The term “ken” derives from the Chinese “K'iuan” or “Quan” which in ancient texts evokes strength as well as the fist.

 

It is a term generally used to designate Japanese martial arts of Chinese origin. The first exchanges with Japan date back to the 13th century, through the Shaolin Buddhist monks. Shaolin quan was disseminated in various forms throughout Asia, notably in Japan and the Ryūkyū archipelago, most notably Okinawa, whose most famous kenpō would come to be known as karate.

 

There are many styles of kenpō, the most widespread being Japanese kenpō, Okinawan kenpō and American kenpō, itself largely derived from Hawaiian kenpō. Kenpō was also nicknamed Japanese kung fu. In recent years, particularly since the opening up of the former Soviet bloc, Bulgarian kenpo has also been spreading, thanks in particular to demonstrations at the Festival des Arts Martiaux de Bercy.

The transcription “kempo” refers to the Japanese branch, and “kenpo” to the Hawaiian branch. These writing conveniences enable connoisseurs to classify the myriad disciplines bearing the same generic name in this way. It should be noted that, initially, this was a generic term for a large number of martial arts disciplines originating from the island of Okinawa.

 

Okinawan Kenpo

Okinawan master Motobu Choki is considered by many historians to be the originator of the Okinawan branch of kenpo. A controversial figure in the martial arts world, he learned kenpo within the family circle. Indeed, Master Motobu comes from a noble family that trained renowned martial arts experts. He also learned Okinawan Shorin-ryu karate from such great masters as Matsumura Sokon and Itosu Yasutsune. He also studied Naha-te (Okinawan version of the capital, Naha, old and new). But above all, he trained in street fighting and became a renowned fighter. He traveled to Japan in 1921 and then to Hawaii: on both occasions, he took part in challenges to demonstrate the superiority of his system. He had no designated successor, but trained a number of renowned experts, the best-known of whom in karate were masters Robert Trias (founder of the Shuri-ryu school), Otsuka Hironori (founder of Wado-ryu) and Shimabuku Tatsuo (founder of Isshin-ryu karate). He also trained masters Nakamura of Okinawa kenpo and Mitose James-Masayoshi of Kosho ryu kenpo

 

Hawaiian branch

Kosho Shorei-Ryu Kenpo by Master James Mitose

Master Mitose James-Masayoshi can be considered the true originator of the rich Hawaiian branch of kenpo. Born in Hawaii in 1916, he returned to Japan in 1920 with his family (from a Japanese feudal clan). He practiced the family arts, notably ken-jutsu (sword fencing), kyu-jutsu (archery), ju-jutsu and a particular form of kenpo: kosho-ryu kenpo (old pine school kenpo). Around 1930, he became the disciple of master Motobu Choki (a distant relative). Choki taught him his version of kosho-ryu kenpo for six years. In 1936, Master Mitose returned to Honolulu (Hawaii), where he began teaching his kenpo under the name “kenpo ju-jutsu”. His system, a combination of strikes, twists and immobilizations, is the true root of the whole family of today's kenpo schools.

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He trained five black belts who would go down in history:

Thomas Young who, in 1953, became his successor at the head of his Hawaii club;

Paul Yamaguchi and Arthur Keawe;

Edward “Bobby” Lowe, who set up his own school, then switched to Kyokushinkai karate;

Mitose Thomas Barro (son of the founder), now head of kosho shorei-ryu kenpo;

Bruce Juchnik, nicknamed “the last disciple”: initially trained by master Ed Parker, he was trained by Mitose during the latter's stay in prison for murder; after his death, he created the Worldwide kosho-ryu kenpo Association and the Sei kosho shorei kai. 

Professor William K.S Chow, surely the best-known of Mitose's disciples, was the founder of the second great Hawaiian kenpo system, and trained some of the greatest names in kenpo.

 

After learning the system under the guidance of Master James M Mitose (heir and grandmaster of the Kosho-Shorei-ryu kenpo branch who introduced it to the island), Professor Chow went on to explore other disciplines such as karate and ju-jitsu, and combined these contributions with his family's practice of Shaolin wu shu kung fu. He then synthesized all this knowledge and enriched it with his experience of street fighting.

 

Professor William Chow went on to train a number of practitioners, some of whom went on to found other kenpo systems:

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Ed Parker, creator of American kenpo;
Adriano Emperado (Sonny), originator of Kajukenbo;
Ralph Castro, creator of Shaolin Kenpo.
Nicholas Raymond Cerio, creator of Nick Cerio's Kenpo system. 
Master Carlos Ferreiro's Ju Kenpo
Kara-Ho kenpo.

 

 

 

International Kenpo Federation

The practice of kenpo has grown considerably in Europe in recent years, particularly since the formation of a multi-style world federation: http://www.kempoikf.com/.

This federation promotes the practice of kenpo through competitions, seminars and exchanges between practitioners in member countries.

It is currently undergoing a process of recognition by sport agreement: http://www.sportaccord.com/en/.

 

Japanese martial arts
Budō
American kenpo
Kajukenbo
Kenpō kai
Nippon kenpō
Shōrinji kenpō

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Official website of Kenpo Karate Evolution in France (FKKA)
Official website of Association Nippon Kempo France
Official website of Shin Gi Taï KEMPO
Official website of the Kenpo karate school in Warwick, Quebec
Official website of American Kenpo France (EKKA-AKTS)
Website of the French Academy of American Kenpo (A.K.K.I branch)
Official website of kenpo kai in France (FKKH)

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Source: Wikipedia