Kempo

Kempo – Is the Japanese pronunciation of Ch’uan-Fa (Fist Law). Some people say that when Kenpo is spelled with the “N”, it indicates that the origin is Chinese, and when Kempo is spelled with an “M” it indicates an association with the Okinawan culture; (an example would be, Shorin-ji Kempo, or Ryukyu Kempo). This is not completely correct, and although it is true that the Kempo systems of Okinawa use the “M”, it was the Mitose family who established the spelling of Kenpo with a”N”; and their roots were Japanese. Kenpo, though brought from China as were all those other styles, went through the greatest development or changes during its life in Japan according to a book by James Mitose. This book was written in 1953, and was the first book ever published on the art. It was entitled "Kenpo Jujitsu", and Kenpo was spelled with an “N”. Both Mitose’s Kenpo and the Kenpo that went to Okinawa find their origins in China, so it is the opinion of this writer that quite possibly, Kenpo with the quote “N” is just part of the unique system of the Mitose clan.