The USA brought back the GOLD from the

2009 World Kempo Championship Tournament in

Bucharest, Romania, October 26 - 31, 2009!

Site Chosen for the 2009World Kempo

Championship Tournament

Jan 2009

Bucharest, Romania will be the site for the 2009 World Kempo Championship Tournament.  Originally scheduled for Nice, France in April '09, the French Organizing Committee ran into difficulties in securing the arena for the appropriate length of time needed to conduct the Championship.  

Since a proper arena in Nice could not be arranged in time, the International Kempo Federation (IKF) Tournament Committee made the unprecedented commitment to step up and agree to hold the 2009 event in Bucharest, Romania, the site of the first competition back in 2003.

Amatto Zaharia, IKF President, and Leader of the Romanian National Kempo Team, took responsibility for organizing the tournament in Bucharest because he can secure an appropriate  sized arena for the necessary length of time to conduct the Championship.

The 2009 World Championships will be held between October 26th and 31st, 2009.  Details of the event will be published shortly as soon as they have been finalized.

If you are interested in becoming a member of the 2009 US Kempo Team or would like to sponsor fighters please contact us:

The United States Kempo Team

Robert Zingg, Team Leader

111 West 2nd, Avenue, Suite B

Ranson, WV 25438

USA

304-725-3639 - dojo

304-261-0160 - cell

   The US Kempo Team plans to travel to the ancient city of Bucharest, Romania October 26-31, 2009 to take on some of the best amateur Kempo fighters in the world during the 2009 World Kempo Championship Tournament (WKC).

   This annual event, held in cities throughout Europe, is a gathering of the best amateur Kempo fighters and traditional competitors in the world.  Powerhouse teams from the USA, Russia, Romania, France, The Netherlands, Hungary, Bulgaria, Slovakia, Portugal, Algeria, and Morocco, just to name a few, go head to head for four days of intense and exciting action.  From the precision, beauty, and grace of the traditional events of empty hand forms, weapon forms competition, and self-defense demonstrations; to the hard hitting, knockout action of K-1 style Full-contact Kempo kickboxing, MMA style full-contact Knockdown Kempo fighting, and the ever popular Submission Kempo ground fighting. There is truly something for everyone in this action packed martial arts competition.

   The European teams, especially those in the Eastern Block countries of Romania, Hungary, Slovakia, Russia, and Bulgaria, have consisted of teams as large as 100 members.  The US Team by contrast, has only been able to have teams consisting of less than a dozen members. This is partly due to the cost of travel.  While many of the European countries can merely get on a bus and drive for several hours to another country for the championships, the US Kempo Team must fly from cities from all over the USA.  This is particularly costly for those members on the west coast and Hawaii. The Hawaiian delegation has many well qualified fighters who are eager to enter the competitions.  Unfortunately, the Hawaiian Team leader teaches in some of the poorest areas of the island and the Hawaiian Team members consist of low income at risk youth and adults who must rely on sponsorships to travel anywhere for events.

   The US Team is searching for individuals, dojos, small and large Kai and other organizations that may be interested in participating in this 2009 US Kempo Team.  The team is open to any Kempo/Kenpo student or instructor who may practice any form of Kempo/Kenpo.  Japanese, Chinese, Okinawan, Shorinji, American, Ed Parker Style, Kajukenbo, or any other system that has a Kempo or Kenpo base or derivative is welcome. 

   Those who are from other styles, but are interested in the Sport Kempo Fighting divisions, are also eligible for a place on the US Team, provided they can fight under our rules and have the skills necessary to compete against some of the best ameatur Kempo Fighters in the world.  Since the International Kempo Federation (IKF) promotes all Kempo/Kenpo styles, everyone is welcome.  Our goal is to get a cross-section of all styles of Traditional Kempo players, as well as those interested in the Sport Kempo fighting, so the world can see the high quality of Kempo in the USA.

   Potential Team members must be willing and able to raise their own travel expenses for the tournament, consisting of, but not limited to, airfare, hotel, food, uniforms and gear.  The US Kempo Team is also searching for sponsors who will provide travel costs, uniforms and gear to the team in exchange for advertising their name, product, apparel, or organization. 

   As we prepare for the 2009 WKC Tournament in Romania, which is only a few months away, we need to form a high quality team in preparation for the excellent quality of the European competitors.

   There are several categories in which players may compete: Semi-contact Fighting, Full-contact fighting, Forms, Weapon forms, Empty-hand Self-defense, Weapon Self-defense, Weapon fighting. The tournament is a Black Belt only competition; however, anyone can compete as long as they realize there is only one rank division.  There is no separation of rank in the tournament.  However, several of my blue and green belts won 1^st, 2^nd and 3^rd place medals in the WKC in 2005 and one of my teen white belts won 3 Bronze medals in his fighting categories in 2008.

For further information on team membership and Team Sponsorship please contact us at the numbers below:

The United States Kempo Team

Robert Zingg, Team Leader

111 West 2nd Avenue, Suite B

Ranson, WV 25438

USA

304-725-3639 - dojo

304-261-0160 - cell

Get on board with the US Kempo Team.  Represent the USA through international competition. Join the team, travel to exotic places for competitions, see the world, meet new people, make friends, experience different cultures, and have a blast doing it!

Be a competitor, sponsor, contributor, or supporter.... help in any way you are able.  Use the skills you have to help the USA win.  Be a part of the team ...just ask us, we will help find a place for you!

 So, you wanna join the Team, huh?

Do you have what it takes?

 ________________________________

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.