Simms

Kempo Jitsu Pre 1900 Martial Art System

By Tony Sims

The art of Kempo-Jitsu is a continuous study of pre 1900 applications of various

martial art techniques using Okinawan Shorin Ryu kata, Yang style Tai Chi,

Shaolin Chin-Na, Hung Gar Gung Fu, Ryu Kyu Kempo, and Japanese Ju Jitsu as core

resources in its foundation. This unique blend of Chinese and Okinawan martial

arts has lead Sensei Melbourne, the founder of Kempo Jitsu, on a life long quest

to perfect himself and his system. With over thirty years (and still counting)

of martial art training behind him, a Vietnam Vet (US Marine Corps.), and a

sincere thirst for knowledge, Kempo-Jitsu enthusiasts have much to learn and

gain under Sensei Melbourne's tutelage. To better understand the system of

Kempo-Jitsu and its focus on pre 1900

techniques, we must first be familiar with the history of the martial arts in

general. The general history of martial arts varies from person to person, style

to style, nationality to nationality, and etc. This is mostly due to the

combination of political distortion and lack of actual written historical

documentation. Fortunately, not all civilizations were as closed mouth as the

Asians. We have paintings of martial (warring) practice predating Babylonian

times. The most recent discoveries coming from cave drawings in Africa. For now,

the martial arts history as taught in Kempo-Jitsu...Martial Arts History

The martial arts have been used to solve personal conflicts since the beginning

of time. It may have been over a scrap of food, a mate, or hunting grounds.

Knowing how to defend and defeat opposition meant the difference between

survival and death. Mankind's will to survive was, and still is, the foundation

of refining techniques and strategies to help ensure his very existence. There

is archeological evidence of warriors using techniques of grabbing, throwing,

and striking dating as far back as 3000 BC. This took place in the region of the

world known as Babylon, present-day Iran and Iraq, and is thought to be the

forerunner of Asian martial arts. Of course, it is also widely accepted that

India is the birthplace of Asian martial arts. Again, lack of historical records

makes the true origins of martial arts very difficult to pin point. This causes

the martial arts history to be referred to as a puzzle. A puzzle having pieces

scattered here and there.

Hindu Connection

One very significant piece of that puzzle comes in the form of a book titled

Veda (The Book of Divine Knowledge). This book was written around the year 1500

BC and reflects the life and times of the people in India of that time period.

The Veda described Hindu religion, but a great deal of the book is devoted to

the "War of the Gods" in domination of the Earth.

To add to this book's historical importance, the weapons described are very

similar to the weapons used by the Shaolin monks of China. To write such a book

means the author more than likely had a working knowledge of the martial arts.

Another piece of the puzzle, and probably the most well known story in the

martial arts, comes from the tale of Bodhidharma and the Shaolin Temple.

In the year 563 BC, a man was born in Lumbini, Nepal, and was named Siddhartha

Gautama. It was prophesized at his birth that he would either become a Universal

Ruler or a Universal Teacher. He was well on his way to becoming a ruler when he

witnessed the human suffering in his country. He was so overwhelmed from this he

left his wife, son, and wealth to become a

wandering hermit. His ultimate goal was to learn the meaning of human existence.

It is said that while in Northern India, he decided to sit under a tree and

meditate on his thoughts. Forty-nine days later, he emerged from his meditation

the "Enlightened One" or Buddha, as he his more commonly called. This Buddhism,

or Ch'an in Chinese, was the start of a legendary journey that led to the

Shaolin monastery located in Northern China, in the province of Hunan, on Pine

Forest Mountain. The Shaolin

temple is also called "Pine Forest Monastery."

Heavenly Match

Around 220 AD, a physician for the Emperor Hua T'o devised a set of exercises

called the "Five Animal Frolics." These were the strong points of the Deer,

Bear, Bird, Tiger, and Snake. These exercises were taught at the Shaolin temple

toimprovespeed, strength, balance, energy, flexibility, and chi flow. When a

Buddhist teacher by the name of Bodhidharma came to teach the Shaolin monks, he

soon realized the monks needed breathing exercises to keep them awake during

meditation. To increase their stamina, he taught them the "Eighteen Stationary

Breathing Exercises" to assist them while he continued teaching Buddhism. This

union of breathing exercises and the Five Animal Form, which they discovered to

be an excellent means of protecting themselves, became the foundation for one of

the most famous fighting systems of all time...Shaolin Ch'uan, or better known

as Shaolin Kempo. The success of Shaolin Kempo is evident when considering the

plethora of other Asian martial arts that can trace their roots back to this

Shaolin martial art. Of these, Shaolin Chin Na

and Okinawa Te steal the spotlight in Kempo Jitsu.

Kempo to Karate-Do

Okinawa Te is said to have developed in the 16th Century due to the prohibition

of weapons imposed on the Okinawan's by their Japanese rulers in the late

1500's. The trade routes and interaction between Okinawan and Chinese merchants

and religious figureheads helped shape and functionalize Okinawa Te. One of the

first acknowledged masters of Okinawa Te was a man by the name of Sakugawa

Sensei (1733 - 1815). Sakugawa Sensei originally started studying under a monk

of Shuri, one of three historically significant Okinawan cities concerning

martial arts, named Peichin Takahara. Later, Sakugawa Sensei became the student

of a famous Chinese official visiting Okinawa named Kushan Ku, or Kunsanku.

Kushan Ku is honored by having two forms named after him, Kusanku Sho and

Kusanku Dai, which are used in several different styles and systems in today's

martial arts. As political struggles for power and control would have it,

martial arts training were forced into secrecy or disguised in traditional

dance.

Forever Adjusting

With the coming of the Japanese government reforms in the late 1800's to early

1900's, many changes occurred that would alter the perception and practice of

most Japanese/Okinawan warring martial arts into its present day sporting form.

The effects of these reforms on the martial arts can be seen in the softening of

techniques and lack of specific teachings. This softening and lack of certain

instructions does not only apply to martial techniques, but applies to the whole

spectrum of martial arts teachings. Prime examples would be Kodokan Judo and

Shotokan Karate. Neither of these is as complete as originally taught and

structured. It is very important to remember that it is not the founding persons

to blame for these changes. These adaptations were done out of need. The need to

ensure the art's very survival in the "new" era. In order to do this, the

martial

arts had to gain the approval of the government and general public. The easiest

and most efficient way of doing this was to introduce safe competition and

practice. This generated renewed interest by promoting good health and spiritual

well being. The increase of practitioners and the public acceptance through

exhibitions and tournaments helped solidify and guarantee the martial arts

survival. Unfortunately, the adaptations made were of great consequence to many

styles. Many techniques and

interpretations of techniques have been lost. Many hidden teachings went to the

graves with those who had knowledge of them. A large amount of known teachings

have been greatly ignored due to a common belief of no present worth or value in

modern times. Little did anyone realize how important these forgotten and

neglected teachings would be to modern martial artists. Fortunately, the martial

artists in modern times have not remained ignorant to the obvious gaps in

present day martial training. The largest challenges have been where to find

reliable sources that can answer these pressing questions. One such valuable

resource to pursue would be Master Ken Melbourne. His thirty -plus years of

martial arts training and real world experience has made him a highly combative

and adept martial artist.

Kempo Jitsu Rediscovered

Master Ken Melbourne, who, at the young age of 17, joined the United States

Marine Corps in 1967. The Marines gave Ken his first taste of true, life or

death, combative arts. The hand to hand, weapons, knife, and guerrilla warfare

training were put to the ultimate test on the battlegrounds of the Vietnam War.

Upon his return in 1972, Ken began studying Shorin Ryu, Judo, Ju Jitsu, and pre

1900 martial arts. It was during these early years Master Ken realized, as

effective as these martial arts are, most conflicts between two or more people

don't allow for the structured (sporting) applications as taught within the

dojo(s).

This awareness allowed him to be open minded concerning martial arts, their

effectiveness, and developmental quality. Additional studies in

Shaolin Chin Na, Hapkido, Hung Gar Gung Fu Hok, Yang style Tai Chi and pressure

point manipulations have been implemented to enhance the fighting system of

Kempo-Jitsu.

The Right Stuff

Kempo Jitsu fundamentals are root, hip, breath, speed, power, disruption, and

flow. These fundamentals are applied in every aspect of the system whether

expressed in kata, strikes, grappling, weapons, or any combination of each. The

strict adherence to these key elements ensures the practitioners proper

development and advancement in Kempo Jitsu. The system's rank advancements are

structured in such a manner as to reinforce what has already been taught with

the additional requirements. This encourages a practitioner to truly learn the

instructions instead of memorizing for tests.A good representation of the first

three elements, root-hip-breath, would be in the footwork (movement) underlying

the hip rotation behind the strikes denoted by the breathing. By this, the foot

grips the ground to allow the power of the legs to channel into the hips which,

when added to

the power of the hip rotation (snap), allows for a much stronger fist strike to

be executed. The breathing denotes each stage of the transitioning power through

the sound of "Hiss" (the foot) "Sa" (the hip)

"Hiss" (the strike). This breathing technique not only helps a practitioner

develop power and speed, it also teaches when and how to breathe in all

techniques in application and kata. Not many styles or systems actually teach

how to breathe in kata or prior to execution of techniques. They just simply

inform the practitioner to yell at the strikes moment of impact or at this point

in the kata. These three fundamentals, (root, hip, breath), lay the groundwork

from which the remaining elements, (speed,power, disruption, flow) build upon.

The "Speed Fighting" of Kempo Jitsu best represents the speed element.

This concept is an original pre 1900 martial art practice and focuses on

developing the practitioner's ability to hit an opponent four to ten times in

one second. So many systems and styles neglect this very important component of

martial art training. Speed hitting is a very effective means of dominating an

adverse confrontation. There are key attributes to be developed such as

relaxation, trajectory, stance, footwork, breathing, and flow. Speed hitting

emphasizes hand strikes primarily because in a real world encounter, you will

naturally use your feet for movement and balance while your hands become

responsible for defense and attack. Most confrontations will have the attacker

going for a grab and then punch OR step closer to you and then punch. The

thinking behind speed hitting is to hit, hit, and hit some more. A grabbing

appendage is not a threat. It is preoccupied with holding whatever has been

grabbed. It may be ignored so the body and face get struck several times. The

appendage may also be the first target struck with proceeding strikes working

their way into the body and face. In practicing this, practitioners

inadvertently continue studying the initial fundamentals and begin training the

remaining elements of power, disruption, and flow.Power training in Kempo Jitsu

can be understood as having two major concepts. The first is another pre 1900

training concept called "One Punch Kill" and the second consists of a two part

breakdown called "Long Power" and "Short Power" techniques. One Punch Kill,

(referred to as OPK for short), is often erroneously interpreted as a one punch

knockout. The mentality behind OPK is to completely dominate an adversary by

quickly ending the threat or to purposely end the threat...piece by piece. OPK

uses long power or short power to achieve its goals. Long power is best

described as movement in combat while short power involves non-movement in

combat. An example of long power would be for a partner to grab and pull you

forcing you to move in order to maintain your balance before defending. An

example of short power would be for your partner to grab you and there is no

need to move before you defend or attack. This practice

further develops the known fundamentals when integrated together and leads

into the remaining elements of disruption and flow.Disruption entails the

practice and integration of Judo, Ju Jitsu, Chin Na, and pressure point

techniques. Judo, and Ju Jitsu, are well known for their throws, grappling, and

joint manipulation. Chin-Na has five sections. Muscle Manipulation, Bone

dislocation, Vein and Breath disruption and Pressure point Attacks, and is known

for it's grappling efficiency. The inclusion of these techniques contribute to

the study and understanding of balance, bone and joint manipulations, throwing,

falling, and pressure point attacks. Grappling is not the only area these

techniques are limited to. Pressure point targets also become the destination of

the strikes from kicks and punches. The understanding of balance is used to

disrupt the adversaries while maintaining yours. The motion often called a block

becomes a motion that attacks a joint or pressure point. Even the stepping

motions that advance the practitioner become more than a stepping motion. The

economy of motion and ranges of attack take on a different and more complete

meaning and understanding. The practice of disruption techniques further

develops the aforementioned fundamentals and brings forth the life long training

in the final element of Kempo Jitsu, flow.

The flowing of techniques is best seen while practicing and dissecting the

Okinawan kata of Shorin Ryu. When the kata are interpreted using applications of

pre 1900 techniques, the flow of these techniques become known and understood.

The practitioner is first shown the kata to learn. Once the movements of the

kata have been learned, the dissection of that kata begins. The techniques found

within the kata will incorporate the seven fundamentals of Kempo Jitsu. The

root, hip, breath, speed, power, disruption, and flow are constantly shown and

represented in kata. Most martial art practitioners familiar with kata

dissection, also known as Bunkai, are familiar with the strikes and some are

aware of the throws and bone breaks. The majority, however, are oblivious to the

pressure point targets and how to properly strike them. Many are not aware of

the underlying factors that define one motion leading into another in kata. The

study of Kempo Jitsu will assist any practitioner who is ambitious enough to

pursue a deeper understanding of pre 1900 martial arts.