| The Five Animals |
 The Snake is accurate and efficient. It uses simple straight & bending techniques both for the hands and legs, generally aiming with at a specific target that the Snake has identified for their opponent.
|
| Announcements |
|
New Location!
We're now located at the Lifetime Fitness Center in north Austin. The address is 13725 North R.M. 620
Austin, TX 78717.
Mapquest to Gym
|
| FAQ |
What system of Martial Arts do you practice?
We train in a soft style of kenpo which has striking, throwing, and joint locks. More specific information about the art can be found here.
Are you affiliated with any organization?
We're members of the World Kenpo Federation based in Detroit, Michigan. The Round Rock group is currently the only WKF club located in Texas.
More
|
|
| Kenpo History |
Kenpo, also written as Kempo, is unique as far as its history goes in two respects; it is considered by many the first eclectic martial art, as well as having its founding roots stretch back to 520 BC. The catalyst of the way of Kenpo was a prince and warrior of southern India called Bodhidharma. According to the records of the Lo-Yang temple, Bodhidharma was a Buddhist monk under the tutelage of Prajnatara and it is presumed that upon his death bed that Prajnatara requested Bodhidharma to travel to China where he felt the principles of Buddhism were in decline, and that the knowledge of dhyana (Zen koans) should be known.
Kenpo is a unique martial art having been founded several centuries ago in the Chinese Shaolin temple, thus bringing with it a certain air of mystery. As a martial art, Kenpo is referred to as a Do. The Do is referred to in Buddhist Zen scripts as a path towards enlightenment. Lao Tzu, a priest of Taoism said "Mastering others requires force; mastering the self requires enlightenment.." This phrase sums up the full circle of what Kenpo strives towards. Although on its surface Kenpo can be seen as a unique form of self-defense, hidden beneath its physical exterior are levels where characteristic centralization of mind and body form. At this level, Kenpo's practitioners move from a simple form of fighting to a higher level of ability and a higher level of enlightenment. Ying Kuchan, a Shaolin monk and master of Kenpo after a lengthy period of meditation in a Zen rock garden spoke of Kenpo saying "Kenpo is the power of adaptability and yielding; the harmony of all things working together."
On the surface, Kenpo's uniqueness lies in its comprehensive and diversified means of unarmed defense. For example, Shaolin Kenpo Karate is both an armed and unarmed system of combat incorporating applications in varying appearances and method. On an external level, Kenpo is a no holds barred fighting system of offensive and defensive methods with equal emphasis of striking techniques with the hands and feet; immobilization and controls; projections and take down; as well as weaponry and various spiritual and healing arts. Shaolin Kenpo is a street wise defensive art that does not restrict its students in methodology. Clawing hands evolve into slashing feet. Cunning joint locks turn into devastating hip throws. Evasive blocks turn into breath closing chokes.
The possibilities are endless. The only true fighting systems are those where there are no rules applied. From the books of the Han dynasty we learn "Nothing is impossible to a willing mind." And it is from this saying that we can derive the upper principles of Shaolin Kenpo. What sets Kenpo apart from boxing, wrestling, and Sunday night football is an emphasis on centralization of body and mind, a concept understood by very few. Many people are quiet happy with only the surface value of Kenpo taking its studies for reasons of physical health, self-defense, or a Monday night hobby. But for what level of imperfection will you settle for in yourself? If there is more to Kenpo why not grasp it. Kenpo tries to build a persons psychological persona as well as turning the ego self into the egoless self. The true Kenpo is not a means of felling an opponent by force of hand or weapon, nor was it originally intended as a means of arms. Kenpo calls for a bringing of inner peace to the self, and the universe around us. A master of Kenpo is not only a master of self-defense, but a master of himself.
The Kung Fu Kid
|
| posted
by webmaster |
|
|