Kenpō

Kenpō (拳法) is the name of several Japanese martial arts.

Characteristics

Kenpo is firmly undogmatic, and as such its techniques vary depending upon the preference of the practitioner and the instructor. However, certain characteristics are common to nearly all forms of kenpo.

Shorinji Kempo

Shorinji Kempo (少林寺拳法, shōrinji-kempō, meaning "Shaolin Temple Fist Law") is a Japanese martial art which is considered as a heavily modified version of Shaolin Kung Fu (using the same kanji) . It was established in 1947 by Doshin So (宗 道臣, Sō Dōshin), a Japanese martial artist and former military intelligence agent.

Shorinji Kempo is a system of "self-defense training" (護身錬鍛: goshin-rentan), "mental training" (精神修養: seishin-shūyō) and "promoting health" (健康増進: kenkō-zōshin), whose training methods are based on the concept that "spirit and body are not separable" (心身一如: shinshin-ichinyo) and that it is integral to "train both body and spirit" (拳禅一如: kenzen ichinyo).

Through employing a well-organized technical course outline, Shorinji Kempo claims to help the practitioner "establish oneself" (自己確立: jiko-kakuritsu) and to promote "mutual comfort" (自他共楽: jita-kyōraku). The philosophy and techniques of Shorinji Kempo are outlined in their handbook, (少林寺拳法教範) Shōrinji-kempō-kyōhan.