About Ryukyu Kempo
Ryukyu
Kempo refers to the original kara-te fighting arts of Okinawa before its
modernization into present day sport karate.
“Ryukyu” is the chain of islands located in the Pacific Ocean to the
south of the Japanese mainland (now part of Japan).
“Kempo” is the translation
of the Chinese term "chu’an fa", or “boxing”.
“Kara-te” is translated as “China Hand”, where Kara means
”China”, and Te means “hand”. Hence,
the fighting art of Ryukyu Kempo kara-te means "Okinawan boxing,
Chinese-hand".
Ryukyu
Kempo is not a specific style, but rather a generic designation identifying the
original Okinawan fighting arts of Shuri-te, Naha-te, and Tomari-te as a science
of self-defense. Ryukyu Kempo
encompasses all Okinawan arts with a prime emphasis on life-protection
techniques. It should not be
confused with "modernized" versions of kara-te as a sport activity, as it was
never intended for tournament competition.
Ryukyu Kempo encompasses techniques
and principles including ground
fighting, submission holds, joint manipulations, and strikes that cause neurological shutdowns to effectively provide self-protection against armed and
unarmed attacks. The concepts and sciences of Ryukyu Kempo can be found in
any legitimate self-defense art, therefore making it a highly sought after
specialized field of study for the advanced martial artist.
As in the ancient Chinese arts, advanced studies required knowledge of acupressure points and related sciences, including anatomy and physiology. The arts of Kyusho-Jitsu (pressure point striking) and Tuite-Jitsu (joint manipulation) were the basis of the original Okinawan kara-te styles. There are three general schools of thought that explain why these arts were removed from kara-te instruction:
School of Thought #1
For the first time in history, Ryukyu Kempo was taught openly to the public in 1906. Anko Itosu (direct student of the legendary Bushi Matsumura), introduced Ryukyu Kempo to the school systems as a curriculum for physical fitness and discipline. All lethal techniques and self-defense secrets were removed for safety reasons, making kara-te an exercise containing of only block, kick, and punch. This transformation began a new system called "karate-do". Several instructors at that time also created new katas to make it easier for the general public to learn the new karate-do system and increase its growth. Even then, the classical kata, considered lethal by pure design, were reserved for selected students who were offered a higher level of instruction.
School
of Thought #2
The
public modernization of karate-do placed a heavy emphasis of competition in the
Japanese society during the early part of the century.
Aesthetic appearance of kara-te became more important than its intended
functionality, leaving little room for self-defense concepts. Stances, hand formations, timing, individual movements and sequences were
altered to allow for a more dramatic performance. Effective low kicks
were replaced with less effective mid and head level kicks for audience appeal.
The soft, flowing movements characterized by the Chinese arts were made harder
and more dynamic, giving kata a more Japanese identity.
School
of Thought #3
Finally, the returning U.S military personnel of WWII were largely responsible for the introduction of kara-te to the United States. American soldiers were stationed in Okinawa as an invading army and occupied forces. The Okinawans had no love for the foreign soldiers on their soil at all. No way were they going to share any secrets. However, as a way to obtain US currency, the Okinawans agreed to teach the American soldiers their new, modern kara-te system. American students became inheritors of the new, "watered-down" karate-do system that the Okinawans were willing to share openly anyway. Any of the real secrets, such as Kyusho-Jitsu and Tuite-Jitsu were held back. The gap between kara-te and its original intent as a fighting art became even more extensive.