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Thousands of people the world over have studied various forms of Kenpo or Kempo Karate. I remember when I first started learning karate lessons from an actual instructor, he told me about some of the styles of Okinawan karate. Later when I started learning kenpo karate, I was told that there were Chinese, Japanese, Okinawan, and Hawaiian styles of Kenpo. Well let me tell you that I was confused then and while searching through the internet for kenpo history – I am still a little fuzzy.
In this post I will discuss the difficulty discerning history because of bias, poor records, frame of reference, and other research challenges. I will also speak of Kempo/Kenpo’s recent history since James Mitose in Hawaii and the Hawaii Karate Museum’s online records. Here is a video of some of Kenpo’s early history including its spread from China, Okinawa, and Japan.
As you can see the beginnings of modern kenpo winded its way through the orient. Each country put its own special stamp on kenpo. I know little of the Chinese kenpo that migrated to Okinawa but according to this video, the Okinawans developed kenpo before allowing it to spread in the 20th century.
One point to keep in mind is each historian will differ slightly in what and when, so when you see a video like this – don’t take it all as gospel. There is just no way to completely verify everything. My point is karate may have very well spread in the 19th century without common knowledge.
Whenever karate made it to Japan, the Japanese in some cases combined karate with ju-jitsu schools to become the beginnings of what James Mitose learned from the Yoshida clan as a boy. Masayoshi Mitose (later James Mitose) reportedly learned kenpo from his grandfather, Master Sukuhei Yoshida. Professor James Mitose then moved back to Hawaii and started teaching Kosho Ryu Kempo/Kempo Ju Jitsu in 1942 (or earlier). But what was Kempo Ju-Jitsu?
The Yoshida clan were apparently samurai warriors for centuries and had some rudimentary fighting form that consisted of various schools of ju jitsu and some striking I believe. Whenever karate made it to Japan, the Japanese like the Okinawans before them, made karate their own. The result was Mitose taught the hybrid martial art called Kempo-Ju-Jitsu in Hawaii in the early 1940’s.
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I was happy to find on one blog that I read (Karate Thoughts Blog, by Charles C. Goodin), a link to the Hawaii Karate Museum! The website (to the museum) has old newspaper articles about contributing masters that brought karate to Hawaii. James Mitose is listed in both the newspaper (starting in 1941) and book links.
In Hawaii like Okinawa and Japan before, kenpo was improved and handed down to the next masters. Professor Mitose taught William Chow. A couple of Professor Chow’s notable students were Ed Parker (Kenpo Karate) and Adriano Emperado (Kajukenbo). Ed Parker brought Kenpo karate to the mainland and the Tracy brothers (Al and Jim) were among master Parker’s first black belts. The brothers open up a chain of Tracy’s Karate Schools.
My instructor, master Richard Willett was taught by Al Tracy and Ray Klingenburg. So now you know the lineage of Dick Willett’s American Kenpo Karate, and like other styles of karate – all descend from some common and some unique influences.
One trend I have noticed in kenpo lately is many styles are re-introducing jiu jitsu back into the martial art! I think this is as it should be as historically from Japan, jiu-jitsu has always been a part of Kenpo. Our association is incorporating some Brazilian jiu jitsu so soon there will be additional belt requirements to achieve kenpo rank.
While I was searching for information on the history of kenpo, I noticed that there were many kenpo trees and information that were incongruent! I also found the detractors that made counter arguments but did not offer a reasonable counter explanation.
I tend to view history as I do the news. Meaning I critically listen to all sources of a topic that interests me and then I extrapolate based on what I presently know – what I think the truth to be. Now the funny thing about my approach is my opinion on issues constantly update as I find out new salient facts of even the most recent events. So when looking into the history of styles of kung fu or karate, know that all of the information is not out there.
One case in point is Hank Slomanski, who became the third highest ranking karateka in Japan after defeating all 119 of the best fighters in 1956 . Here is a “To Tell The Truth” video clip (below) with master Slomanski. The reason I bring this up is there is very little mention of this fact out there. One might conclude that no American in the 1950’s could beat the best Japanese of the day but I like Al Tracy’s take on this. He said that proves an angry 220 pound man could beat any angry 14o pound man. Up to that point many believed that size did not matter. Well fast forward to MMA today and no one would believe that size does not matter now!
Here is what I know about kenpo karate after researching for this post. Kenpo came to America by way of China, Okinawa, Japan, and Hawaii. Professor James Mitose is the one that introduced kenpo to Hawaii and taught Chow. Professor Chow taught Master Ed Parker and Ed Parker taught Master Al Tracy.
Kenpo was and still is one of the most dynamic of martial arts out there. As I stated in my thesis:
Kenpo Karate is one of many modern fighting systems that is evolving as times change. This innovative style of karate has enveloped many different types of fighting, from Jiu Jitsu to Kung Fu. As all styles are, Kenpo is actually a conglomeration of many different styles, using the best techniques from each. This is the reason Kenpo is so versatile, and flexible, it is constantly updated to be effective as antagonists try new methods of attack.
I hope this cursory look into the exciting history of kenpo karate has been interesting. You know I don’t think the history of karate is all that importaint as martial arts have evolved a lot from what they looked like in the old days. Not that what the old masters did would not work – quite the contrary but modern martial arts have and will continue to evolve and still be relavent into the 21 century.
January 27th, 2010 at 8:10 am
Hi John, An interesting post. I always like to know the history and background of the things I am learning in martial arts so I also spend a lot of time surfing around the internet for information (and find the same problems as you with consistency of information).
This combination of karate and jujitsu is interesting – makes it sound similar to wado-ryu karate, any connection there? Does American Kenpo karate still maintain links with Japan? Does your style of karate include any kobudo training – I thought kenpo karate and kobudo were closely linked? Sorry! Too many questions!
January 27th, 2010 at 10:32 pm
Hi Sue,
I remember spouting off numbers in the 70’s that there were a least 50 styles of karate and 300 styles of kung fu. Well nowadays kung fu has renamed itself apparently to wushu (I’m out of touch I guess).
My point is bringing this up is many karateka that attain the master status are not always satisified with their style but rather seem to tweek it by combining new methods/styles and creating a new style of karate. Lets face it people innovate just as the old masters did back in the day.
What I am trying to say is I would have no idea now how many of the karate styles combine some jiu jitsu moves. I would guess that many might but I know little of other styles except the ones I’ve trained in (Lima Lama and Kenpo).
As far as goverence of the arts, as the masters have splintered off many of them have cut ties. Mitose has passed as has Chow and Parker. I do not believe that there is any links from Hawaii to Japan and my guess is that there are no links from Parkers organization to Hawaii. As each style was formed, many of them created there own hirachy and dropped any formal ties.
Our sytle of American Kenpo Karate still has ties to the Tracy’s organization out of respect but our hirachry is that of a parallel organization. I do not believe that Tracy’s has any formal ties to Parkers organization but we attend many of the same functions as we are all Kenpo brothers and sisters.
As far a Chinese Kenpo Karate and later American Kenpo as Parker taught it, and later the Tracy’s, there was not an emphsis on weapons. There are offshoot of kenpo that do practice more weapons.
We have weapons kata such as the hook and spear, staff, and sword but I have not been involved in sparring with said weapons. I have branched out on my own and learned that many of the formal ways of using the staff do not work. For instance twirling the staff and striking with the short half-strikes would hurt and maybe break ones thumbs if they struck anything hard.
I did a post on this way back and upset some people. You see if I am to use a weapon, I would use it like I fight – with critical distance and inital movement. I tried every strike hard on the bag and found out just as I have with some hand strikes – many moves were impracticle. Too much time on my hands I suppose.
Anyway as one meaning of karate is empty hand, especially in California where almost any weapon is illegal, I do not depend on weapons.
My best guess is there now might be hundreds of styles of karate that valid stylistic differences from anything else out there. But there are bound to be a lot of similar styles… sorry this got kind of wordy.