I have an average knowledge on a few martial arts but when it comes to kenpo/kempo etc I get a little confused and no next to nothing about it. I can do a Google search of course but seems to bring up too much info. Can you please explain a bit about kenpo and a brief history of it, how does it differ/connect with karate etc and what’s the difference between kenpo, kempo, American kenpo and shorinji kenpo etc???

thanks

Kara Ho Kenpo,originally started in Hawaii (ken means fist,Po means Law)
By William Chow
Taken to America by Ed Parker.
Where it evolved into Ed Parkers American Kempo

Kajukenbo
Ka stands for Karate,Ju for Jiujitsu and judo,Ken for kenpo and Bo for chinese Boxing.
Created by Adriano and Joe Emperado of Hawaii both of whom originally trained under William Chow

Shorinji Kempo,is registered in Japan as a religion based on Buddhism and Zen meditation,with a membership of hundreds of thousands
and hundreds of Dojos dotted around Japan,and the world is probably one of the largest styles in the world.
Originally came to Japan from China,from the Shorinji temple in Hunan
province in China.(can also be linked back to India)

Ok I see, thanks Shuto, so the Shorinji Kempo is slightly different in origin and nature (shorinji temple) and the main kenpo schools were derived mainly from William Chow. I will have a look to see what i can find on William Chow, thats interesting and helpful. Thanks

Martin also Google James Mitose

Found some interesting reads on both Prof William Chow and James Mitose, is it known why James Mitose after being so dedicated to the martial arts seemed to suddenly stop training? Is that correct? Wonder why.

James Mitose returned to Hawaii, deciding to share the family art with people of all races. Opening a school, he found that with the rigors of the system. Involving the training in religious philosophies in addition to actual fighting techniques, very few students mastered the system.
After fifteen years of teaching, only six students would be awarded the rank of Shodan (Black Belt). These were Jiro Nakamura, Thomas Young, William Chow {later known as Professor William chow of Kara Ho Kempo}, Paul Yamaguchi, Arthur Keawe, and Edward Lowe. It was in 1953 that James Mitose retired from active participation in the martial arts. Reasons are not clear even today. However, it is believed that James Mitose saw that his students were unable or unwilling to live their lives within the Kosho - Ryu philosophies. Other rumors have surfaced, but never confirmed. It is not really known exactly why Mitose decided to stop teaching.

March 27, 1981, a sad day in the history of Kosho - Ryu. The Honorable Great Grand Master James M. Mitose passed away while serving a sentence at Folsom State Penitentiary. Yes, it is true that this humble and religious human being, that dedicated his life to the martial arts, died in prison. Why was he incarcerated? It is shrouded in confusion and mystery.
Depending on whom you get the story from, is how one is to believe what happened to cause James Mitose confinement. If listening to the District Attorney's theory, one would believe James Mitose deserved to be incarcerated. To hear James Mitose's side of the story or to know him, would be of another feeling all together and call out for true justice to be served.
To this day, no one can factually state or determine the entire truth, and it can be expected that the truth will never be fully revealed. From the day the 21st Great Grand Master retired to the day of his passing away it is noted that he never opened a school. However he did teach selectively still trying to pass on the philosophies of the style of Kosho - Ryu.

Footnote: Like many martial arts the Kempo systems have evolved into many and varied offshoots all of which have thier own opinions about historical events .
For me I dont believe in denigrating any style,system or Grandmaster.
If what you train in works for you Great,if you want to crosstrain in another style then do so,we can all learn from others no matter what their level of ability.