History of Kenpo Karate

Factual and documented history of Karate is very vague on the actual origins. A lot of what we perceive as history comes from legends, however legends usually have some base in fact. What we do know is that about 1400 years ago, around 520 AD, Daruma ( Bodhidarma ) came to Hunan Province from India. Daruma, who was a Buddhist Priest, traveled to China to teach Buddhism. He found that the Monks of the Shoalin Temple there, were in very poor physical condition. Daruma's training methods were so demanding that the disciples would drop from exhaustion. To build up their strength and endurance, Daruma instructed the Monks in the 18 hands of Lo Han. These postures were given to the monks to give them both physical and mental strength.

Daruma most likely never intended these exercises for use in combat or self-defense. However, about a half a century after his death the temple was attacked due to the lawlessness and political unrest of that time. It is recorded that a monk called "The Begging Monk" single handily was able to kill many of the attackers and chase the rest of them away. This appears to be the first time a monk displayed hand and foot techniques in a Martial system. The other monks were very impressed and began to train in this method, which is recorded as "Chuan Fa" or "The Fist Method". This is the start of Kempo as a combat art.

Over the next several centuries the Shoalin Priests refined the system of Chuan Fa. They emulated fighting movements of animals and the 18 Lo Han techniques became 72 and then expanded to 170 techniques. There were five animals categorized in this early time, Tiger, Dragon, Crane, Serpent, and Leopard. Distinct styles came from these animals and still play a roll and are a basis in teachings today.

During this time there were many travelers from Japan and Okinawa that would travel to China to seek the fighting knowledge of the Shoalin Priests. They would travel and then return with new knowledge that they would pass along in their native land. We know that Sakugawa brought the teachings back to Shuri-te, but the actual development of Kempo in Japan is vague. Some of the Samurai learned the arts along with combining Jui Jitsu and it evolved some during this time.

For our lineage, one of the more important times came in the 1700's when the head of a Japanese family traveled to China and learned the art of Chuan Fa. It is said that when this individual returned he incorporated it into his family ways and the art became his family art and was modified over the next 22 generations.

At age 5, James Mitose went from Hawaii back to Japan to learn his family art. His uncle, Choki Motobu was to be his teacher. James Mitose studied the family art for 15 years before returning to Hawaii. Upon Returning to Hawaii, Mitose established the Official Self Defense Club in 1936. Here he promoted only six students to Black belt ( full instructor level ). One of these was William Chow.

Choki Motubu

James Mitose

Chow had been a student of his own family's art of Kung Fu. He combined his family's art with the teachings of Mitose and formed his own style of KeNpo, using the "N" instead of the "M" to distinguish it from Mitose's KeMpo. Chow made many innovations and added katas to the system. He was also responsible for training and promoting two of the pioneers in modern Kenpo. Grand Master Edmund Parker and Professor Nicholas Cerio.

William Chow

Parker was spreading his knowledge mostly on the West coast. He was the first to run a International Martial Arts Tournament in the United States. Parker also became known for teaching such stars as Elvis Presley and Steve McQueen.

Ed Parker

On the East coast, Professor Nicholas Cerio, was studying boxing, Tae kwon do and Judo. He then studied Kajukenbo Kenpo under George Pesare. With Professor Cerio's background and fighting skills he drew the attention of Ed Parker while out on the tournament circuit. They became friends and this friendship eventually lead to Professor Cerio being introduced and training directly with William Chow in Hawaii. He earned his 5th Dan from Chow. He also was awarded 9 th Dan from Ed Parker. Professor Cerio went on to combine Shotokan, weapons techniques and Kung Fu. to create his own system of "Nick Cerio's Kenpo". Nick Cerio's Kenpo became a very popular system on the East coast. Professor Cerio was named "Professor" in 1969 by Professor Thomas Burdine and awarded "above ranking status" by the World Council of Sokes. This elevated him th 10th Dan. Professor Cerio passed away on December 7, 1998. Professor Cerio truly was a pioneer and a legend in modern Kenpo.

Nick Cerio

Professor Cerio passed his teachings on to may students in the United states and also abroad in other countries. One of these students was Kyoshi Mark Sheeley. Kyoshi Sheeley, like Professor Cerio, had trained in Tae kwon do and earned a black belt at age 12. He also studied boxing while in the Navy. He started his American Kenpo training in the 80's and began training exclusively with Professor Cerio in 1987. Kyoshi Sheeley has won numerous competitions in both empty hand and weapons forms. He was Nationally ranked in competition for three years in a row was the first Kenpo stylist to go to #1 ranking. He has been inducted into the Martial Arts Hall of Fame 9 times and has trained numerous National Champions. Shortly after Professor Cerio's passing in 1998, Kyoshi Sheeley founded Kensho-Ryu Kenpo Karate. Kensho-Ryu is dedicated to the teachings and passing of Professor Cerio's Kenpo. Kyoshi Sheeley is the Director of 16 schools on the East coast and approximately 600 students. He has recently attained his 8th Dan in Kenpo Karate and continues to train and pass on his knowledge of Kenpo Karate.