The United States
Kempo Team 

Who We Are 

    The United States Kempo Team (USKT) is a culturally diverse and ethnically mixed team of approximately 50 amateur martial artists from across the mainland USA and Hawaii, reflecting a cross section of American society.  The USKT promotes goodwill and sportsmanship around the world through regional, national and international competitions.  We do not discriminate by race, creed, color or gender.

    We are under the guidance and direction of our Team Leader, Robert E. Zingg, Shihan, 6th Dan, and are sanctioned by The American Kempo-Karate Association and compete under the rules of The International Kempo Federation.  

    The USKT is comprised of members from many states, various walks of life, several Kempo organizations, and a diversified group of Kempo schools and clubs.  We are individuals, teams, small training groups and large organizations. We are men, women, teens, adults, seniors, masters and beginners alike.  We are established adults with good jobs and young, hard-working kids struggling to make it. 

We are Americans. 

Our common ground is a love for our Country and our Art – Kempo. 

   The 2008 US Kempo Team, Faro, Portugal 2-6 April 2008. 3rd Place Overall Team Cup Winners!

 
                                 The 2003 United States Kempo Team, Bucharest, Romania

What We Do

    We gather together to learn, train and represent the USA in competition throughout the world and across the USA.

    We compete, we make friends, we visit exotic places few people have the opportunity to see, we broaden our horizons, we look inside ourselves, we grow, we learn, we teach, we respect our opponents, and we cherish those we meet.  We have pride in our Team.

    Our Goals for 2008 and into 2009 are high and both International and Regional in scope. 

       Ray Gilbert, Gold Medal, 2007 World Champion,                 Brian Duffy, Gold Medal,

        Masters Full-contact Knockdown fighting +95 kg                 2007 World Champion,

                                                                                     Masters Semi-contact  fighting -90kg.

    Each Year we travel to the World Kempo Championship Tournament (WKC), hosted by The International Kempo Federation (IKF) to compete against the best Kempo fighters in the world.The past three WKC tournaments, usually held in April/May, have been held every two years.  Due to the increased popularity of Kempo and the strong spectator demand, the WKC tournament is now held every year.We have also been asked to travel to various countries to teach our Art as Goodwill Ambassadors. 

    The interest in Kempo has swelled over the last several years and we have been contacted with requests to teach Kempo in Africa, Israel, Nepal, the Caribbean, US Virgin Islands, Peru, Chile, Ecuador, Cuba, Tajikistan, India, Mexico, Puerto Rico. We have already conducted Goodwill ambassador training seminars in Germany, Romania, Hungary, Belgium, and Slovakia.  The recipients have enjoyed what we have presented and have requested more sessions in the future.  We are currently scheduling requests for seminars projected into the next 18 months.

                                              The 2007 United States Kempo Team 

                     l-r, Doni Pully, NC; Robert Zingg, WV; Brian Duffy, TX; Ray Gilbert, MO.  

    Members of the USKT also compete in Mixed Martial Arts events (MMA) throughout the year in order to keep their skills sharp and to help spread the word about Sport Kempo.  Members of the USKT are fighters, referees, and judges  within various MMA  leagues and some members act as Referees and Judges for the many events held throughout the year.

    Members of the USKT allso represent the International Sport Combat Federation (ISCF) as Official Event Representatives, Referees, and Judges. (www.iscfmma.com)

    USKT members also participate in regional and local traditional martial arts tournaments.  Here they showcase their traditional skills, and those of their students, in the hometown karate tournaments held throughout their local areas.  Team members compete, coach and act as referees and judges in these events in order to develop good sportsmanship and team spirit within the younger players, to help them grow as martial artists and become future USKT members themselves.  USKT members also act as referees and judges for many Traditional and Open tournaments.

                                    Friends for ever.....Doni Pully, NC and Karoli Stift, Hungary.

The USA Team and part of the Hungarian Team.  Really great people, true friends, and great fighters.

The US Kempo Team and the Russian Kempo Team.  These guys are some of the best fighters I have ever seen.  Even the women, who are not pictured here, are some very serious fighters.

Photo:  Eleanor Parnell, Pink Imaging, info@pinkimaging.com,  www.pinkimaging.com 

For more photos click on photo page below. 

http://www.uskempoteam.org/2003_WKC_Tournament.html

http://www.uskempoteam.org/2005_WKC_Tournament.html

 

1. Complete Name

2. Age, DOB,

3. Gender

4. Height, Weight

5. Rank, Experience level

6. Kempo training history

7. Categories in which you would like to compete, see under: Services -  Types of  Competitions.

8. Compelling biography or introduction.

9. Detailed contact info.

10. Please send to:           info@uskempoteam.com

11. Any hard copy or video/dvd of your abilities may be mailed to:

The US Kempo Team

111 W. 2nd Ave, Suite B

Ranson, WV 25438

 ATTN: Robert Zingg                         Team Tryouts 

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Thank you.