one can, through understanding balance, exist harmoniously with the whole of mankind. Within their own realm, in their own reality, they learn how to adjust their reality, behavior, or physical presence within others’ perception of reality. Primarily, they study themselves: Body, mind, and spirit. This microcosm leads to the understanding of all things.
Kempo, therefore means study, and practice, and the discipline of study and practice. The understanding of this philosophy, the embodiment of this practice, and the reality of this study prepares the Kempo-ka for possible conflict. In this study, defending one’s self becomes very easy.
Kosho is a way of life and an understanding of the process of life. Understanding the process of a fight is the key. Techniques used in a fight are only a small part of that process. What happens before that point is of primary importance.
Kosho Ryu warrior-monks and other practitioners have used the study, and the practical application of this study, successfully throughout history. In the late 1500’s, 5,000 samurai attacked Shaka-In, the temple grounds on which the now-famous old pine tree still stands. Using Kosho Shorei Ryu Kempo, the 400 monks living and training there engaged in combat against the onslaught, successfully protecting some of the most important artifacts and property of the temple grounds, including the famous old pine tree itself.
The martial prowess of the Kosho Shorei monks was well known among the Japanese at the time, and was feared by many Daimyo as well as their swordsmen. It was the practice of this philosophy of study that gave the monks their edge. This philosophy was adopted by many of Japan’s greatest and most famous swordsmen, including Musashi Miyamoto.
The success of Kosho Ryu today is apparent in the large numbers of students and teachers gravitating to these studies. Many teachers with decades of experience are reexamining their training based on the uniqueness and startling pertinence of what they see in a Kosho Ryu seminar.
Many of these teachers and students have said that the combat-effectiveness of Kosho is simply at a higher level than anything they had seen previously. Yet, Kosho Ryu concepts had often never even been considered in their previous training.
Kosho Ryu was brought to Hawaii and therefore to the United States in the 1940’s by James Mitose.
The philosophical teachings, which were largely ignored by many of Mitose Sensei’s early students, (with the notable exception of the late Thomas Young) play a major role in the manifestation of the physical combative arts of Kosho Ryu. Without them, true understanding of Kempo is not possible. Kempo is not a martial art–It is much more.
Look for Similarities
The Kosho Ryu practitioner studies natural law. In so doing, he has the ability to see similarities in all movement. Therefore he holds no prejudice toward or against other styles or martial systems. Kosho Ryu practitioners understand that the only real differences between martial arts pertain to the cultures from which they come. Cultures produce various tendencies that shape the way arts are taught. Although teaching methods are delivery modes for the understanding of the essence of an art, the arts themselves are very similar. Bruce Juchnik Hanshi is well qualified to make a statement such as this. He holds mastery-level knowledge and certification in over ten distinct martial art forms.
Kosho Shorei Ryu Kempo originated in Japan. To practitioners, Kosho Ryu’s Chinese roots are apparent in its basic philosophy. Because Kosho teaches them to look for similarities, they see no substantial difference between Kosho and studies from Korea, Indonesia, China, or America.
All human beings move basically the same way. All motion is related. The same emotions are experienced by all of mankind. Fundamentally, human beings are similar, throughout continents, cultures, and time.
Natural Law
The study of physics is only part of the understanding of Natural Law. Kosho Ryu Kempo-ka also studies the natural laws of our basic individual philosophy. One can understand the physics of both our internal and external structures. Students seek to understand who they are as they relate to others based upon their past experiences and prejudices.
Body movement changes, much like personalities change, based on an individual’s momentary and long-term mind-sets and their physical prejudices. Understanding that both they themselves and potential adversaries are governed by these natural laws. Kempo-ka apply a great many strategies to handle potential conflicts successfully. This is what makes it possible to defeat an opponent without throwing a blow. In fact, it is possible to defeat an opponent by strategically manipulating his ki (mind set in this case). These are based on an understanding of his prejudices, in such a way as to make him decide to never attack you in the first place! Psychology is physics applied to the mind.
Objective
The objective of the Kosho Ryu Kempo-ka is to be able to relate to everything, abandon prejudices, and thus rid conflict from life. Conflict is usually created from differences of opinion pertaining to physical or philosophical prejudices. Once you eliminate conflict (emotional or physical) and understand laws and principles, you learn to see yourself as the root of all of your conflict.
Once the source of conflict is known, it can be eliminated. Happiness is the result. Kempo-ka become content, able to harmonize with and accept life’s events, and able to control their environment. Once you learn to control yourself and your environment, controlling or redirecting an attacker is possible as well.
Kempo
While Kempo literally translates from Japanese as “Fist Law,” its meaning can be traced back to what is called the mudra, which are hand postures. Each of kempo’s hand postures represent both the physical and the spiritual realm. These realms are inexorably linked. Kempo itself is an entity. It is not a style of martial arts or a form of techniques.
Yet this is a difficult concept to understand and therefore in our society today it is, unfortunately, largely looked upon as a martial art.
James Mitose Sensei, explained that Kempo is a philosophy. Mitose brought Kosho Shorei Ryu Kempo from Japan to the United States as a philosophy of growth, of study, and of struggle. The martial arts become simple, even self-evident, through understanding the process of these three elements.
Within Kosho Ryu Kempo, there are many sub-arts of study. The purpose of the study of various different art forms is to learn to see the similarities in all of them. Three general categories of study are the healing arts, the cultural arts, and the martial arts. All three are interwoven.
The study of healing arts helps the martial artist understand anatomical strengths and weaknesses as well as the natural flow of energy and how that energy might be directed. In turn the martial arts help the healer better understand the practical application through the study of movement.
The cultural arts play a similar role. Included in the cultural arts is the
