What is Kenpo?

Kenpo (in Japanese from “ken” meaning fist, and “po” meaning law), also written as Kempo (which referred to all martial arts migrating out of China to other parts of the world such as Japan), is unique as far in two respects; it is considered by many the first eclectic martial art, as well as having its founding roots stretch back to 520 BC. The catalyst of the way of Kenpo was a prince and warrior of southern India called Bodhidharma. According to the records of the Lo-Yang temple, Bodhidharma was a Buddhist monk under the tutelage of Prajnatara and it is presumed that upon his death bed Prajnatara requested Bodhidharma to travel to China where he felt the principles of Buddhism were in decline, and that the knowledge of dhyana (Zen koans) should be known.

Kenpo is a unique martial art having been founded several centuries ago in the Chinese Shaolin temple, thus bringing with it a certain air of mystery. As a martial art, Kenpo is referred to as a Do. The Do is referred to in Buddhist Zen scripts as a path towards enlightenment. Lao Tzu, a priest of Taoism said "Mastering others requires force; Mastering the self requires enlightenment.." This phrase sums up what Kenpo strives towards. Although on its surface Kenpo can be seen as a unique form of self-defence, hidden beneath its physical exterior are levels where characteristic centralization of mind and body form. At this level, Kenpo's practitioners move from a simple form of fighting to a higher level of ability and a higher level of enlightenment. Ying Kuchan, a Shaolin monk and master of Kenpo after a lengthy period of meditation in a Zen rock garden spoke of Kenpo saying "Kenpo is the power of adaptability and yielding; the harmony of all things working together."

On the surface, Kenpo's uniqueness lies in its comprehensive and diversified means of unarmed defence. For example, Shaolin Kenpo Karate is both an armed and unarmed system of combat incorporating applications in varying appearances and method. On an external level, Kenpo is a no holds barred fighting system of offensive and defensive methods with equal emphasis on striking techniques with the hands and feet; immobilization and controls; projections and take downs; as well as weaponry and various spiritual and healing arts. Zen Kenpo is a streetwise defensive art that does not restrict its students in methodology. Clawing hands evolve into slashing feet. Cunning joint locks turn into devastating hip throws. Evasive blocks turn into breath closing chokes.

The possibilities are endless. The only true fighting systems are those where there are no rules applied. From the books of the Han dynasty we learn "Nothing is impossible to a willing mind." And it is from this saying that we can derive the upper principles of Shaolin Kenpo. Kenpo tries to build a person’s psychological persona as well as turning the ego self into the egoless self. The true Kenpo is not a means of felling an opponent by force of hand or weapon, nor was it originally intended as a means of arms. Kenpo calls for a bringing of inner peace to the self, and the universe around us. A master of Kenpo is not only a master of self-defence, but a master of himself. The direction of true Kenpo was best described by Bruce Lee when he commented on his art of Jeet Kune Do; "To have no way as a way; To have no limitations as a limitation."

In its physical form as perhaps the most effective street fighting system, Zen Kenpo is based on the objective of destructing the adversary’s attack with minimum target exposure to oneself. Kenpo has evolved to provide both maximum efficiency (no wasted time, movement or energy) and maximum effectiveness (speed, power, and focus). Therefore, both “hard” and “soft” techniques are used with varying degrees of power to achieve the destruction of the opponent’s attack.

Good exponents of the Kenpo art flow with continuity of movement. The best are so flexible in thought and action that they can automatically react to any encounter as it occurs.

We are grateful to KFK’s site on “Martial Arts History and Styles” for much of the information above