and 1903 in which time a variety of
styles and systems would emerge.
The Okinawans had always termed the Martial Arts as "Te" which literally means hand. During this period (1609-
1903) "Karate" meaning "Hands of China" replaced the word "Te" (during the latter part of the 19th century) until
the Chinese character which denoted "Hands of China" or "China Hand" (the latter being a more direct translation)
was changed by the Japanese to their character which meant "empty hand". This change (officially dated to 1923)
angered many of the Okinawan masters who were proud of the term designating their fighting style. They also did
not wish to dispense with their loyalty and association with China. However, there was great pressure by the
Japanese and the masters very reluctantly accepted the new character change.
During the l8th century, China and Japan were engaged in trade both material and cultural. At that time a senior
member of the Mitose clan of Japan traveled to China to study the martial arts at the Shaolin Temple where he
remained for many years. Upon his return to Japan he introduced the art of Chuan Fa which he called Kenpo
(Japanese translation for “Chuan Fa” which means "Law of the Fist"). This system would be influenced by forms
of Jujitsu and other forms of martial art that where already common to the area and would be called Kosho-Ryu
Kenpo. Kosho means "Old Pine Tree", and the Kenpo art is referred to as "The Old Pine Tree Style."
This art was practiced and passed down in the Mitose line until James Mitose, who lived in Hawaii in 1940, began
teaching publicly. James Mitose would only promote 6 individuals to black belt, William Chow, who also studied
Chinese martial arts from his own family, would be one of them. William K.S. Chow blended the Kosho Ryu Kenpo
and the 5-animal Kung Fu of the Chow Family into what he called “Chinese Kara-ho Kenpo Karate.” Kara-ho
Kenpo brought together the circular and linear techniques that so often separates the Chinese and Japanese
systems. William Chow taught his Kara-ho Kenpo through the YMCA, but kept an elite following. A prospect
student would have to be recommended or sponsored by an established student in order to train with William
Chow.
Ed Parker would begin his training in the oriental martial arts at the age of 16. A man named Frank Chow was
telling Ed Parker how he had defeated a local bully in a street fight. Ed Parker was skeptical due to the small
stature of Frank Chow compared to the bully who was “big and solid as granite” (Infinite Insight into Kenpo, pg.
23). Ed Parker’s view would change, however, as soon as Frank Chow demonstrated the strategy he used to beat
the bully. Ed Parker started his training under Frank Chow, and would continue until Frank Chow told him that he
was ending their lessons. Frank Chow told Ed Parker that he was not qualified to teach him any more and to
continue his kenpo education with his brother, William Chow. Ed Parker treasured his time with William Chow and
would eventually move to the continental United States to attend college and then open a kenpo school with
William Chow’s blessing.
Ed Parker eventually would make adaptations and changes of his own to kenpo. He took what William Chow
taught him and organized every technique and movement into a format that could be broken down into levels for
all students. Parker renamed the system American Kenpo Karate.
