Ed Parker's versus Geoff Johnson's American Kenpo
When creating Geoff Johnson's American Kenpo Karate, my goal was to stay as close to Ed Parker's system of Kenpo as possible, while improving the practicality of the art and addressing ground fighting. You can visit the Belt Requirements link in the sidebar to see the material for each belt level in my Home Study Course.
Summary of Differences
I have re-ordered the techniques in each belt level so that all of the defenses are grouped according to the type of attack (e.g.Grabs and pushes, holds and hugs, chokes and locks from the front, side, and behind; ground fighting; strikes, weapons, and multiple opponents).
I have removed and re-worked several techniques I felt were impractical. I also created a few new techniques.
I incorporated some basic Brazilian Jiu Jitsu to address ground fighting, and created my own, more practical, defenses against knives and guns.
I removed all of the forms. Although they are a wealth of knowledge, I prefer to train my muscle memory for instinctive responses to attacks I am likely to encounter. The forms distract me from this goal. Besides, many of the techniques in the forms were the ones I removed from the system for being impractical.
I have altered the ranking system slightly. In my system there is only 1 degree of brown belt. I did this so that the base techniques are completed by 1st degree black belt, and the extensions are studied in 2nd through 5th degree black belt.
Detail of Differences
The differences between my system and EPAK may appear subtle based on what I have on youtube. Much of the beginning material is the same. You will notice that I have removed a few techniques throughout the system that I felt were not practical. Those techniques certainly have merit in the study of category completion, but I wanted to focus on those techniques that are worth ingraining into muscle memory for instinctive self-defense. Below is a list of the techniques that I removed from EPAK when creating my own system.
Removed
Orange
repeating mace
Purple
captured leaves
charging ram
calming the storm
gift in return
twin kimono
Blue
twist of fate
broken ram
circling the horizon
Green
brushing the storm
menacing twirl
circles of protection
circle of doom
capturing the storm
cross of death
3rd Brown
rotating destruction
glancing lance
dominating circles
destructive fans
blinding sacrifice
snakes of wisdom
entwined lance
2nd brown
fatal cross
escape from the storm
circling windmills
reversing circles
circling the storm
unfolding the dark
unwinding pendulum
piercing lance
escape from darkness
prance of the tiger
defying the rod
twisted rod
These techniques do have value, but in the effort to focus on what is most practical, I felt it better to address ground fighting issues. You should notice the Brazilian Jiu Jitsu techniques in every belt level. I also created several new techniques.
New
Orange
thrusting knee
escaping the mount (bjj elements)
destructive wing (optional)
bridge and roll (bjj) (optional)
reach back (bjj) (optional)
scissor sweep (bjj) (optional)
Purple
escaping the guard (bjj elements)
capturing the branch (optional)
riding high (bjj) (optional)
cowboy to side mount (bjj) (optional)
establishing guard (bjj) (optional)
gift wrap from mount (bjj) (optional)
Blue
escaping side mount (bjj elements)
escaping scarf hold (bjj elements)
back roll to foot lock (bjj) (optional)
gift wrap from guard (bjj) (optional)
knee push (bjj) (optional)
knee on chest (bjj) (optional)
key lock (bjj) (optional)
arm bar under side mount (bjj) (optional)
gift wrap from guard (bjj) (optional)
back roll to foot lock (bjj) (optional)
arm bar from under side mount (bjj) (optional)
Green
the guillotine (bjj)
escaping the rear naked choke (bjj)
scissor sweep from side mount (bjj) (optional)
hook the head (bjj) (optional)
pushing to mount (bjj) (optional)
knee through the gap (bjj) (optional)
knee to elbow (bjj) (optional)
Brown Belt
defying the lance
falling lance
spiraling rod
desperate rod
finish from mount (bjj)
spiraling lance (optional)
elevator sweep (bjj) (optional)
mayflower sweep (bjj) (optional)
get to knees (bjj) (optional)
arm triangle from mount (bjj) (optional)
1st Black
escaping the lance
bending the rod
entangled rod
folding the rod
entwined rod
escaping the rod
finish from side mount (bjj)
slashing lance (optional)
reversing lance (optional)
rnc spin out(bjj) (optional)
key lock from side mount (bjj) (optional)
arm bar from guard (bjj) (optional)
arm triangle from guard (bjj) (optional)
I have also reworked several techniques throughout the system. Most of the changes are very minor, but important (perhaps "preferences" would be more appropriate than "changes"). With these techniques I stayed as close to the original as possible, while improving their practicality.
Reworked
Yellow
grasp of death
captured twigs
Orange
crashing wings
Purple
snapping twig (optional)
twirling wings
crushing hammer
shield and mace (optional)
Blue
snaking talon (optional)
tripping arrow
securing the storm
flashing mace (major changes) (optional)
Green
conquering shield (optional)
heavenly ascent
intercepting the ram
glancing wing (optional)
retreating pendulum (optional)
Brown
falling falcon
glancing spear
unfurling crane (optional)
circling fans
leap of death (major changes) (optional)
raining lance (major changes)
capturing the rod
broken rod
grasping eagles
the bear and the ram
gathering of the snakes (optional)
1st Black
defensive cross (major changes) (optional)
bowing to buddha (optional)
thrusting lance
twirling hammers (optional)
dance of darkness (optional)
entwined maces (optional)
destructive kneel (optional)
marriage of the rams
2nd Black
clutching feathers ext
gift of destruction ext
locking horns ext
obscure sword ext
grip of death ext
thrusting salute ext
shielding hammer ext (optional)
buckling branch ext (optional)
3rd Black
snapping twig ext (optional)
parting wings ext (optional)
darting mace ext
crushing hammer ext
sleeper ext (optional)
4th Black
begging hands ext
gift of destiny ext
bow of compulsion ext
wings of silk ext
repeated devastation ext
defying the storm ext
securing the storm ext
hugging pendulum ext (optional)
flashing wing ext (optional)
flashing mace ext (optional)
5th Black
conquering shield ext (optional)
encounter with danger ext
twirling sacrifice ext (optional)
escape from death ext
glancing wing ext (optional)
retreating pendulum ext (optional)
kneel of compulsion ext (optional)
circling destruction ext (optional)
clipping the storm ext (optional)
.
Everything else in Geoff Johnson's American Kenpo Karate remains unchanged from Ed Parker's system.
Unchanged
Yellow
delayed sword
alternating maces
mace of aggression
sword and hammer
sword of destruction (optional)
checking the storm (optional)
deflecting hammer (optional)
attacking mace (optional)
Orange
triggered salute
clutching feathers
lone kimono (optional)
glancing salute
crossing talon (optional)
gift of destruction
twisted twig
locking horns
obscure sword
grip of death
locked wing
scraping hoof (optional)
five swords (optional)
thrusting salute
shielding hammer (optional)
buckling branch (optional)
dance of death (optional)
reversing mace (optional)
obstructing the storm
Purple
parting wings (optional)
hooking wings
darting mace
striking serpent's head
thrusting prongs
obscure wing
cross of destruction
circling wing
flight to freedom
spiraling twig
squeezing the peach
swinging pendulum (optional)
thundering hammers (optional)
sleeper (optional)
leaping crane (optional)
shield and sword (optional)
evading the storm (optional)
Blue
thrusting wedge (optional)
destructive twins
raking mace
begging hands
gripping talon
gift of destiny
bow of compulsion
entangled wing
fallen cross
crossed twigs
wings of silk
repeated devastation
squatting sacrifice (optional)
defying the storm
hugging pendulum (optional)
gathering clouds (optional)
Green
encounter with danger
broken gift (optional)
obscure claws (optional)
leap from danger
twirling sacrifice (optional)
escape from death
detour from doom
returning storm
kneel of compulsion (optional)
back breaker (optional)
taming the mace (optional)
circling destruction (optional)
clipping the storm (optional)
Brown
deceptive panther (optional)
protecting fans (optional)
falcons of force
parting of the snakes
1st Black
desperate falcons
thrust into darkness
fatal deviation (optional)
courting the tiger
reprimanding the bears
the ram and the eagle (optional)
2nd Black
triggered salute ext
lone kimono ext (optional)
glancing salute ext
crossing talon ext (optional)
twisted twig ext
locked wing ext
scraping hoof ext (optional)
crashing wings ext
five swords ext (optional)
raining claw ext (optional)
dance of death ext (optional)
reversing mace ext (optional)
obstructing the storm ext
3rd Black
hooking wings ext
striking serpent's head ext
thrusting prongs ext
cross of destruction ext
circling wing ext
twirling wings ext
flight to freedom ext
spiraling twig ext
squeezing the peach ext
swinging pendulum ext (optional)
thundering hammers ext (optional)
leaping crane ext (optional)
shield and sword ext (optional)
shield and mace ext (optional)
evading the storm ext (optional)
4th Black
snaking talon ext (optional)
thrusting wedge ext (optional)
destructive twins ext
raking mace ext
gripping talon ext
entangled wing ext
tripping arrow ext
fallen cross ext
crossed twigs ext
squatting sacrifice ext (optional)
gathering clouds ext (optional)
5th Black
heavenly ascent ext
broken gift ext (optional)
intercepting the ram ext
obscure claws ext (optional)
leap from danger ext
detour from doom ext
returning storm ext
back breaker ext (optional)
taming the mace ext (optional)
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