Shaolin Kempo Karate
Encyclopedia
Shaolin Kempo Karate is a martial art style that combines the Five Animals of Shaolin Kung Fu
, the core competency of Kempo
, the hard-hitting linear explosiveness of traditional Karate
, as well as the power of Western Boxing and the felling and grappling arts of Jujutsu
, Chin Na
, and Mongolian wrestling
. This system was founded and developed by Fredrick J. Villari, (a former black belt student of Nick Cerio and William Kwai Sun Chow
) who devised a hybrid system which integrated the four ways of fighting:striking, kicking, felling, and grappling to eliminate the inherent weakness of martial arts systems that focus on just one or two of fighting techniques.
Shaolin Kempo Karate is primarily taught through a chain of Villari's Martial Arts Centers in the United States and Canada, although there are several unaffiliated organizations that teach variations of the style. These include schools founded by former students of Fred Villari.
1. The Shaolin Temple - where Kung Fu and other Chinese martial arts are commonly referred to as "boxing" or "temple boxing." The Chinese aspect of the art is also the source of the 5 basic animal forms: Tiger, Crane, Snake, Leopard and Dragon which all have very different postures and focuses.
2. The Yoshida and Komatsu clans of Japan who founded the system of Kenpō
.James Mitose
was a member of the Yoshida family, and is commonly credited as the founder of modern Kenpo/Kempo.
3. Mongolian, Chinese & Tibetan wrestling from which most Asian grappling arts (such as Chin Na
and Jujutsu
) descended.
Because of the diversity of Asian, Polynesian, and American culture in Hawaii, the arts of Kenpo, Kajukenbo
(which was an early hybrid martial art), and Kenpo Karate were formulated mostly by street fighters like William Chow and Adriano Emperado. Ed Parker
helped bring Kenpo to mainstream America through his work in Hollywood and with celebrities such as Elvis Presley
and Bruce Lee
. Through later work of George Pesare and Nick Cerio, Kenpo was brought to the East Coast of the United States, where Cerio would meet and train Villari.[citation needed] Villari's use of Kenpo, which he later changed to "Kempo" would be the vehicle by which he would bind together the principles of the traditional martial arts:
The original Shaolin Kempo Karate school was United Studios of Self Defense, later becoming Fred Villari’s Studio of Self Defense. It was under this name that the SKK style spread across the United States and throughout the world. At its peak, there were more than 300 Villari franchised martial arts schools worldwide. [citation needed]
The development of the system consisted mainly of mastering several existing martial arts, removing movements Villari deemed inefficient, and then integrating the remaining movements into a cohesive system. Fred Villari borrowed heavily from the following in the development of SKK:
1. Shaolin Kung Fu
is the "backbone" of SKK for its circular punches and kicks, but mainly for the incorporation of the 5 animals: Tiger, Crane, Dragon, Snake and Leopard. Shaolin arts also emphasize a sense of balance and a lifestyle of health and fitness. Shaolin animal strikes and methods used by Villari are included more prominently in the higher ranks of SKK and are thus less apparent to a casual observer or low ranking student.
2. Karate
for its mechanical style as well as linear and angular movements combined with quick shuffles and explosive attacks. Nearly everything taught in the first 3 levels of SKK is rooted in traditional Karate, which had led to much of the criticism of the system using the term "Shaolin" when the casual observer or young student would be learning little else but Karate stances, strikes, and blocking methods until they have achieved the rank of purple belt.
3. Kempō
for its non-dogmatic approach to fighting systems and a mixture of both hard and soft movements that blend nicely in combinations. Kempo is taught slowly to beginners in SKK, but is increasingly prevalent in intermediate, advanced, and master levels of the system. It is also a noticeable source of many black belt forms in SKK.
4. Chin Na
, Jujutsu
, & Mongolian Wrestling
for their varying focuses on different aspects of holding, seizing, locking, throwing, felling and delivering pain that can be controlled.
Aside from use of specific and traceable Asian lineage, a wealth of material was created by Fred Villari himself, and still further material was "Demystified" for the sake of being shared with the masses. From this breadth of source material and original work by Villari, Shaolin Kempo Karate was codified to include 108 fighting combinations and the following kata
s:
Two Man Fist Set, Sho Tun Kwok, 12 Hands of the Tiger, Nengli South, Nengli North, 11 Hands of Buddha, Invincible Wall, Branches of the Falling Pine, Lost Leopard, Iron Fortress, Tai Sing Mon, 1000 Buddhas, Five Dragons Face the Four Winds, Snake, Wounded Tigers, Immortal Monkey and the Plum Tree Blocking System.
For his contributions to the martial arts world and the spread of Shaolin Kempo Karate to thousands of Americans, Frederick J. Villari was inducted into the World Masters and Black Belt Federation in 2005.
The grading in Shaolin Kempo Karate consists mainly in the demonstration of techniques, combinations, and forms as well as application of knowledge in sparring. In addition, students are placed in various situations that will help them develop a stronger and more logical mind in simulated self-defense scenarios. Forms consist of a display of footwork with kicks and punches as well as displacements. [citation needed]
Among the most frequent criticism of Villari is his self-promotion to 10th degree black belt, when his traditional training had only resulted in a 5th degree black belt rank. [citation needed] Villari justifies this elevation by highlighting the creation of a new, unique martial arts system, with new techniques and combinations which had not previously existed. [citation needed] However, members of the traditional martial arts communities felt that Villari lacked the authorization necessary to be considered a Grandmaster. [citation needed]
Another frequently criticized aspect of the Villari business organization is the ability of "distance learning," in which students are able to learn ranks through black belt by purchasing a series of DVDs and then filming themselves performing the techniques.
Shaolin kung fu
Shaolin Kung Fu refers to a collection of Chinese martial arts that claim affiliation with the Shaolin Monastery.Of the multitude styles of kung fu and wushu, only some are actually related to Shaolin...
, the core competency of Kempo
American Kenpo
American Kenpo or Kenpo Karate is a system of martial arts created by Ed Parker, characterized by the use of quick moves in rapid-fire succession intended to overwhelm an opponent...
, the hard-hitting linear explosiveness of traditional Karate
Karate
is a martial art developed in the Ryukyu Islands in what is now Okinawa, Japan. It was developed from indigenous fighting methods called and Chinese kenpō. Karate is a striking art using punching, kicking, knee and elbow strikes, and open-handed techniques such as knife-hands. Grappling, locks,...
, as well as the power of Western Boxing and the felling and grappling arts of Jujutsu
Jujutsu
Jujutsu , also known as jujitsu, ju-jitsu, or Japanese jiu-jitsu, is a Japanese martial art and a method of close combat for defeating an armed and armored opponent in which one uses no weapon, or only a short weapon....
, Chin Na
Chin Na
Chin Na or Qinna is a Chinese term describing techniques used in the Chinese martial arts that control or lock an opponent's joints or muscles/tendons so he cannot move, thus neutralizing the opponent's fighting ability...
, and Mongolian wrestling
Mongolian wrestling
Mongolian wrestling, known as Bökh , is the folk wrestling style of Mongols in Mongolia, Inner Mongolia and other regions...
. This system was founded and developed by Fredrick J. Villari, (a former black belt student of Nick Cerio and William Kwai Sun Chow
William Kwai Sun Chow
William Kwai Sun Chow was instrumental in the development of the martial arts in the United States, specifically the family of styles referred to as kenpo/kempo....
) who devised a hybrid system which integrated the four ways of fighting:striking, kicking, felling, and grappling to eliminate the inherent weakness of martial arts systems that focus on just one or two of fighting techniques.
Shaolin Kempo Karate is primarily taught through a chain of Villari's Martial Arts Centers in the United States and Canada, although there are several unaffiliated organizations that teach variations of the style. These include schools founded by former students of Fred Villari.
History & Development
The roots of Shaolin Kempo Karate can be traced back to 3 main sources of Asian Martial arts[citation needed]:1. The Shaolin Temple - where Kung Fu and other Chinese martial arts are commonly referred to as "boxing" or "temple boxing." The Chinese aspect of the art is also the source of the 5 basic animal forms: Tiger, Crane, Snake, Leopard and Dragon which all have very different postures and focuses.
2. The Yoshida and Komatsu clans of Japan who founded the system of Kenpō
Kenpo
is the name of several Japanese martial arts. The word kenpō is a Japanese translation of the Chinese word "quánfǎ. This term is often informally transliterated as "kempo", as a result of applying Traditional Hepburn romanization, but failing to use a macron to indicate the long vowel...
.James Mitose
James Mitose
James Masayoshi Mitose James Masayoshi Mitose James Masayoshi Mitose (born Masayoshi Mitose, (December 30, 1916 — March 26, 1981) was a Japanese American martial artist who brought the art of Kenpo to the United States starting in the late 1930s....
was a member of the Yoshida family, and is commonly credited as the founder of modern Kenpo/Kempo.
3. Mongolian, Chinese & Tibetan wrestling from which most Asian grappling arts (such as Chin Na
Chin Na
Chin Na or Qinna is a Chinese term describing techniques used in the Chinese martial arts that control or lock an opponent's joints or muscles/tendons so he cannot move, thus neutralizing the opponent's fighting ability...
and Jujutsu
Jujutsu
Jujutsu , also known as jujitsu, ju-jitsu, or Japanese jiu-jitsu, is a Japanese martial art and a method of close combat for defeating an armed and armored opponent in which one uses no weapon, or only a short weapon....
) descended.
Because of the diversity of Asian, Polynesian, and American culture in Hawaii, the arts of Kenpo, Kajukenbo
Kajukenbo
Kajukenbo is a hybrid martial art that combines Western Boxing, Judo, Jujutsu, Kenpo Karate, Eskrima, Tang Soo Do, and Kung Fu. It was founded in 1947 in Oahu, Hawaii, at the Palama Settlement. The original purpose of the art was to deal with local crime and to help the people defend themselves...
(which was an early hybrid martial art), and Kenpo Karate were formulated mostly by street fighters like William Chow and Adriano Emperado. Ed Parker
Ed Parker
Edmund Kealoha "Ed" Parker was an American martial artist, promoter, teacher, and author.-Life:Parker was born in Hawaii, and raised a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He began his training in the martial arts at a young age in judo and later boxing...
helped bring Kenpo to mainstream America through his work in Hollywood and with celebrities such as Elvis Presley
Elvis Presley
Elvis Aaron Presley was one of the most popular American singers of the 20th century. A cultural icon, he is widely known by the single name Elvis. He is often referred to as the "King of Rock and Roll" or simply "the King"....
and Bruce Lee
Bruce Lee
Bruce Lee was a Chinese American, Hong Kong actor, martial arts instructor, philosopher, film director, film producer, screenwriter, and founder of the Jeet Kune Do martial arts movement...
. Through later work of George Pesare and Nick Cerio, Kenpo was brought to the East Coast of the United States, where Cerio would meet and train Villari.[citation needed] Villari's use of Kenpo, which he later changed to "Kempo" would be the vehicle by which he would bind together the principles of the traditional martial arts:
"Villari’s martial arts training started early in his life. After being introduced to Western and Chinese boxing by his father, Villari went on to study jiujitsu and wrestling with the LeBlanc brothers in his middle teens. By the time he was 18, Villari realized his martial arts training was stagnating and sought out Nick Cerio as an instructor of Chinese kenpo. After completing his requirements as second degree black belt with Cerio, Villari traveled to the West Indies where he traded his techniques for karate and kung-fu training. While in the islands, Villari also studied under a Chinese-Australian instructor Soo, and gained his third and fourth degrees. After working with another master Len Chou, Villari received his fifth degree and soon decided to open his own school."
The original Shaolin Kempo Karate school was United Studios of Self Defense, later becoming Fred Villari’s Studio of Self Defense. It was under this name that the SKK style spread across the United States and throughout the world. At its peak, there were more than 300 Villari franchised martial arts schools worldwide. [citation needed]
The development of the system consisted mainly of mastering several existing martial arts, removing movements Villari deemed inefficient, and then integrating the remaining movements into a cohesive system. Fred Villari borrowed heavily from the following in the development of SKK:
1. Shaolin Kung Fu
Shaolin kung fu
Shaolin Kung Fu refers to a collection of Chinese martial arts that claim affiliation with the Shaolin Monastery.Of the multitude styles of kung fu and wushu, only some are actually related to Shaolin...
is the "backbone" of SKK for its circular punches and kicks, but mainly for the incorporation of the 5 animals: Tiger, Crane, Dragon, Snake and Leopard. Shaolin arts also emphasize a sense of balance and a lifestyle of health and fitness. Shaolin animal strikes and methods used by Villari are included more prominently in the higher ranks of SKK and are thus less apparent to a casual observer or low ranking student.
2. Karate
Karate
is a martial art developed in the Ryukyu Islands in what is now Okinawa, Japan. It was developed from indigenous fighting methods called and Chinese kenpō. Karate is a striking art using punching, kicking, knee and elbow strikes, and open-handed techniques such as knife-hands. Grappling, locks,...
for its mechanical style as well as linear and angular movements combined with quick shuffles and explosive attacks. Nearly everything taught in the first 3 levels of SKK is rooted in traditional Karate, which had led to much of the criticism of the system using the term "Shaolin" when the casual observer or young student would be learning little else but Karate stances, strikes, and blocking methods until they have achieved the rank of purple belt.
3. Kempō
KEMPO
KEPCO may refer to:* Korea Electric Power Corporation, a South Korean power provider* Kansai Electric Power Company, a Japanese power provider...
for its non-dogmatic approach to fighting systems and a mixture of both hard and soft movements that blend nicely in combinations. Kempo is taught slowly to beginners in SKK, but is increasingly prevalent in intermediate, advanced, and master levels of the system. It is also a noticeable source of many black belt forms in SKK.
4. Chin Na
Chin Na
Chin Na or Qinna is a Chinese term describing techniques used in the Chinese martial arts that control or lock an opponent's joints or muscles/tendons so he cannot move, thus neutralizing the opponent's fighting ability...
, Jujutsu
Jujutsu
Jujutsu , also known as jujitsu, ju-jitsu, or Japanese jiu-jitsu, is a Japanese martial art and a method of close combat for defeating an armed and armored opponent in which one uses no weapon, or only a short weapon....
, & Mongolian Wrestling
Mongolian wrestling
Mongolian wrestling, known as Bökh , is the folk wrestling style of Mongols in Mongolia, Inner Mongolia and other regions...
for their varying focuses on different aspects of holding, seizing, locking, throwing, felling and delivering pain that can be controlled.
Aside from use of specific and traceable Asian lineage, a wealth of material was created by Fred Villari himself, and still further material was "Demystified" for the sake of being shared with the masses. From this breadth of source material and original work by Villari, Shaolin Kempo Karate was codified to include 108 fighting combinations and the following kata
Kata
is a Japanese word describing detailed choreographed patterns of movements practised either solo or in pairs. The term form is used for the corresponding concept in non-Japanese martial arts in general....
s:
Two Man Fist Set, Sho Tun Kwok, 12 Hands of the Tiger, Nengli South, Nengli North, 11 Hands of Buddha, Invincible Wall, Branches of the Falling Pine, Lost Leopard, Iron Fortress, Tai Sing Mon, 1000 Buddhas, Five Dragons Face the Four Winds, Snake, Wounded Tigers, Immortal Monkey and the Plum Tree Blocking System.
For his contributions to the martial arts world and the spread of Shaolin Kempo Karate to thousands of Americans, Frederick J. Villari was inducted into the World Masters and Black Belt Federation in 2005.
Four Ways of Fighting
Shaolin Kempo Karate is built on the notion that all martial arts styles can be characterised as using one or more of the "four ways of fighting"- StrikingStrike (attack)A strike is an attack with an inanimate object, such as a weapon, or with a part of the human body intended to cause an effect upon an opponent or to simply cause harm to an opponent. There are many different varieties of strikes...
- to use of any part of the arms (e.g. open or closed hand, elbows, or forearms) - KickKickIn combat sports and hand-to-hand combat, a kick is a physical strike using the foot, leg, or knee . This type of attack is used frequently, especially in stand-up fighting...
ing - to use of any part of the leg (e.g. foot, shin, or knee) - FellingTakedown (grappling)A takedown is a martial arts and combat sports term for a technique that involves off-balancing an opponent and bringing him or her to the ground, typically with the combatant performing the takedown landing on top. The process of quickly advancing on an opponent and attempting a takedown is known...
- to knock an opponent off his feet (e.g. by throwingThrow (grappling)A throw is a martial arts term for a grappling technique that involves off-balancing or lifting an opponent, and tossing them to the ground in Japanese martial arts referred to as nage-waza, 投げ技, "throwing technique"...
, pulling, or shoving) - GrapplingGrapplingGrappling refers to techniques, maneuvers, and counters applied to an opponent in order to gain a physical advantage, such as improving relative position, escaping, submitting, or injury to the opponent. Grappling is a general term that covers techniques used in many disciplines, styles and martial...
- to clutch or grip (e.g. wrestlingWrestlingWrestling is a form of grappling type techniques such as clinch fighting, throws and takedowns, joint locks, pins and other grappling holds. A wrestling bout is a physical competition, between two competitors or sparring partners, who attempt to gain and maintain a superior position...
, holding, or locking jointsJoint lockA Joint lock is a grappling technique involving manipulation of an opponent's joints in such a way that the joints reach their maximal degree of motion....
).
| White | |
| Yellow | |
| Orange | |
| Purple | |
| Blue | |
| Green | |
| Brown | |
| Black | |
Belts
Shaolin Kempo Karate has eleven belt ranks (excluding dan ranks). New students begin at white belt and progress as they demonstrate requisite proficiency. Ranks are represented by the color of belt worn.The grading in Shaolin Kempo Karate consists mainly in the demonstration of techniques, combinations, and forms as well as application of knowledge in sparring. In addition, students are placed in various situations that will help them develop a stronger and more logical mind in simulated self-defense scenarios. Forms consist of a display of footwork with kicks and punches as well as displacements. [citation needed]
Controversies
Largely due to the both rapid growth of his chain of martial arts schools and claims Villari had made regarding his codification of an "unbeatable" fighting system, Villari and his business have been the subject of criticism in the martial arts community. Most typically, this came from practitioners of the highly traditional forms of Kung Fu and Karate who claimed that Villari did not have the authorization to modify existing systems or tamper with very specific and traditional forms, katas, stances, and styles. [citation needed]Among the most frequent criticism of Villari is his self-promotion to 10th degree black belt, when his traditional training had only resulted in a 5th degree black belt rank. [citation needed] Villari justifies this elevation by highlighting the creation of a new, unique martial arts system, with new techniques and combinations which had not previously existed. [citation needed] However, members of the traditional martial arts communities felt that Villari lacked the authorization necessary to be considered a Grandmaster. [citation needed]
Another frequently criticized aspect of the Villari business organization is the ability of "distance learning," in which students are able to learn ranks through black belt by purchasing a series of DVDs and then filming themselves performing the techniques.