Category: Understanding Kempo

It is natural for beginners to think of martial arts as a collection of techniques. Every lesson introduces new strikes, escapes, throws or locks, and progress can easily be measured by how many techniques have been learned.

Techniques are, of course, essential. They are the practical tools of martial arts. However, experienced practitioners gradually come to see them differently. Rather than viewing each technique as something entirely new, they begin to recognise the principles that connect them.

A strike, a throw or an escape may look completely different, yet all may rely on the same ideas of position, balance, distance or timing. Once these principles are understood, learning becomes less about memorising individual techniques and more about recognising familiar patterns.

For this reason, Kempo places great emphasis on understanding principles as well as techniques. Every technique should help develop one or more of the fundamental ideas that underpin the art.

Combat Principles

Combat principles describe what you are trying to achieve in a confrontation.

• Position. Improve your position while reducing your opponent’s options.
• Balance. Maintain your own balance while disrupting your opponent’s.
• Distance. Recognise and manage the range between you and your opponent.
• Timing. Act when your advantage is greatest and your opponent’s ability to respond is least.

These principles are closely connected. A successful technique often works because it creates an advantage in one or more of these areas.

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Movement Principles

Movement principles describe how you use your body to achieve your objectives.

The central aim is mechanical efficiency: using your body as effectively as possible. Rather than relying on muscular strength alone, strive to generate, transmit and resist force through good structure, leverage and coordinated movement, while avoiding unnecessary effort.

Mechanical efficiency is supported by several related ideas:

• Whole-Body Movement. Coordinate the body so it moves as a single unit rather than as separate limbs.
• Structure. Maintain sound posture and alignment so force can be transmitted efficiently.
• Leverage. Prioritise mechanical advantage over muscular strength.
• Relaxation. Remain relaxed wherever possible, using tension only when it serves a purpose.
• Economy of Movement. Avoid unnecessary movement or effort, making every action purposeful and efficient.

Together, these principles allow techniques to become more effective while often requiring less effort.

Applying the Principles

The principles described above should not be thought of as rigid rules that produce identical techniques in every practitioner. Rather, they provide a framework for adaptation.

No two people have exactly the same height, build, strength, flexibility or experience. Likewise, no two opponents or situations are ever identical. A movement that provides excellent leverage for one person may be less effective for another. The best distance, timing or angle may also vary depending on the opponent in front of you and the circumstances of the encounter.

By understanding the underlying principles, techniques can be adapted to suit both the practitioner and the situation. Rather than memorising a separate technique for every possible circumstance, you learn to apply the same principles in different ways. Two experienced practitioners may therefore perform the same technique differently, yet both can be correct because they are applying the same underlying principles.

Adapt the techniques. Preserve the principles.

The principles provide the foundation; the techniques provide the expression.

Seeing the Bigger Picture

As your training progresses, you will probably find yourself thinking less about individual techniques and more about the principles that unite them. A new throw may reveal another lesson in balance. A different strike may illustrate the importance of timing or distance. What first appears to be a large collection of unrelated techniques gradually becomes a much smaller number of recurring ideas.

This is one of the most rewarding stages of martial arts training. The goal is not to collect the greatest number of techniques, but to understand the principles that allow any technique to be applied effectively. Those principles provide the common thread running through every aspect of Kempo and continue to guide your development throughout a lifetime of training.

When people compare martial arts, they often focus on the techniques they see. Yet techniques are only one part of what defines a style. A martial art is equally shaped by its history, its purpose and the way it is taught.

Understanding these different influences helps explain why schools with the same name may train quite differently, while schools from different traditions sometimes appear surprisingly similar.

Where It Comes From

Every martial art has its own history. Many developed within particular countries or cultures, carrying with them distinctive terminology, etiquette, teaching methods and traditions.

This heritage gives a style its identity and provides a connection with those who developed and practised it in earlier generations. Even newer martial arts often develop their own traditions and culture over time.

What It Teaches

Styles also differ technically. Some specialise in particular aspects of combat, such as striking, throwing or grappling, while others aim to develop competence across a broader range of techniques. Some favour long-range kicking, others emphasise close-range fighting, and different systems develop their own preferred stances, methods of movement and technical variations.

These technical choices give each style its recognisable character.

Why It Trains

Perhaps the greatest influence on a martial art is its purpose.

Is the primary goal sporting competition, practical self-defence, preserving a traditional system, military training or personal development?

The answer shapes almost every aspect of the curriculum. A combat sport naturally develops techniques that succeed within its rules. A self-defence system prepares for situations where there are no rules. Traditional martial arts often seek to preserve a broader body of knowledge while also encouraging lifelong personal development.

None of these objectives is inherently better than another. They simply lead to different emphases in training and technique.

How It Trains

The way a martial art is practised is just as important as what it teaches.

Even two schools teaching the same style may look quite different because they emphasise different methods of training. One club may devote more time to sparring, another to forms, while another focuses on self-defence scenarios or technical drills. The balance between cooperation, progressive resistance, physical conditioning and competition all influences how practitioners develop.

Conversely, schools from different styles may sometimes look remarkably similar because they share comparable objectives and training methods. For example, two self-defence-focused schools from different traditions may train in surprisingly similar ways.

More Than a Name

A martial arts style is therefore much more than a collection of techniques. It reflects its history, its technical approach, its purpose and its methods of training.

Understanding these influences helps explain why martial arts continue to evolve while remaining recognisable. It also reminds us that the name of a style tells only part of the story. To truly understand a martial art, it is equally important to understand how and why it is practised.

People sometimes ask whether martial arts should be regarded as a science or an art. The answer is that they are both.

The effectiveness of martial techniques depends on principles that can be observed, tested and refined. Balance, leverage, timing, distance and body mechanics are not matters of opinion. Over many generations, martial artists have discovered what tends to work and what does not. Modern knowledge of biomechanics, physiology and coaching continues to improve our understanding of these principles.

At the same time, martial arts can never become an exact science. Every encounter is different. Opponents vary in size, strength, speed and intent. No two people move in exactly the same way. Success depends not only on applying sound principles, but on adapting them to the circumstances.

This is where the art begins.

As your training develops, you gradually stop thinking in terms of fixed techniques and begin thinking in terms of principles. Two practitioners may solve the same problem in different ways, both drawing on the same underlying ideas. Just as two musicians can interpret the same piece differently, experienced martial artists develop movement that reflects their own physique, experience and personality while remaining true to the principles of the system.

The same balance exists in coaching. Scientific evidence can guide how we develop strength and flexibility, acquire skills and prevent injuries. Yet teaching remains an art. Every student learns differently, and a good instructor continually adapts their approach to the individual in front of them.

Traditional martial arts add another dimension. They preserve not only effective methods of self-defence, but also a cultural heritage expressed through etiquette, forms and shared traditions. These are not scientific necessities, yet they contribute to the character and identity of the art, connecting present-day practitioners with those who trained before them.

Perhaps this is why the appeal of martial arts extends far beyond those interested simply in fighting. The objectivity of science is combined with the creativity of art. One without the other would leave something important missing. Science helps us understand why techniques work; art allows each generation—and each individual—to express those principles in their own way.

The exact origins of the forms we practise are uncertain. Like much martial arts history, they have been passed down through generations of practitioners, and not much of that journey was formally documented. Nevertheless, the evidence we do have provides a fascinating glimpse into their likely history.

The Martial Arts of Inter-War Britain

The story begins during the period between the First and Second World Wars, when the martial arts landscape in Britain looked very different from today. Boxing and wrestling clubs were well established, while judo, ju-jitsu and other systems of self-defence were gradually becoming known through demonstrations, military training and the experiences of those who had travelled overseas.

The boundaries between different fighting systems were far less rigid than they are today. Knowledge was often exchanged informally, particularly in boxing gyms, wrestling halls and boys’ clubs, where practitioners with different backgrounds trained alongside one another. Some instructors also brought experience of military combatives or martial arts learned abroad, creating an environment in which ideas and techniques could be shared and adapted.

Leeds and the Early Tradition

It was within this environment that the roots of our forms appear to have developed.

Leeds was one of the centres in which these influences came together, and it was here that George Smith encountered the body of movement that would later become an important part of our shared Kempo tradition.

Looking back decades later, Smith recalled that, alongside familiar boxing and wrestling methods, he had been exposed to movements that were quite different in character—more circular, more fluid, and unlike the judo or ju-jitsu then becoming established in Britain. He also described training under an instructor known as “Mr Burma”, whose background may have connected him, directly or indirectly, with martial arts traditions from Southeast Asia.

Nearly a century later, it is unlikely that the full story can ever be reconstructed. However, these recollections provide a plausible historical context for the origins of the forms that continue to be practised today.

A Distinctive Character

One particularly interesting feature of our forms is that they bear little resemblance to the Japanese karate kata that became widely known in Britain from the 1960s onwards.

Instead, their rhythm, footwork and flowing transitions suggest a different influence. While it is impossible to determine their precise lineage with certainty, they possess a distinctive character that has been preserved through successive generations of instructors.

Preserving Our Heritage

As George Smith established clubs after the Second World War, the forms eventually became an established part of training and were passed on to his students. They preserved not only sequences of movement, but also a connection to an earlier period in British martial arts, when practitioners drew inspiration from a wide variety of sources and effective methods were shared more freely between traditions.

Today, these forms remain an important part of our heritage. They connect present-day members with those who trained before them and help preserve the distinctive movement, principles and character of our style. While training methods and self-defence techniques might continue to evolve, the forms remain a valuable link between our history and our future.

At first glance, a form may appear to be a choreographed sequence of techniques against imaginary opponents. It is understandable to wonder why time is spent practising forms when partner drills, sparring and self-defence training seem more directly applicable.

The answer is that forms are not intended to simulate a real fight. Instead, they are carefully structured training exercises that develop movement, reinforce fundamental principles and preserve the traditional character of the art.

Alongside practical training, forms provide a different—but equally valuable—way of learning.

Developing Movement

Forms encourage you to practise movements that might otherwise receive little attention during partner work. Turning, changing direction, maintaining balance, coordinating the whole body and moving smoothly from one technique to the next all require careful practice.

Repeated over time, forms help develop posture, coordination, agility, flexibility and body control. They also encourage precision and discipline, as even small improvements in movement quality become apparent through regular practice.

Understanding Principles

As your experience grows, forms become less about remembering the next movement and more about understanding the principles behind it.

Rather than viewing each technique in isolation, you begin to recognise recurring ideas such as balance, posture, timing, efficient body movement and the generation of power. These same principles appear throughout Kempo, helping to connect techniques into a coherent system rather than a collection of unrelated responses.

Like many aspects of martial arts, the goal is not simply to memorise movements, but to understand the principles that make them effective.

A Method of Solo Practice

One of the greatest strengths of forms is that they can be practised almost anywhere. They provide a structured way to train when you do not have a partner, allowing you to reinforce key movements, improve fitness and maintain your skills between classes.

While solo practice can never replace training with a partner, it is an excellent way to improve movement quality and build consistency over time.

Preserving Tradition

Long before books, videos and online instruction, forms provided a practical way of recording and passing on movement from one generation to the next. They helped preserve not just individual techniques, but the characteristic movement patterns and principles of an entire martial art.

Although training methods continue to evolve, forms remain an important link with earlier generations of practitioners. They provide continuity, helping to preserve the distinctive character of Kempo while allowing other aspects of training to develop over time.

A Different Kind of Learning

Forms are only one part of Kempo training. They do not replace partner drills, sparring or self-defence practice, just as those activities cannot fully replace the benefits of forms. Each develops different skills, and together they provide a broader understanding of the art.

As you continue your training, you may find that the value of forms changes. What begins as an exercise in memory gradually becomes an opportunity to refine movement, deepen your understanding of Kempo and appreciate the traditions from which the art has developed.

Kempo is a martial art with roots in the traditional fighting systems of China, Okinawa and Japan, although its influences extend more widely across East and Southeast Asia. The word Kempo (sometimes written Kenpo) literally means “Fist Method”, but modern Kempo is about far more than punching and kicking.

At London Kempo, we practise Kempo as a traditional martial art with a strong emphasis on practical self-defence. Rather than specialising in a single aspect of fighting or training primarily for competition, Kempo develops a broad range of complementary skills that can be adapted to different situations and opponents.

Practical Self-Defence

The primary purpose of Kempo is practical self-defence rather than sport or competition.

You will learn to use the body’s natural weapons—including the hands, feet, elbows and knees—together with throws, takedowns, joint locks and chokes. This combination of striking and grappling allows you to respond effectively at different ranges and, in particular, in the close-quarter situations where many real confrontations occur.

Rather than relying on strength alone, Kempo emphasises good technique, timing and body mechanics, making it suitable for people of all ages, sizes and physical abilities.

A Broad Technical Tradition

The traditional techniques of Kempo span all the major elements of unarmed combat, including:

• Striking
• Throws and takedowns
• Joint locks
• Chokes and strangles

These techniques are then practised in the context of self-defence escapes, responses to unarmed attacks, weapons defences, and progressively more demanding pressure drills and controlled sparring.

Because Kempo is not developed around a sporting ruleset, its techniques have not become highly specialised for competition. Instead, the emphasis remains on developing practical skills that are applicable across a wide variety of self-defence situations.

Rather than viewing techniques in isolation, you will gradually learn to combine them naturally and fluently, selecting the most appropriate response according to the situation and your opponent’s reactions. The aim is to develop the judgement and adaptability needed to respond effectively in unpredictable situations.

Hard and Soft

One of Kempo’s defining characteristics is the way it blends hard and soft techniques.

Hard techniques meet an opponent’s attack with direct, decisive action, using speed, power and commitment to seize the initiative. Soft techniques, by contrast, emphasise yielding, redirection and using an opponent’s balance, movement and momentum against them.

Likewise, Kempo combines both linear and circular movement, allowing techniques to flow naturally from one to the next as situations change.

Learning Beyond Techniques

When you begin training, much of your attention will naturally be focused on learning individual techniques.

As your experience grows, however, you will begin to understand the principles that make those techniques work. Timing, balance, posture, distancing, body mechanics and decision-making become just as important as the techniques themselves.

The goal is not simply to memorise movements, but to develop the judgement and adaptability needed to respond appropriately in unpredictable situations. This is true Kempo.

Our Tradition

Our UK tradition developed in Leeds during the inter-war period, at a time when Britain’s martial arts landscape looked very different from today. Boxing clubs, wrestling halls and boys’ clubs often provided opportunities to study a mixture of boxing, wrestling, ju-jitsu and other methods of self-defence. Some instructors also brought experience of military combatives and fighting systems encountered overseas, creating an environment in which ideas and techniques from different traditions could be exchanged and adapted.

Alongside this exchange of ideas, there is good reason to believe that traditional Eastern fighting methods were also being taught by individuals who had lived, travelled or worked overseas, including members of the Merchant Navy and others with first-hand experience of Asia. At the time, such material was often described simply as “Kempo”, long before the term “karate” became widely known in Britain.

The Forms and traditional techniques practised at London Kempo have been carefully preserved through this lineage and remain an important part of the art today. They provide a direct link with the club’s earliest traditions while continuing to develop the technical understanding of modern students.

Tradition and Continued Development

Like many long-established martial arts schools, London Kempo has continued to evolve over time.

The traditional curriculum provides a broad foundation in striking, throwing, grappling and self-defence, while modern knowledge of biomechanics, coaching and skills development has influenced how techniques are taught and understood. We also recognise that modern combat sports have continued to refine many aspects of unarmed combat. Where these developments complement our emphasis on practical self-defence, they can help inform our teaching and technical understanding.

In this way, we seek to preserve an important martial arts tradition while continuing to develop it responsibly for modern students.

A Lifelong Practice

Kempo is a martial art that continues to reward study throughout life.

Some people begin training to learn practical self-defence. Others are attracted by the technical challenge, the physical exercise, the traditions of martial arts, or the opportunity for personal growth.

Whatever your reason for beginning, there is always something new to learn.

As you develop your martial arts, you will also develop qualities such as confidence, resilience, patience and self-discipline—qualities that extend well beyond the dojo.

Like all successful martial arts, Kempo has continued to evolve throughout its history.

Although its roots lie in the traditional fighting systems of China, Okinawa and Japan, Kempo has never been a single, fixed style. As it spread to different countries and cultures, it continued to develop, with individual teachers adapting techniques and training methods to suit their own experience, philosophy, and the needs of their students.

Martial arts evolve in much the same way as languages, music, or scientific knowledge. While they retain important links with their past, they also change over time as ideas are refined, shared, and adapted. This process of evolution has produced many different branches of Kempo, each with its own character and emphasis.

Today, a wide variety of martial arts use the name Kempo. Some are closely related, while others differ considerably in their techniques, training methods and objectives. It is also common to encounter hybrid names such as Kempo Karate or Kempo Jiu-Jitsu, reflecting the influence of other martial arts traditions. (The alternative spelling Kenpo is also widely used, particularly in the United States.)

Nippon Kempo

Founded in Japan during the 1930s, Nippon Kempo places a strong emphasis on full-contact sparring. Drawing on traditional Kempo, karate and judo, it combines striking and grappling within a competitive training environment using protective equipment.

Shorinji Kempo

Established in Japan in 1947, Shorinji Kempo combines martial arts training with a strong philosophical and educational framework. Alongside practical techniques, it places considerable emphasis on character development, cooperation and personal growth.

American Kenpo

Developed during the 1950s and 1960s, primarily in Hawaii and the United States, American Kenpo reflects a blend of Chinese, Japanese and Okinawan influences. It is particularly well known for its structured self-defence techniques, rapid combinations and analytical approach to movement.

Our Kempo Tradition

Our tradition developed independently in Britain, with roots extending back to the inter-war period. While sharing common ancestry with other branches of Kempo, it has preserved a distinctive body of traditional Forms and techniques alongside a strong emphasis on practical self-defence and technical understanding.

Like many lonstanding martial arts schools, we have continued to evolve over time. New training methods have been adopted where they improve safety or effectiveness, and modern knowledge of biomechanics, coaching and learning has influenced both how techniques are taught and understood. At the same time, great care has been taken to preserve the traditional Forms and core principles that give the system its unique identity.

Our Philosophy

Different schools naturally emphasise different aspects of training. Some focus primarily on immediate application, whether for self-defence or competition. Others prioritise technical refinement, preserving traditional methods and lifelong development of the individual.

At London Kempo, our aim is to strike a balance between these elements. We seek to preserve an important martial arts tradition while continuing to develop the art responsibly for modern students.