Isn KEMPO just another type of karate or kung fu?
Yes and no. Historically, kempo — meaning Fist Method — is often categorized as a subset of Japanese jujutsu. In modern times, however, several uniquely American systems of kempo (sometimes spelled kenpo) have gained great popularity. The word kempo is a Japanese pronunciation of the Chinese characters Chuan Fa. There’s some evidence to connect Chinese traditions to early Japanese budo (look up Chin Gempin), but not in any overwhelming fashion. However, the Japanese historically looked to China for cultural direction and often used Chinese terms or Chinese-sounding terms to make what they were doing seem more refined. That said, kempo uses fists and feet, punches, strikes and kicks, to attack an oppoenent’s vulnerable spots, and often includes followup pins, locks or throws. Our kempo is deriviative of a Japanese lineage rather more than most American styles. At first glance, it does look a lot like karate, with its punches and kicks. Looking deeper, however, you’ll find the striking
