Kenko Kempo Karate[1] is a
hybrid martial art system aimed at people over 40 years of age. It is a methodology to adapt
Eastern martial arts to the needs of persons of advanced age, for both novices as well as experienced practitioners. It aims at
health,
wellness, and
self-defense. The system can be adapted to most martial arts but consistently uses
tai chi forms as part of the training programme.
Kenko Kempo Karate is registered as an association in
Germany as well as the
Netherlands where the Netherlands Federation for Martial Arts accepted it within its elderly martial arts initiative.[2]
History
Kenko Kempo Karate was formed in
Germany in 2011 by Erich B. Ries.[3] Ries,[4][5] founded it to improve the accessibility of
martial arts for novices and advanced practitioners, who want to work towards a
black belt, when this is not possible in the classical Eastern martial arts. Kenko Kempo Karate is a
hybrid martial art with hard martial arts techniques in addition to
qigong and
tai chi. Kenko Kempo Karate intends to function in the field of
preventive healthcare for the second half of life (with
self-defence), as a health-supportive lifelong training program.[6][7][8] Kenko Kempo Karate does not intend to be of therapeutic value, as
Ai Chi does, which also includes qigong and tai chi.
Teachers of Kenko Kempo Karate are
certified by the professional organisation Kenko Kempo Karate Organisation e.V. (KKKO),[9] with contact persons in Austria, parts of Germany and the Netherlands.[10]
Characteristics
Kenko Kempo Karate shares the autonomy of the certified teacher with
Kajukenbo, another hybrid martial arts system. The cross-style methodology of Kenko Kempo Karate is reflected in the schools and styles that use it for teaching: jiu-jitsu,[11]judo,[12]kenjutsu,[13]quan-fa,[14]taekwon-do,[15]wing chun,[16] and Shotokan karate.
The Kenko Kempo Karate curriculum combines techniques of internal and external Martial Arts in each training session with content based on four pillars:[10]
A short tai chi form: 9-Yang[17] and one short
self-defense kata Kenko Kempo;[18]
Basic Martial Arts techniques, including easy but effective self-protection.
The program includes the whole road from white belt to 3rd black belt, aiming at
pleasure,
safety and
health while taking into account possible restrictions experienced by the individual practitioner. It may be characterized as follows:
^Erich B. Ries, Stefan Wogawa. Kenko Kempo Karate – Selbstverteidigung für Senioren. Das Konzept für Gesundheitssport, Kampfkunst, Selbstverteidigung. Aktualisierte und erweiterte Neuausgabe. Norderstedt: BoD; 2016; ISBN 978-3741-2653-41
^
abE.B. Ries, S. Wogawa. KENKO KEMPO KARATE®. Stiloffene Kampfkunst für Senioren und Menschen mit Handicap. Das Beste aus QiGong, Tai-Chi-Chuan, Karate und Gesundheitsgymnastik. Das vollständige Programm bis zum 3. Dan. Für Einsteiger, Quereinsteiger und Wiedereinsteiger in die Kampfkünste. Open Style Martial Arts for Seniors and People with Disabilities. The best of QiGong, Tai-Chi-Chuan, Karate and health gymnastics. The full program up to 3rd dan. For the new-comer, career changer and those returning to martial arts. Norderstedt: BoD 2022; ISBN 978-3-7543-5949-5