To understand more about Kinney Karate, it is important to recognize the original styles of Korean Tang Soo Do, Japanese Ju-Jitsu and Chinese Kempo as the foundation of the system. The evaluation of System vs. Style is further illustrated by
understanding the evolution of Tang Soo Do and its early American history as defined by one of its earliest instructors, Ki Whang Kim. Legendary Martial Arts pioneer Ki Whang Kim was the original source who started the evolution of the system of Kinney Karate.
Grand Master Kim was of Korean/Chinese nationality. His family was well-to-do and lived both in Korea and China. He had the opportunity to study both Korean (Tang Soo Do) and Chinese (Kempo) Martial Arts. Mr. Kim was the original founder of the first Tang Soo Do Association in the United States. He was the first major Korean Instructor in America, preceding the introduction of “Tae Kwon Do” by several years. His teachings did not follow the traditional Korean system of Tang Soo Do established by Hwang Kee.
Grand Master Kim openly advocated participation of students in early open-style tournaments using fighting techniques not advocated by Korean traditionalists. He also incorporated basic Japanese Ju-Jitsu and Aikido techniques in class training, further irritating the Korean Martial Arts community. By listing his school as a “Karate” school (using the Japanese language to identify the art for commercial reasons), he angered not only Korean Martial Arts leaders, but also those who wanted to keep “Styles” identified by ethnic labeling.
In essence, Mr. Kim created his own “Style” in the early sixties by developing training techniques suited to Americans, and by teaching a mixture of Martial Arts. He pioneered Point Karate and Kick Boxing tournament participation, and fostered an open training atmosphere among the American Martial Arts community in its formative years.
Kinney Karate is a “System” that has evolved from Mr. Kim’s “Style.”
