Shaolin will recognize a lot of things. My previous sifu is recognized as a 31st generation diciple of Shaolin. his kung fu, while based on Shaolin, has a lot differet from the temple systems.
Bodi darma teaching the monks kung fu is a myth. It's a nice story and all, but it is a lot simplier than the truth. I'll not argue that an Indian Buhdhist monk came to Shaolin and taught. I think that is probably true. However, Shaolin kung fu or chuan fa is an amalgamation of many, many, MANY, different types of fighting that was known throughout China. Martial fighters, bandits, and military men would retire from thier professions (or many times be retired) and take up residence in Shaolin Temple. As the pragmatist they are, the Shaolin abbots and elders persuaded these men to share thier knowledge of fighting. Between the religious phylosophies of the practicing monks and the fighting methods of these many, many, 'retired' men, Shaolin Chuan Fa was born. Just look at what is Shaolin chuan fa and some of the recognized systems outside of shaolin chuan fa for the similarities...Mongolian wrestling and the Crane system from Fukian province pop to mind immediately. Both these systems exsisted BEFORE Shaolin temple.
If Kempo is based off of a northern kung fu system it would have far more leaping kicks and low stances. These are hallmarks of a Northern CMA.
The Chan (zen) approach to self defense is to deny the violence offered by an attacker. If the attacker is injured by the return of his offerring then perhaps he should not have made such an abundant offerering. I do not see this in the technique shown in modern day Kempo.
As I stated earlier, perhaps Kempo was at one time based upon CMA. Today it no longer is. While I have no issue with that as long as it works for the purposes advertised, I think it is somewhat dishonest to say it is Shaolin chuan fa, when in reality it is not. I do not think this dishonesty is done with malice, I think that the proponents of Kempo being a CMA based system would rather believe the lore, legends, and myth, rather than thier own eyes. Basically they are fooling themselves, then they fool others.