Originally Posted by
RD'S Alias - 1A
Johnny Tsai,
How are you? I got my Kung Fu start in your Father's school in Norridge/Harwqood Hts (Whatever town Irving and Harlem is).
I would like to make a simple point on the whole Kempo/Chuan Fa debate. Kempo/Kenpo is Japanese for "Fist Method". Chuan Fa is Chinese for "Fist Method". Just because two different languages have words for "Fist Method", does not mean you can interchange them. The reason for this is because we have a third language in play here, and that is American. Once you get to the American language, the use of Japanese termonoloy will naturally mean a Japanese art, and the use of Chinese termonology will mean a Chinese art.
Now, Karate may mean "China Hand" in *Japanese*, but it still referes to a *Japanese* art that has roots in a Chinese art. Karate however, is still a Japanese style, and has changed too much from it's Chinese roots to be still considered a Chinese art. So, if you say you are doing Karate, everyone knows you are refering to the Japanese styles of fighting, not a Chinese style.
Kempo/Kenpo is also similar as it is basically a Japanese style. To say Kem/npo is Chuan Fa is not linguistically correct in the US because that would designate it as a Chinese art, when it is infact a Japanese one. It's an erronious *Tag*, and misleading to the general public, especially the layman. It would be accurate to call it Kem/npo, because THAT is what it is. It would be more specifically accurate to call it by whatever sub style it is (example; Paker Kempo etc..)
Terms like Chuan Fa, Kung Fu, Wushu, Wu Gong refer to Chinese arts specifically.
Terms like Akido, Karate, Kem/npo, Judo, and Jujitsu refer to Japanese arts.
If someone was teaching a Japanese art, then to be accurate, and not confuse others, they should refer to it with the propper termonology. Otherwise it opens them up to criticizem.