Kenpo

Kenpō is the name of several martial arts. The word kenpō is a Japanese translation of the Chinese word “quánfǎ. This term is often informally transliterated as “kempo”, as a result of applying Traditional Hepburn romanization, but failing to use a macron to indicate the long vowel. The generic nature of the term combined with its widespread, cross-cultural adoption in the martial arts community has led to many divergent definitions.
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* 1 Japanese usage
* 2 Hawaiian and American Kenpō
* 3 Okinawan and Ryukyuan usage
* 4 References

Japanese usage

In Japanese martial arts, kenpō is used to designate Chinese martial arts, (much as the term kung fu is used in English-speaking countries), some koryu jujutsu styles as well as several gendai budo such as Shorinji Kempo and Nippon Kempo.[citation needed] The “m” romanization is often preferred when describing such arts in a Japanese context to avoid confusion with terms romanized as “kenpō” in the government of Japan and some forms of kenjutsu, such as that practiced within the Bujinkan. The various arts that are called “kenpō” or “kempo” in Japan do not necessarily share any lineage, theory or technical corpus.

According to James Mitose, the man credited with introducing kenpo to the west, “the practice of Kenpo is the execution of swift and vigorous muscular movements of the limbs and body. It comprises the movements of advance and retreat, leftward and rightward movements, and the upward jumping movement. These movements are per-formed spontaneously and activates the physiological regeneration of the respiratory system and of the circulatory system. It causes a coordinated movement of the feet, thighs, shoulders and back; the effect it has on the pulse, blood pressure and the breathing springs from the suitability of these movements.

When regarded from the standpoint of defense art, the characteristics of Kenpo are as follows:

1. It is the practical and complete application of body, mind, spirit and eye; namely the fist point (kento), finger point (shito), palm edge (shoto), palm, elbow, foot and arm, and the advantageous and effective use of these weapons.

2. It is the promotion of the offensive power through the rational use of spirit and body. A person never recklessly grabs his opponent’s body and thus place himself in a perilous situation. He does not expend time and strength un-economically as it is done in wrestling. He does not compete in trickery or strength or exposing his vital spots to his opponent.

3. Mainly by the methods of thrusting, striking, kicking, grabbing and fending, a person uses the atemi, shime and gyaku (breaking of any joint) of judo and decides the issue in a twinkling.”