Kempo History

During the l8th century a senior member of the Mitosi clan of Japan travelled to China to study the martial arts at the Shaolin Temple where he remained for many years.  Upon his return to Japan he introduced the art of Chu'an Fa which he called Kempo (Japanese for "Way of the Fist").  This was later developed into a system for healing, health, and fighting called Kosho-Ryu Kempo.

The Okinawans had always termed the Martial Arts as "Te" which literally means hand.  During this period (1609-1903) "Karate" meaning "Hands of China" replaced the word "Te" (during the latter part of the 19th century) until the Chinese character which denoted "Hands of China" or "China Hand" (the latter being more correct) was changed by the Japanese to their character which meant "empty hand".  This change (officially dated to 1923) angered many of the Okinawan masters who were proud of the term designating their fighting style.  They did not wish to separate their loyalty and association with China.  The masters were reluctant to accept the change, which was spearheaded by a student of Chogun Miyagi named Nagashi Hanage of the Goju-ryu style of karate.  While the change may have brought a deeper meaning according to Chogun Myagi, in which spiritual overcomes the physical, it is yet another example of how the Japanese managed to make many think that the Art was theirs and not the Chinese from whom it descended.

Some of the great masters of Kempo and Kenpo
	James Brassard Shaolin American Kempo		Mayaoshi "James" Mitose 1916 -1981 Kosho Ryu Kenpo
	Edmund Parker SR 1931 - 1990 American Kenpo Karate		William Kwai Sun Chow 1914-1987 Chinese Kara Ho Kempo
	Fred Vallari Shaolin Kempo Karate		Nick Cerio 1936 - 1998 Cerio Kenpo

Why are black Gi’s worn?

When Master James Mitose returned to Hawaii in 1937 from his Kenpo training with his grandfather in Japan, he knew that people would assume his art was just another Japanese/Okinawan martial art. He immediately wanted to send a message to all other martial artists in Hawaii that this was not the case. He did this by wearing a "Black Gi", which was contrary to the nature of the traditional martial arts. James Mitose wanted all to know that while there were some similarities to other martial arts, Kenpo had taken a different path of development and was a style of its own - not to be considered Japanese in nature or origin.  Even the Japanese government recognized this when they did away with the Samurai as a class and outlawed the traditional wearing of swords. At the same time a proclamation by the Japanese government went out, when the sanctity of human life was affirmed, Kenpo was made an illegal art although Ju Jitsu was allowed to be practiced because it was more scientific, meaning Kenpo was a killing art that had its true origin in China.

The message the Black Gi sent was that Kenpo is a war art; Black was an indication of death and bruising. To this day traditional Japanese and Okinawan tournaments will not allow the wearing of Black Gi's. Kenpo's very nature would certainly cause disqualification if all techniques were used in a tournament. In traditional karate the basis of the art is, "there is no first strike". In Kenpo it is different, "there should be no second strike".

A wise man once said

The knowledge of a book lies within, 

The cover of a book is decoration,

So whatever the Gi or Obi colour the skill is inside the body wearing it.

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