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Kempo (Ryukyu)
(Contributor: Al Wilson - awilson@drunivac.drew.edu)
Intro:
Ryukyu Kempo (which roughly translates into Okinawan kung-fu,
or Chinese boxing science) is the original style of martial arts
learned and taught by Gichin Funakoshi on the island of Okinawa
(1). It stresses the existence of body points within your opponent
that can be struck or grappled for more effective fighting.
Origin: Okinawa Islands (Ryukyu island chain).
History:
Practioners of Ryukyu Kempo believe that karate-do is a popular
subform of Kempo, established within this century by Gichin Funakoshi.
People with original copies of Funakoshi's first edition book
_Ryukyu Kempo_ state that he is clearly is grappling and touching
an opponent. Later editions and current karate books only show
a practioner with a retracted punch, where the original shows
actively grappling an enemy. It is felt that Funakoshi was the
last of the purists, wanting all to learn the art.
In subseqent years, the Okinawans, who have a culture and history
of their own, became disenchanted with the Japanese, and were
less inclined to teach them the "secret techniques" of self defence.
When American military men occupied Japan after WWII, they became
enamored of the martial-arts. It is theorized that the Japanese
and Okinawans were reluctant to teach the secrets of their national
art to the occupiers, and so taught a "watered down" version of
karate-do usually reserved for children. Contemporary Kempo practioners
practice "pressure point fighting" or Kyushu-jitsu and grappling,
called Tuite. It is an exact art of striking small targets on
the body, such as nerve centers, and grappling body points in
manners similar to Jujitsu or Aikido(2).
Modern teachers of this are George Dillman of Reading, PA, Taiku
Oyata of Independence, Missouri, Rick Clark of Terre Haute, Indiana,
and others.
Training:
The practioners of kempo believe that kata do not represent origin
or direction of attacks but positional techniques for the defender.
Concentration is made on physical perfection of kata and the Bunkai,
or explanation of the movements. Tournaments of kata and kumite
(sparriing) are encouraged as learning experiences, but not overly
stressed. Also taught is Kobudo, which is defined as weapons fighting
using ordinary hand tools.
Five principles to be observed in Oyata's school:
1. Proper distance.
2. Eye contact.
3. Minimum pain inflication on your opponent.
4. Legally safe.
5. Morally defensible.(3)
There are a couple of physical differences in Kempo and many
other styles. One is a three-quarter punch, rather than a full
twist. Second is a fist whereby the thumb stops at the first finger,
rather than the first two fingers. Third is the sword hand, which
has the little finger placed as parallel as possible to the third
finger and the thumb straight and on the inside rather than bent.(2)
References:
(1) _Karate-Do: My Way of Life_ by Gichin Funakoshi
(2) _Kyusho Jitsu: The Dillman Method of Pressure Point Fighting_
by George A. Dillman with Chris Thomas.
(3) _Ryukyu Kempo: History and Basics_ by J. D. Logue (Oyata
student).
Sub-Styles:
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