Grand Master James Mitose (1915-1981) is considered to be the founding father of modern day Kempo/Kenpo.
Born in Hawaii, at about four years old, James Mitose was sent to Japan to live with his mother’s father and study the family martial art. The family art which had been the art of Chuan Fa (Chinese), Kenpo, or Kempo (Japanese) which Mitose family had modified, and called it Kosho - Ryu Kenpo.
Following fifteen years of training, James Mitose returned to Hawaii, deciding to share the family art with people of all races. Opening a school, he found that with the rigors of the system. Involving the training in religious philosophies in addition to actual fighting techniques, very few students mastered the system.
After fifteen years of teaching, only six students were awarded the rank of Shodan (Black Belt). These were Jiro Nakamura, Thomas Young, William Chow {later known as Professor William Chow of Kara Ho Kempo}, Paul Yamaguchi, Arthur Keawe, and Edward Lowe.
William Chow (1914-1987) was one of Mitose’ top students. He combined Kosho-Ryu Kempo with his training from his father, Hoon Chow, of Shaolin Ch'uan Fa (Kung-fu) to produce what he called Kara-ho Kempo and later named Kempo Karate. This system, which combined the circular techniques and the animal forms of Kung Fu with the linear movements and grappling techniques of Kosho Ryu Kempo, is where almost all Kempo styles in the United States derive from.
Major students of William Chow were Masaichi Oshiro, Adriano Emperado, Nick Cerio, Ralph Castro, and Ed Parker. Oshiro founded Te-Kne Jutsu Kai, Emperado founded Kajukembo, Cerio founded Kenpo Karate, Castro founded the International Shaloin Kenpo Association, and Parker founded American Kenpo.
While not on our direct line, it is interesting to note that Ed Parker taught Kempo to many well known screen and entertainment personalities including, Robert Wagner, Blake Edwards, Robert Culp, Robert Conrad, Darrin McGavin, Hose Ferrar, George Hamilton, Warren Beatty, Dick Martin, Elke Sommers, Joe Hyams, Joey Bishop, Robert Conrad, McDonald Carey, Jose Farrar, Fabian, Rick Jason, Bronisian Kaper, Nick Adams, Audie Murphy, Frank Lovejoy; the late Elvis Presley (4th degree black belt rank), Audie Murphy, Jeff Speakman (6th degree black belt rank), and many others.
As an internationally recognized martial arts and action film star, Jeff Speakman has starred in over eight films, including The Perfect Weapon, Street Knight, The Expert, Deadly Outbreak, Escape From Atlantis, Scorpio One, Land of the Free, Memorial Day and Running Red.
The Kempo Tree shows only where the knowledge of Kempo came from, and is not an organizational chart. The Louisville Martial Arts Academy is an independent school and is not directly affiliated with any other martial arts school or organization.
While Kempo was derived from three styles of martial arts, (Kempo Karate, Shaolin Kung-Fu and Jiu-Jitsu), it is mainly a striking art. You, as a martial arts student, can benefit from knowledge gained by cross training with a (i.e. non striking) martial art styles that will compliment your Kempo training and will make you a more complete martial artist. Gracie Jiu-Jitsu, a grappling art, or Sikal, primary a weapons art, would be excellent for cross training. Both of these arts can be found at the Louisville Martial Arts Academy and may be added to your training without additional cost.