Paul Casey Kenpo Karate

Perfect moments with SGM Chuck Sullivan. Thank you sir. Your friend Paul

Amazing day as with two dear friends...they are legendary...I'm grateful for them. Eric Lee - King of Kata and Bill 'Superfoot' Wallace.

SEPTEMBER 2026 IMAMAG.ORG IS HERE. CLICK ON LINK...OR PICK UP A COPY. KENPO CORNER by Paul Casey Kenpo Karate

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Big News is coming - Celebration of Greatness 2027. KKHOF.COM

Why Train in Kenpo?
By Paul Casey, Kenpo Karate Hall of Fame.

Kenpo Karate is more than a martial art. It is a living system of self-defense, personal development, and continuous learning that has evolved through the contributions of remarkable pioneers. Understanding its history helps us appreciate why Kenpo remains one of the most practical and dynamic martial arts practiced today.

The roots of modern Kenpo can be traced through Hawaii, where William K.S. Chow blended influences from Chinese martial arts, Kosho-Ryu Kenpo, boxing, jujitsu, and practical street-fighting experiences into what became known as Kenpo Karate. Chow’s emphasis was simple: techniques had to work in real-world situations. His teachings influenced many future martial arts leaders, including Ed Parker and Adriano Emperado.

Adriano Emperado took those principles and helped create Kajukenbo, one of the first truly eclectic martial arts systems, combining karate, judo, jujitsu, kenpo, and boxing to address the realities of street violence in Hawaii. Figures such as Joseph Holck, Peter Choo, Frank Ordonez, and Joe Emperado contributed to its development, while practitioners like Emperado and others preserved the spirit of adaptation that remains central to Kenpo today.

Ed Parker, called the Father of American Kenpo, revolutionized the art by organizing techniques into a logical teaching system and introducing concepts, principles, and scientific analysis of motion. Parker transformed Kenpo from a collection of techniques into a comprehensive method of self-defense and personal growth. His teachings emphasized adaptability, economy of motion, timing, positioning, and the ability to tailor responses to individual circumstances.

Other Hawaiian martial arts pioneers, including Edmund Kealoha Parker’s contemporaries and influential instructors such as Ralph Castro, Sijo Emperado, and figures associated with the Ryusaki and Tuiolosega families, contributed to Hawaii’s unique martial arts culture. Their efforts helped preserve and spread practical self-defense knowledge throughout the islands and beyond.

Today, Kenpo continues to evolve through dedicated instructors and practitioners worldwide.

My own journey in Kenpo has been focused on preserving the principles handed down through these pioneers while helping students understand that martial arts training is about much more than fighting. My writings are for all to read, discuss and become "thinkers." It is about confidence, discipline, respect, leadership, and lifelong learning.

Students train in Kenpo because it teaches them how to think under pressure, adapt to change, and overcome challenges. The techniques develop self-defense skills, but the principles develop character. Every class is an opportunity to improve physically, mentally, and emotionally.
Kenpo’s history is a story of innovation, practicality, and evolution. Its future depends on those willing to train, learn, and pass on its lessons to the next generation.

That is why we train in Kenpo. Not simply to learn how to defend ourselves, but to become the best versions of ourselves while honoring the legacy of those who came before us.

Time to train. Begin