What is kempo?

When people think of martial arts they tend to picture violence, but the entire point of learning a martial art is to never have to use it. I have met and trained with dozens of prominent martial artists and the one thing they can always agree on is that martial arts is love. One may begin to learn how to defend because they want to protect the family they love. Another begins to develop the confidence and self esteem that makes them feel the love for themselves. For another it is the high energy and ever evolving ideas that they love. When one fully evolves, the love in their heart overtakes their need for conflict.

So, what then is Kempo?

Kempo originated in 495 AD in China with Shaolin Temple Boxing and the movements of the five animals. These fluent movements with numerous patterns of multiple strikes land as devastating kicks and punches to an opponent. This part of Kempo utilizes circular movements, speed, conditioning, and the development of strong internal energy, tendons and ligaments.

Karate, from Okinawa, adds simple and quick explosive movements with its linear and angular in-line fighting movements. This addition blends nicely with the more open circular movements to prevent vulnerabilities.

The Tibetans and Mongols were masters of the grappling arts long before Shaolin Temple Boxing and Karate were developed. Their art of Chin Na included a devastating form of locking, seizing, holding, and grappling.

All of these arts created Kempo, "effective multiple strikes off a powerful yet mobile base with linear, angular, and circular offensive and defensive motions with simultaneous manipulations of an opponent's upper and lower body masses such as sweeps, lock-ups, and chokes."

As Kempo traveled from Asia to Hawaii and then to the US it evolved and separated into different variations with some focusing more on the Japanese roots and some focusing more on the Chinese roots, but it retained its Four Ways of Fighting either way.

1. With your hands: punching, striking- both open and closed handed or using any part of the arms, elbows, forearms, etc.

2. Kicking: with the foot, knee, or leg

3. Felling: to knock an opponent off his feet by throwing, tripping, pulling, pushing, shoving, or scooping them

4. Grappling: to always have control of your opponent by either wrestling, holding, breaking or locking bones or joints against nerve centers, thereby directing your opponent by delivering excruciating and incapacitating pain.

The ultimate in self defense is not in one style of fighting, but by combining the Four Ways of Fighting.

So now how does this translate into love?

Martial arts is a community. To many it is a family and place of belonging. Through learning about yourself and training with others you develop self confidence and respect. Once you've ascertained a level of proficiency and you see the damage that can be caused, you hold onto the power for yourself. You carry it with you so that conflict avoids you. Through self esteem and humility your eyes are open to a world of possibilities.