LeatheJ1
18th April 2002, 16:01
This is an excerpt from "Kenpo/Kempo History", Research by Sadao Nishimoto:
History of Kenpo/Kempo 527 A.D.
Who was Tamo? Tamo was a Indian patriach of the Buddhist faith. Tamo is known as Bodhidharma and Daruma Daishi by the Japanese. Tamo taught the philosophy of Zen to the Chinese. This doctrine became the nations religion. At the time Tamo was teaching China was in its warring state.
What was significant about Tamo's insights? Tamo insights of how we acquire inner peace! Tamo begin teaching at a Shaolin Monastery his beliefs. Tamo believed that peace was not in the world, but in the person. Tamo believed the attainment of enlightment was acquired by disciplining the body. Concluding that the spirit and the body were inseparable. Exercise for the Shaolin monks was provided by an innovative technique called the eighteen hand movement. Tamo worshipped according to his own conscience, and taught others how to find inner peace. Tamo taught that war and fighting were wrong, but that it was also wrong not to be able, to defend, one's self.
Why did Martial Arts Flourish in China? China was in a state of war. As a result training in the martial arts became a part of the lifestyle. I've seen the "Tombs of China" when the tour came to Brigham Young University. I distinctly remember an usual tension in the art when I walked through the war periods. Everything was enormous and the feeling of war was present. I believe that in a warring atmosphere, civilization moves from art, poetry, religion, and sculturing; to combat, military build up, and philosophy to fit the external events.
1372 A.D 1910 A.D
How did chinese kenpo come to be? In 1372 A.D the Okinawa King Satto pledged in his domain to the Ming Emperor. This increased the trade and cultural exchanges between the two countries. In 1470, Okinawa king, Sho-ha-shi confiscated all weapons. Weaponless, the Okinawans begin to develop an sophisticated system, for self-defense. After being subjugated by the Japanese, in 1609, the Okinawans practiced in secret hoping to overcome their oppression. The Okinawans practiced Chinese Kenpo.
Interesting note, there is no connection between Kosho Ryu (Mitose Family system) and Okinawa or the Okinawan arts. Kosho is similar to Aikijujutsu and Tai Chi put together.
In 1644, China was conquered by the Manchus. Similar to the Okinawans, a Martial Art system of Chinese Boxing was developed, in the hope of returning their country to power. Interesting, Wing Chung was born, in an attempt, to train men for combat, by using a simplier & more effective method of martial arts (Innovation seeking to add order to chaos). Wing Chung pratitioners could learn quicker, fighting techniques compared to classical systems which took ten - fifteen years of study. Thereby, offering greater resistence to oppression, in shorter periods of time. The doctrines and philosophies of Chinese boxing spread throughout China.
According to Mitose Sensei,
Kosho Shorei Kempo was created by several happenings, spanning a period
of centuries. During the invasion of China by Genghis Khan, the Head
Monk of the Shaolin Temple fled China and found refuge with the Mitose
family. The Mitose family already taught their own brand of Martial Arts
for centuries and were also Shinto priests. In appreciation for the
kindness of the Mitose’s, he taught them the 'highest art of Shaolin
Chuan Fa taught at the temple.'(Shorinji Kempo in Japanese).
The following is an excerpt from Mitose Sensei’s book,
“What Is True Self Defense.”
“Fifteen hundred years ago, the ancestor( of the Author) was a Shinto
priest. He studied and taught many different martial arts including sword
fighting, lance fighting, fighting with the bow and arrow, fighting
on horseback, and swim fighting.
Some arts looked like Kempo, Karate, Kung Fu, and
Ju-jitsu- but they were different in many ways. He mastered all of these
arts and became Grand Master.Then Grand Master Mitose founded a
martial arts school and called his style Mitose’s Martial Art School.”
In 1235 AD, the head of the Mitose clan converted
to the pacifist teachings of Buddhism but was a grandmaster of an
ancient and violent martial art which was a combination of that Shaolin
Kung Fu and their Aikjujutsu. He meditated on this dilemma under an old
pine tree which stood on the grounds of Mount Kinkai’s Shaka-In Buddhist
monastery and became enlightened.
“the Grand Master founded the Kosho Shorei Temple of
Peace, True Self Defense and Kosho Shorei Yoga School.
At that time , he made up the Coat of Arms and
the Motto for his Temple. In his Temple, he taught
how to escape from being harmed by using the escaping patterns,
with God’s help.”
He discovered the relationship between Man and Nature.
From then on he was honored with the name Kosho Bosatsu meaning Old Pine
Tree Enlightened One. Kosho Shorei is the philosophical art which he
developed as a means for others to discover for themselves the Laws of
Nature through a study of the secrets of this pacifist art of self
protection.
Kosho Ryu Kempo is similar to but much older than Karate,
Tae Kwon Do, Aikido, Judo, and Jujutsu but there is no other art like
Kosho. It is not a style or system. It is a study of all the Natural
Laws which govern the Universe. We pay more attention to our
environment; therefore becoming scientists of the body, mind, and spirit
and all that they come in contact with. Kosho students learn how to
manipulate an attacker’s perception of his environment in such a way as
to control his movement. Once one learns to do this, you need not punch,
kick, throw, or even touch your attacker. This is the highest form of
Kosho which is why Kosho is also known as True Self Defense, for no one
need be hurt or killed. Although many styles had this knowledge long
ago, Kosho is the only art that teaches this today.
Another distinctive difference is that Kosho Shorei Kempo
students learn not only all aspects of self defense and survival whether
psychological or physical but also learn how to heal themselves through
meditation, Kosho Shorei Yoga and Shiatsu/accupressure. When one knows
how to heal, their self defense improves dramatically for they know the
weaknesses of the human anatomy and physiology much better. We stress
the study of the Healing Arts because society as a whole needs healing
not more violence, which is otherwise stressed within other popular
martial arts today. This is why many students of Kosho prefer to
classify Kosho as a Life Art instead of a purely Martial Art.
- Comments?
History of Kenpo/Kempo 527 A.D.
Who was Tamo? Tamo was a Indian patriach of the Buddhist faith. Tamo is known as Bodhidharma and Daruma Daishi by the Japanese. Tamo taught the philosophy of Zen to the Chinese. This doctrine became the nations religion. At the time Tamo was teaching China was in its warring state.
What was significant about Tamo's insights? Tamo insights of how we acquire inner peace! Tamo begin teaching at a Shaolin Monastery his beliefs. Tamo believed that peace was not in the world, but in the person. Tamo believed the attainment of enlightment was acquired by disciplining the body. Concluding that the spirit and the body were inseparable. Exercise for the Shaolin monks was provided by an innovative technique called the eighteen hand movement. Tamo worshipped according to his own conscience, and taught others how to find inner peace. Tamo taught that war and fighting were wrong, but that it was also wrong not to be able, to defend, one's self.
Why did Martial Arts Flourish in China? China was in a state of war. As a result training in the martial arts became a part of the lifestyle. I've seen the "Tombs of China" when the tour came to Brigham Young University. I distinctly remember an usual tension in the art when I walked through the war periods. Everything was enormous and the feeling of war was present. I believe that in a warring atmosphere, civilization moves from art, poetry, religion, and sculturing; to combat, military build up, and philosophy to fit the external events.
1372 A.D 1910 A.D
How did chinese kenpo come to be? In 1372 A.D the Okinawa King Satto pledged in his domain to the Ming Emperor. This increased the trade and cultural exchanges between the two countries. In 1470, Okinawa king, Sho-ha-shi confiscated all weapons. Weaponless, the Okinawans begin to develop an sophisticated system, for self-defense. After being subjugated by the Japanese, in 1609, the Okinawans practiced in secret hoping to overcome their oppression. The Okinawans practiced Chinese Kenpo.
Interesting note, there is no connection between Kosho Ryu (Mitose Family system) and Okinawa or the Okinawan arts. Kosho is similar to Aikijujutsu and Tai Chi put together.
In 1644, China was conquered by the Manchus. Similar to the Okinawans, a Martial Art system of Chinese Boxing was developed, in the hope of returning their country to power. Interesting, Wing Chung was born, in an attempt, to train men for combat, by using a simplier & more effective method of martial arts (Innovation seeking to add order to chaos). Wing Chung pratitioners could learn quicker, fighting techniques compared to classical systems which took ten - fifteen years of study. Thereby, offering greater resistence to oppression, in shorter periods of time. The doctrines and philosophies of Chinese boxing spread throughout China.
According to Mitose Sensei,
Kosho Shorei Kempo was created by several happenings, spanning a period
of centuries. During the invasion of China by Genghis Khan, the Head
Monk of the Shaolin Temple fled China and found refuge with the Mitose
family. The Mitose family already taught their own brand of Martial Arts
for centuries and were also Shinto priests. In appreciation for the
kindness of the Mitose’s, he taught them the 'highest art of Shaolin
Chuan Fa taught at the temple.'(Shorinji Kempo in Japanese).
The following is an excerpt from Mitose Sensei’s book,
“What Is True Self Defense.”
“Fifteen hundred years ago, the ancestor( of the Author) was a Shinto
priest. He studied and taught many different martial arts including sword
fighting, lance fighting, fighting with the bow and arrow, fighting
on horseback, and swim fighting.
Some arts looked like Kempo, Karate, Kung Fu, and
Ju-jitsu- but they were different in many ways. He mastered all of these
arts and became Grand Master.Then Grand Master Mitose founded a
martial arts school and called his style Mitose’s Martial Art School.”
In 1235 AD, the head of the Mitose clan converted
to the pacifist teachings of Buddhism but was a grandmaster of an
ancient and violent martial art which was a combination of that Shaolin
Kung Fu and their Aikjujutsu. He meditated on this dilemma under an old
pine tree which stood on the grounds of Mount Kinkai’s Shaka-In Buddhist
monastery and became enlightened.
“the Grand Master founded the Kosho Shorei Temple of
Peace, True Self Defense and Kosho Shorei Yoga School.
At that time , he made up the Coat of Arms and
the Motto for his Temple. In his Temple, he taught
how to escape from being harmed by using the escaping patterns,
with God’s help.”
He discovered the relationship between Man and Nature.
From then on he was honored with the name Kosho Bosatsu meaning Old Pine
Tree Enlightened One. Kosho Shorei is the philosophical art which he
developed as a means for others to discover for themselves the Laws of
Nature through a study of the secrets of this pacifist art of self
protection.
Kosho Ryu Kempo is similar to but much older than Karate,
Tae Kwon Do, Aikido, Judo, and Jujutsu but there is no other art like
Kosho. It is not a style or system. It is a study of all the Natural
Laws which govern the Universe. We pay more attention to our
environment; therefore becoming scientists of the body, mind, and spirit
and all that they come in contact with. Kosho students learn how to
manipulate an attacker’s perception of his environment in such a way as
to control his movement. Once one learns to do this, you need not punch,
kick, throw, or even touch your attacker. This is the highest form of
Kosho which is why Kosho is also known as True Self Defense, for no one
need be hurt or killed. Although many styles had this knowledge long
ago, Kosho is the only art that teaches this today.
Another distinctive difference is that Kosho Shorei Kempo
students learn not only all aspects of self defense and survival whether
psychological or physical but also learn how to heal themselves through
meditation, Kosho Shorei Yoga and Shiatsu/accupressure. When one knows
how to heal, their self defense improves dramatically for they know the
weaknesses of the human anatomy and physiology much better. We stress
the study of the Healing Arts because society as a whole needs healing
not more violence, which is otherwise stressed within other popular
martial arts today. This is why many students of Kosho prefer to
classify Kosho as a Life Art instead of a purely Martial Art.
- Comments?