Kosho-Ryu

Kosho-Ryu Martial Arts Training Near Me

What is Kosho Shorei Ryu? Kosho literally means old pine tree. Shorei means school of encouragement. A traditional Ryu is a school of thought pertaining to an art form. A Japanese Buddhist priest meditated under an old pine tree around 1235 AD and received enlightenment, as he discovered universal laws and natural principles pertaining to our existence and the resolution of conflict.

This is the Kosho Shorei Ryu form of martial arts, but it is more. The predecessors of Kempo are Chuan Fa, in China, and before that Vajra Mukti in India. Kempo's philosophy is to study and understand man's relationship with nature. Kempo is the study of natural law pertaining to mankind.

They also study philosophical classics, including the I Ching, the Book of Changes. They study the five elements and the In and Yo (Yin and Yang in Chinese). They understand the principle of balance, and how one can, through understanding balance, exist harmoniously with the whole of mankind. Within their own realm, in their own reality, they learn how to adjust their reality, behavior, or physical presence within others' perception of reality.

Body, mind, and spirit. This microcosm leads to an understanding of all things. Kempo, then, means study, and practice, and the discipline of study and practice. The understanding of this philosophy, the embodiment of this practice, and the reality of this study prepares the Kempo-ka well for a possible conflict. Defending one's self becomes very easy.

Understanding the process of a fight is the key. Techniques used in a fight are only a small part of that process. What happens before that point is of primary importance. The study and practice of this study and practice has been used successfully throughout.

Kosho Shorei Ryu Kempo is an ancient art with a rich history and tradition. It began around 1300 AD in China, in the Shaolin Temple, emigrated to Japan, and finally to the United States of America through James Mitose. Kosho is rich indeed, embracing the study of martial training, Japanese Yoga, Shodo (brush calligraphy), meditation, healing arts, energy collection, escaping arts, folding arts and philosophy.

Kenpo is a Japanese Art, having its roots deep in China. It means Fist Law (Chinese "Kem" = "fist", "Po" = "law". Japanese "Ken" =fist, "Po" = "law".). Its motion contains many similarities to the Shaolin Kung Fu from which it emerged, but the Japanese have, as they tend to do with everything, taken the art and fine-tuned it and "perfected" it.

Kempo is often so subtle that one doesn't even see what has just happened, though the effect upon the attacker is clear enough. Kempo properly done often looks like an accident. Over the years there have developed many schools of Kenpo; American Kenpo, Tracy's Kenpo as a couple of examples.

When he moved from Japan to Hawaii, he eventually decided to teach his art to the Americans there. He ran a small dojo there, and his students went on to teach their versions of Kenpo across the US. Ed Parker, for instance, created "American Kenpo", teaching many famous American actors and musicians (Elvis Presley among them.)