What is Shaolin Kempo?
Kempo has many various definitions depending on who you talk to and how it is spelled (with an M or an N.). But the broad term of the word is fist way, and Shaolin is self explanatory. It would have originated from the Shaolin temple in China, and brought to Japan to mix with their jujutsu around the late 1500’s. From what I know, Shaolin KeNpo is a recent term created by Ralph Castro who was a student of William Kwai Sun Chow who is the original grandmaster of their newer system. Shaolin KeNpo, is different from Shaolin KeMpo, which would be credited to Fred Villari, who through a few people in line before him was also in the lineage of William Chow. Villari’s system differs somewhat from what Castro taught, with more of the Japanese Karate influence. Both of these systems are taught in a traditional Japanese manner, though originally learned from the Chinese. So they are filled with the Chinese influence, while teaching Japanese style kata. Hawaii, also has a part to play, with Jame
If by Shaolin Kempo you mean Shorinji Kempo (‘Shorinji’ being how a Japanese speaker would literally read the Chinese character for ‘Shaolin Temple’), then it’s a modern martial art created in 1947 by Doshin So. For detailed information regarding its philosophy, doctrine, techniques, etc., try the Wiki entry for Shorinji Kempo (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shorinji_Ke… ) and the official website of Shorinji Kempo (http://www.shorinjikempo.or.jp/) or the World Shorinji Kempo Organization (http://www.shorinjikempo.or.jp/wsko/) if you can’t read Japanese. The Shorinji Kempo forum on E-Budo (http://www.e-budo.com/forum/forumdisplay… ; don’t forget to set it to display posts from all dates) is also a good place to l
