10/06/2024
Dear Martial Arts Friends,
Here I am again recruiting members for the United States Kempo Team that will be representing the USA at the International Kempo Federation’s World Kempo Championship (WKC) tournament in Calais de Rainha, Portugal, April 21-28, 2025.
All styles and systems of Kenpo and Kempo are welcome. We do not discriminate race, creed, culture, age, gender or style of Kenpo/Kempo.
US citizenship or resident alien status required for participation, and all who wish to represent the USA are welcome.
In addition to the WKC there will be a partnership Open Tournament alongside the WKC for those team members who are alternates for their team, or others members who are not participating on the team, in order to allow them a chance to represent their team on the world stage.
This partnership tournament is hosted by the World All-Styles Championships, presented by Master Bruno Rebelo of Portugal.
If you are interested in participating in either competition please email me a request and I will send you the info for both competitions.
All registration is through me, Robert Zingg, USA Kempo Team Leader, as I am responsible for filling the brackets and scheduling divisions. Hotel accommodations are also scheduled though me, and staying in the official hotels is required by the tournament host. Meals are included at no extra charge.
Primarily this message is for martial artists in the USA and its Territories to become
members of the United States Kempo Team that will compete in the World Kempo Championship Tournament April 21-28, 2025 in Calais de Rainha, Portugal.
We are also in need of sponsors and suppliers who would contribute equipment or financial donations in return for our promotion of their products and services.
We are seeking full-contact fighters to compete in several different full-contact fighting styles:
Kempo Full-contact Kickboxing
Knockdown Kempo Full-contact Kickboxing (MMA Kempo)
Submission Kempo (grappling)
Semi-contact Kempo
Weapons Fighting Kempo
There are approximately 8-10 different weight classes, every 5kgs, in each of the fighting styles, with male and female categories in each of the fighting styles.
Ages are for adults: 16-17, 18-35, 36-49, 50 and over, male and female.
Juniors ages 10-11. 12-13. 14-15, male and female.
We are also seeking traditional Kempo/Kenpo players to perform Kata, Weapons Kata, and Self-defense performance in addition to the fighting divisions.
If you are not in the USA, but are a US citizen you are still eligible .
If you wish to participate as a member of your own countries team, please contact me and I can direct you to the proper country team leader.
The US Kempo Team is open to all martial artists interested in full-contact Mixed Kempo Kickboxing, Kempo MMA fighting, Submission grappling, Semi-contact, Weapons fighting, and Traditional Kempo divisions of Kata, Weapons kata, three person team kata, and Self-defense.
We seek Kenpo/Kempo players from all styles of Kempo/Kenpo: Japanese, Chinese, Okinawan, American, EPAC, Jeff Speakman Kenpo 5.0, Kajukenbo, and other Kenpo/Kempo variations, traditions, and styles.
Currently, the members of the US Kempo Team are a loose group of martial artists, we are all friends, training partners, students and teachers of each other, but we were strangers when we met to start the team and Kempo/Kenpo has made us brothers and sisters.
Many people have joined us over the years, with many returning each year or as often as they can to proudly represent the USA in world Kempo/Kenpo competition.
We hail from across the USA, representing several states, all age groups, both genders, and all walks of life. We are established masters from several styles, and young fresh teens and adults just itching to start on a new adventure.
The competition will be very good, with competitors from 65 or more countries from around the world.
The US Kempo Team is seeking between 50 and 100 fighters and traditional players ages 16-17, 18-35, 36 and over, male and female for the WKC, and ages 10-11, 12-13, 14-15, male and female for the World Cup portion of the event (for those under 16 years old).
There are 10 different wight classes in each of the 5 fighting categories, women's divisions usually have 8 weight classes. We are allowed 2 fighters per weight class in each of the fighting categories, and age groups, and 2 kata players per category and age group. You may participate in multiple events as room provides, so there are plenty of opportunities to fight and participate.
Please go to the team website: www.uskempoteam.com to see photos of previous events and to see the US Kempo Team video.
Please send your desire to participate as a fighter, traditional kata player, coach, assistant coach, or a sponsor.
Thanks and please do not hesitate to contact me at anytime.
Please pass this along to others you feel may be interested.
Further info may be seen at www.uskempoteam.com
http://youtu.be/Md4Q3znquew
thanks
Rob Zingg
304-261-0160 - cell
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Robert Zingg, 7th Dan, Kyoshi
Team Leader - United States Kempo Team
Zingg's Karate Center
111 W 2nd Ave
Ranson, WV 25438 USA
[email protected]
www.uskempoteam.com
www.zinggskaratecenter.com
karate, kempo, ju-jutsu, iaido, martial arts, mixed martial arts, Zingg