What is Kempo / Kenpo?
Kempo or Kenpo, is a Japanese term, meaning "Fist Code" or "Fist Method". It has come to refer to forms of "boxing"(properly"kickboxing"). "Kempo" was a Japanese word for the Chinese term "Chuan Fa", -barehanded Chinese martial arts. It is much like the word itself, Japanese derived method of kickboxing (including other techniques), which has a claim of Chinese influence. There are four main forms of Kempo today.
South Mountain Martial Arts
91 Main Street, Madison New Jersey 07940-1849
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Kempo
Nan Zan Kempo at South Mountain Martial Arts
We practice kempo-kickboxing as both a subset of jujitsu training (it is required for promotion), and as an independent martial practice. Techniques are taught with an extensive focus on tactics and footwork., producing an ease of leaning which often shocks students who have backgrounds in other striking arts. Many logn time martial artists have found that they can perform kicks which they thoguht that they would never be able to perform again. This is true even taking into account that SMMA Kempo practice allows controlled contact to the legs, as well as throws.
Controlled contact protects the student from injuries which are caused by throwing a punch or kick in the air. Face and body armor is worn during sparring. Paired weapons training is a significant element of our training.. Students are carefully prepared for safe particpation in the armored sparring. Blows must be well formed (unlike light contact sparring) and precisely placed.
An additonal surprise is that all belts are the same color. Nan Zan Kempo uses a grading system of "densho", as in the classical jujitsu and Kempo systems. We truly enjoy having martial artists from othet systems train with us - technique is respected, and so is earned rank.
Shorinji Kempo
Founded by Doshin So, in Post-War Japan. It is registered in Japan as a religion. It includes two physical syllabi; "Goho" - "Hard Methods" (Boxing) and "Juho" - "Soft Methods" (seizing and grappling). Meditation practice is also required. The term "Shorinji Kempo" is Japanese for "Shaolin Chuan Fa", which it has claimed to be. Millions practice it worldwide, though it is small in the U.S.
Nippon Kempo
Founded by Muneomi Sawayama - a mix of Western Boxing, Karate, Judo, and Jujutsu. It is
very
fighting oriented. Kenshi / Kempoka fights in body armor (Bogu-shiai), hitting with controlled force. Throws and grappling are legal. With some changes, it is practiced by the Japanese Defense Forces as "Toshu-Kakuto"- unarmed combat raining, and in Japanese Police Defensive Tactics, called "Taiho-Jutsu". It is quite popular in Japan - quickly outstripping Classical karate, but little known in the U.S.
American Kempo
Begun by James Mitose in Hawaii, before WWII, and known, at that time, as "Kempo Jujutsu". It greatly popularized Karate in the U.S., though, ironically, it never was Okinawan Karate at all - but something more unique. Mitose's senior students introduced innovations to the art, which resulted in today's "American Kempo" or "Kempo Karate" made famous by Ed Parker. Others have apparently continued study in the tutelage of Mitose himself. It is a major force in modern Karate.
Jujutsu and Kempo
Many of the classic Jujutsu Ryu (systems) taught extensive methods. Some claimed a Chinese origin for them, some not. Called "Atemi-waza" (body striking), "Kempo Atemi-Te", etc., they were sometimes a "boxing" method, within the whole of the teachings of a Jujutsu school. This would have been similar to the practice of "Randori" (free practice) in Jujutsu/Judo for throwing and grappling techniques.
