(posted on Facebook a few years ago)
Historical Note: All original Katas were developed using traditional Kenpo Self-Defense Techniques. “American Kenpo” did not begin to exist until almost 10 years later. This is why there are so many differences between the way the techniques in American Kenpo are done and the way they are done in the Katas in American Kenpo, because in American Kenpo the Katas came first, often preserving the more original version of the technique, but only in the Kata.
1. Nihanchi 1-2 - James Mitose - 1937
2. Finger Set - First Kata/Set created by Ed Parker - 1959
The Finger Set ties together many of the hand or finger movements of Kenpo and was designed by Ed Parker to be used as a demonstration set when you wanted 20-30 people to move in unison. The only problem is if one person does something wrong it makes the whole group look bad.
3. Moving Finger Set—more about this set later
There are more versions of Moving Finger Set than any other Kenpo Kata. We teach the most common version. Never a major set, it is primarily still taught so that it will not be lost.
4. Two Person Set - James Lee - 1959-60
This is the Kata that replaced The Panther Set (Book Set) in Ed Parker's book Secrets of Chinese Karate. Black Belt Set or 2 Person Set got the name Black Belt Set because it was the highest Kata required when Katas began to be required for promotion to Black belt (1960-61). The set is also known as "The Two Man Set" or "The Two Man Black Belt Set". In the early days of Kenpo (1956-62) this was the most advanced set taught as a requirement for "Black Belt".
There are two halves of this Kata, both of which are taught and demonstrated separately and together. Since this is a two person Kata it is very exacting and must be practiced over and over with the same partner (so be sure to choose a partner who will be around for a while). It is also an excellent tool for learning to make adjustments to new and different partners. The set is a great one to perform at demonstrations because the audience can see the actual application of each move, as opposed to most Katas where the audience only sees ambiguous or dance-like movements.
5. Panther Set (Book Set) - Bunji - James Woo
The nickname "Book Set" comes from the fact it was meant to be the Kata featured in Ed Parker's Book, Secrets of Chinese Karate. Because of problems developed between Ed and James Wing Woo* (the man who had been helping with the book) this set was removed from the book and replaced with "The Two Person Set".
*Historical Note: James Wing Woo was given the cover and a feature article in the November 1990 issue of Inside Kung-Fu magazine. As you can see from the list on this page, he had the single largest influence in the development of our Kenpo Katas. Others of note who had an influence in the development of our Kenpo system include: James Lee, Professor T. Y. Wong of the Sil Lum system, Bruce Lee, Ralph Castro, Rick Jason and Joe Lewis, just to name a few.
6. Five Section Punching Set - James Woo
7. Eighteen Section Punching Set - James Woo
8. Tam Tui - James Woo
This is a classic "Chinese Set" also spelled Tan Tui. There are at least 10 different major versions of this training set. Some systems teach as few as 6 sections and others have as many as 18. The correct number of sections is 12. The Chinese Muslims** have their own version which has 10 sections. This set is known for its development of strong legs and stances. Done properly it provides an excellent workout in conjunction with many beneficial martial arts hand and leg movements. The set is comprised of a series of repeated movements done in a straight line. You do as many of the repeated movements of each section as you have room for in your training area, with 6-8 being the standard.
**Historical Note: When China was ruled by Genghis Khan and his followers they ruled with such a bloody hand that many of the Chinese officials were hesitant to enforce laws against their fellow religious believers. Genghis Khan solved this by bringing in Muslims who considered all the Chinese as infidels and had no qualms about shedding blood.
9. 2 Man Tam Tui - James Woo
10. Tai Chi - Yang Style - James Woo
11. Tiger and Crane - James Woo
This Kata was developed in the 1800's by Wong Fei-Hung of the Hung Gar Kung-Fu system. The Chinese Master Lam Sai-Wing, who studied directly under Wong Fei-Hung, subsequently published three books on the Hung Gar System. If you compare drawings from his book, you can see how close most of his movements are to our version even after almost 200 years.
There has been some misunderstanding about the use of the Tiger and Crane as a "Classic" Kenpo set. The "Tiger and Crane" (Fu Hok Seung Ying) is the definitive form of the Hung Gar system containing all the complete self-defense hand movements of the style. The "Tiger and Crane" is the bridge between the system we have now and the original system that Professor Chow learned and passed on to Ed Parker. Ed, in turn, introduced Kenpo taught to him by Professor Chow to the United States mainland. As modern as the "Kenpo" system is, this Kata keeps us aware of one origin of our art, namely the Katas of Kenpo. For this reason we continue to teach the "Tiger and Crane". It should be noted the "American Kenpo" system does not have or teach this Kata.
Done properly, the "Tiger" section alone of the "Tiger and Crane" is one of the most beautiful and powerful of all Katas. For this reason it is possible to get high scores in competition even from Japanese or Korean judges, even though the form is Chinese.
Tiger and Crane (only the Tiger section is usually performed) is the #1 winning Kenpo Kata in the United States for tournament competitions and demonstrations. If you want to develop one winning Kata for competition, this is it.
After the above Chinese Sets (Katas) were introduced into Kenpo the following Katas were created for Kenpo, using many theories and movements from these classic Chinese Forms or Sets.
1. Short #1 (4 Shields) - 10 Pattern Kata - Woo & Parker
2. Short #2 (Cat Set) - Star Pattern
3. Short #3 (Single Escape set)
4. Black Belt Set
Historical Note: The above 4 Katas were the original and first Kata requirements for "Black Belt"
5. Long #1 (Shield and Mace)
6. Long #2 (Continuous Set)
7. Long #3 (Double Escape Set)
All the techniques in this Kata are defenses against grab attacks (chokes, wrist grabs, waist grabs, etc.) This Kata marks the transition into the format of the advanced Kenpo Katas that will follow, as from this point on most of the Katas will require the techniques to be done on both sides. It is by far the most difficult Kata up to this point (as it precedes Tiger & Crane).
8. Long #4 (Definitive Set)
This is "The Classic Kenpo Kata". Comprised of 20 sections of self-defense techniques and basics, it takes between 2 minutes and 30 seconds to 3 minutes to perform. It is Ed Parker's masterpiece—developed in the early 1960's. If you perfect* only one Kenpo Kata, let it be this one.
The Kata is always taught the same, but each student will have a slightly different interpretation. This is the way it should be in Chinese Sets or Katas.
9. Staff Set (#3 Staff Set or Chinese Staff) - Created by Chuck Sullivan
10. Long #5 (Takedown or Transition Set)
11. Long #6 (Weapons Set) - There are several versions of Long #6
Historical Note: Ed Parker created Long #5 and Long #6 in the mid 1960's—after Ed Parker and James Woo went their own separate ways. Ed Parker would not create any more Katas for almost 20 years until he created #7 and #8.
12. Long #7 (Advancing Set)
13. Long #8 (The Twin Set)
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