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. Regardless of whether you use the "Kenpo" or "Kempo" spelling of the Art, we are all brothers and sisters training together. We are under the guidance and direction of our Team Leader, Robert E. Zingg, Shihan, 8th 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 International Kempo Federation The IKF was created in 2000 as a result of the international collaborative efforts of the five founding countries: The USA, Romania, Hungary, Germany, and Slovakia. Several Kempo organizations in these five founding countries came together to form the IKF for the purpose of fostering the popularity of traditional Kempo throughout the world with local, national, and international competitive events; following the Olympic model, as well as informational training seminars and camps. Now, with members from over 70 countries around the world, the IKF continues to grow and spread the Art of Kempo/Kenpo. 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. Future goals... Our goals for the future are International and Regional in scope. 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 first three WKC tournaments, were 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 also 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, and 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. Competition... The main purpose of the USKT is to promote all styles of Kempo/Kenpo around the world though Traditional and Full-contact fighting events. The Fighting events offered in IKF and USKT tournaments are Full-Kempo, Knockdown, Submission Kempo and Semi-Kempo along with Traditional events of Kata, Weapon Kata, Self-defense, 3 person Team Synchronization Kata, and Full-contact Weapons Fighting. All IKF tournaments are Black Belt level competitions Members of the USKT also compete and officiate 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. 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. This helps 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. 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! |