History of the Art of Kenpo Karate

History of Kenpo Karate

         The origin of Karate can be traced as far back as 520 A.D.  This can be traced back to the semi-legendary founder Daruma(n) Taishi.  In the 525 A.D., China was split into many kingdoms. Therefore, civilians were disarmed of any weapons which they had.  Bandits soon organized and were raiding food, clothing, molesting people, burning their homes, and robbing the Holy Temples of the gods.  The Canton War Lords had failed to protect the people from these bandits because they were presently engaged in a war.  Desperately, the people turned to Priest Daruma(n) for help.  He calmed them down and told them that he would ask God's help to overcome this crisis.  He asked the people to be left alone so that he could pray, meditate, and ask the Lord to come to his aid.  After so many weeks, he appeared before the people and said, "The Lord has shown me a vision as to how to overcome this crisis."  War and killing is wrong, but not when protecting yourself against bandits and attackers.  We have no knives, but we make our fingers into daggers and make every fist into a club, without spear, every arm must be turned into a spear, and every open hand a sword.  He showed and taught them this new fighting system called "GO SHIN JUTSU KENPO KARATE", meaning the self-defense of the scientific way of the fist cuff.  From China, the Art traveled to Okinawa where it was known as "TE".  Te consisted of chops, pokes, and rips with the fingers.  Some 350 years ago, Japan overtook the island of Okinawa.