Kempo
Kempo , or Kenpo , is a Japanese term meaning "Fist Code" or "Fist Method", and it is used to refer to Japanese & Hawaiian American martial arts which (arguably) have a Chinese technical influence. In Kempo, Chinese barehanded fighting systems and those of many other nations have been channeled by Japanese and American approaches to close quarters self-defense in order to form an integrated, comprehensive, and practical striking based martial art (in the US, originally called “Kenpo Jujitsu and later branded “Kempo Karate”). The style taught at SMMA has its origins from the Japanese migrants to Manchuria in the early 20th Century. At that time, Japanese, Koreans, Okinawans, Chinese and even Mongolian people lived in the area (known as Manchukuo) along with native Manchurians. A number of Kempo/Kenpo styles developed there and they show influences from all those collected populations, though the systems are largely Japanese in orientation and tradition. As the name implies, Kempo practitioners are experts in eclectic styles of kickboxing, but they must also be proficient in close quarters self-defense, some weapons and they must be knowledgeable grapplers.
The techniques of South Mountain Kempo link to each other in ways that make immediate. intuitive sense, & our form of kenpo sparring is challenging and enjoyable. The practice varies significantly from what the average practitioner thinks of as "karate". Hand techniques aren't always "chambered at the waist"; kicks aren't "snapped"; sweeping methods are taught and used with and without hand grips; throws and grappling are used in free sparring. Self-defense striking (to painful “vital” areas is taught, but not allowed in sparring
One of the main benefits to this style of practice is that mature adults, many already having karate or tae kwon do backgrounds, have been very happily surprised to learn they don't need extremes of flexibility to be able to kick effectively! They most often find that the practice of our kenpo techniques just doesn't hurt their joints as much as those of the more common styles of hand and foot fighting. This is true despite both throws and controlled contact to the legs being taught and allowed in our Kempo sparring sessions.