A Brief History of Kenpo Karate

Kenpo is truly a combination of five cultures: Chinese, Japanese, Okinawan, Hawaiian, and American.  We trace our origins back to Japan and the Yoshida clan, where Kenpo or Kempo was passed down through the clan for 21 generations, from approx. 1235 until finally to James M. Mitose (1916-1983), the 21st Great Grand Master.   James Mitose would move to Hawaii where he would be the first to teach our great system to people outside of the Yoshida clan.  One of Mitose’s students would be William K.S. Chow (1914-1987). William Chow was also known as "thunderbolt" because of his incredible speed and power. He spent most of his life practicing and perfecting his martial arts, becoming quite famous for his power and excellent memory of techniques.  He left James Mitose in 1949 after becoming an instructor, and opened his own Kenpo school. It was William Chow who in 1949 coined the term "Kenpo Karate," to distinguish his system from James Mitose’s Kenpo jiu-jitsu, although both styles were the same. Chow also felt Mitose’s system was too linear, so he introduced circular movements. William Chow then took the title "professor" and renamed his system go-shinjitsu. Some twenty years later, William Chow renamed his system "Chinese Kenpo of Kara-ho Karate."

Edmund Parker would become a student of William Chow and received his Black Belt from Chow on June 5, 1953.  While having previous martial arts experience and a Black Belt in Judo, when Ed Parker met Chow it was then that he knew “Kenpo would be his life’s work.”   Parker opened his first school in Provo in 1954. Parker then moved to Pasadena, California, , in 1956. He remained in Pasadena, teaching the "original" Kenpo he had learned from Chow, until 1960.  Ed Parker would continue to evolve his system, eventually creating what is now called "Ed Parker American Kenpo."  

During these early days in Pasadena, the Tracy brothers began their training with Ed Parker.  They began learning Kenpo from Ed Parker and his first black belt, James Ibrao in 1957, while attending college as pre-law students. They developed a close relationship with Ed Parker. Parker turned all the teaching of beginner and intermediate classes over to the Tracy brothers, who would develop an order in which the techniques would be taught.  The advanced classes were run by James Ibrao. Al Tracy was the powerhouse of Ed Parker’s studio and did all the breaking demonstrations, and the Tracy brothers ran Ed Parker’s studio when Parker returned to Hawaii.

Al Tracy was the fifth person promoted to Black Belt by Ed Parker in 1962.  Jim Tracy, Al’s brother, was the sixth.  Will Tracy received his Black Belt in 1961, under both William K.S. Chow and Great Grand Master Fusae Oshita (James Mitose’s sister).

In the spring of 1962, the Tracy brothers opened their first studio in San Francisco.  From there they opened additional schools in California.  Eventually, they would create “Tracy’s International Studios of Self-Defense” and would begin to franchise Tracy’s across the country.  There are now over 100 schools teaching Tracy’s Kenpo Karate.

The Tracy’s Kenpo Difference

The Tiger & Dragon Boca remains true to the 600 techniques taught to the Tracy brothers by Ed Parker.  While many styles, including many Kenpo schools, have reduced the number of techniques required to simplify the learning process, we have not.  We believe that the original techniques build, like an alphabet, a response to all situations, and they give you the ability to adapt quicker to changes in any engagement.  

For our adult Kenpo program, it is our unique concept of personalized, private instruction that has set us apart from all other schools of self-defense. By working one-on-one with your personal instructor, you are able to achieve a greater degree of proficiency.  You will learn 7- to 17- times faster than group classes alone.   Most importantly, private instruction means that anyone can learn to defend themselves, regardless of age, athletic experience or learning ability.

Group classes are offered in conjunction with personalized private instruction.   Students may choose to train in group classes designed to supplement their private classes. This combination of both private and group classes offers students the most unique and versatile self-defense program available. Group classes emphasize the basics of karate and body conditioning, resulting in improved flexibility, coordination, muscle tone, and endurance.

In addition to confidence building, we also employ the four major cornerstones of morality and integrity in the martial arts: honesty, courtesy, respect, and discipline. We do more than just teach you how to punch or kick - Kenpo is a way of life!

Strength for the Mind, Body and Spirit!