Kempo History

Kempo is a Japanese word referring to the use of the Fist. Kempo also sometimes spelled Kenpo comes from China where the Martial Art was refered to as Chuan Fa also spelled Quan Fa. Ancient is the word that best describes the roots of Kempo.

 The Elder Five Animal styles of Chuan Fa developed in China originally at the Northern Shaolin Temple in the Henan Province.Two Shaolin monks developed the Five Animal Style in 1589A.D.They were named Shao Li and Shang Yuan Chueh. The Southern Shaolin Temple in Fukien also developed the Five Animal Styles of Chuan Fa. The Fukien Temple was integrated into the Shaolin Order in 1650A.D. The O Mei Shan Temple was integrated into the Shaolin Order around 1500A.D, O Mei Shan means Great White Mountain, this Shaolin Temple was known as the Crane Temple, these Shaolin Monks trained in the Crane Style and later in Mantis Style. The Shaolin built another temple in the Province of Canton in the 1700's called Kwangtung Temple,this temple was known as the Snake Temple.The Oldest of the Shaolin Temples is the Wutang Temple integrated into the Shaolin Order around 800A.D.The Wutang Temple is known as the Tiger Temple,this temple is located near the Korean peninsula.

 

 The Shang Song Temple was built during the Wei Dynasty.The Temple is located on the Central Sacred Mountain of Hao Shan.The Elder Five Animal Styles were originally taught here to the Shaolin.

The Crane Temple, O Mei Shan Temple in Szechuan Province. Crane Style taught here on the Great White Mountain.Became a Northern Shaolin Temple around the 1500's.

 

Tiger Temple WuTang Temple is a very old Temple built in the 800's.The Wutang Temple is located near the Korean Peninsula,the Shaolin traveled to Korea where they were called the So Rim. Chuan Fa was called Kwon Bup in Korea.

The Shaolin Order were Buddhist Monks of Religious faith teaching humility and respect.These reclusive Monks studied the Arts of philosophy,ethics,medicine,history,poetry,calligraphy and of course the arts of war.Originally the Shaolin were religious monks only. Over the course of time the Shaolin were forced to defend themselves from the invading armies of the Manchu tribes of Mongolia during the 1300's.The original Shaolin Temple was built during the Wei Dynasty in 377,it was known as the Shang Song Temple built in a Young Forest on the mountain of Shao Shan in the Henan Province.Shaolin refers to that young forest. In 527 during the Liang Dynasty,a Buddhist monk named Da Mo arrived from India. Da Mo found the Shaolin to be in poor health, unable to meditate for long periods of time, Da Mo began teaching the Shaolin physical exercises to strengthen the bodies of the Shaolin.Both external and internal exercises strengthen the Shaolin so that they were able to meditate for long periods of time.It is said that Da Mo was really an Indian Prince and was taught the Warrior arts of the Diamond fist. This was the begining of the Shaolin martial arts.During the Ming Dynasty,1368-1644, the Shaolin became known as the Warrior Monks of virtue and justice using their martial skills to defend and protect people. In 1644 the Manchus invaded and conquered China establishing the Chin Dynasty.The Shaolin opposed the cruel rulers of the Chin Dynasty. In 1760 a massive attack killed many Shaolin monks and burned many Shaolin temples.Many Shaolin Monks were forced to flee China during this time going to Korea,Japan and Southeast Asia.These Shaolin Monks taught their arts to new students who if they proved worthy became disciples and eventually masters. In Japan these Shaolin were known as Shorin and the martial art they taught was called Kempo.

The Fukien Temple is often refered to as the Southern Shaolin Temple.This Temple became part of the Shaolin Order around 1650 being a long time Buddhist Temple before the Shaolin used the Temple as their Headquarters. The original Temple was destroyed during the Boxer rebellion. It was rebuilt in the 1980's.

The Shaolin were called the Shorinji in Japan.The fist arts the Shaolin taught called Chuan Fa were known as Kempo by the Japanese. The Japanese refered to these Shorinji Fist arts as the Elder Five martial arts.

During the 1800's many Shaolin fled China traveling to Korea. In Korea the Shaolin were refered to as the So Rim,the martial arts they taught were called Kwon Bup.

During the early 1900's Japan invaded Korea.The practice of martial arts was banned in Korea during the Japanese occupation.Kwon Bup was practiced in secret until the end of World War Two.