American Kenpo vs Traditional Kenpo

Mr.Bean

Hi everyone as the title suggests i have a question about the two.

I have done martial arts for a good few years and the Ed Parker system for roughy 2/3years up untill maybe a year ago, due to having kids and the trip to the club my attendace got less even though i loved it.....I trained in a well known city centre club and height of respect for my Sifu.

Anyway i found a club litteraly 2mins walk from the house so thought id check it out but found it was traditional kenpo as opposed to the american system.....is there much of a differnce between these??

No disrespect intended to anyone here but my impressions are the american system is more `deadly` or there is more in it if that makes sense?

Just an example....in short form one we used to do `doublefactor`blocks on the last four moves against kicks to strenghten the block or leave no margin for error but in the traditional one its just the one as the other is `unnecessary`.

Thats just an example and amoung my first impressions, no disrespect intended to either styles but just wondering is there much of a difference?

If I am going to stay at it long term(which i will)then obviously i would rather do the one i prefer.

Be intersted in hearing any replies or comments people might have.

Thanks!

Puddleduck

Weird. I googled this yesterday...

I think that they are mostly the same except that kenpo has no Kata or something.

I think the only real difference is American Kenpo is less 'ridgid' than Kenpo. Kenpo was Americanised to make it more accesable to the Americans. Go down and sit in on a class, see what its all about.