What is Kempo martial art?

As a martial art, Kempo is referred to as a Do. The Do is referred to in Buddhist Zen scripts as a path towards enlightenment. Lao Tzu, a priest of Taoism, said “Mastering others requires force, mastering the self requires enlightenment.” This phrase sums the full circle of what Kempo strives towards.

Where did Kempo come from?

First it is considered by many to be the first eclectic martial art (i.e. made up of several other martial arts), and second it finds its roots stretching back to 520 BC during the Chou Dynasty. According to Chinese history, one of the first noted catalysts of the way of Kempo was a prince and warrior of Southern India called Bodhidharma.

What is the difference between Tae Kwon do and Kempo?

Tae Kwon Do is a Korean Martial Art that focuses primarily on kicking techniques. Some Tae Kwon Do schools also teach Olympic style fighting. Kempo is a practical self defense system which trains the student for modern day self defense encounters.

What is Kempo-Karate?

In 1934, before Mitose’s return to the United States, the term Kempo-Karate was first seen in the US press. An issue of the Yoen Jiho Sha newspaper carried an advertisement of the visit to Hawaii of Chogun Miyagi, a famous Karateka and founder of Goju Ryu Karate-do.