The Martial Arts can be traced back 527 A.D. to a man named Daruma Taishi also known as Tamo. He came from India. He achieved the incredible feat of walking 5,000 miles across the Himalayas to China where he settled in the Province of Shaolin. When he arrived, he noticed that the monks who lived there were in a very weakened physical state making them easy prey for thieves and robbers. At this point they could not perform any self-defense effectively. So he began to teach them simple “form” or “katas” which were based on watching animal moves. Through forms they were not only building up their endurance and stamina, but they were also repeatedly practicing self-defense moves in case they were ever needed.

 

At the end of their training as monks, they had a decision to make. They could either stay in the monastery or go out among the the world preaching the Buddhist religion to the masses. As they would preach religion, they would also instruct others in the Martial Arts.

 

Gichin Funakoshi brought the Martial Arts from Japan to Okinawa in 1921. He changed the name to “Okinawa Te” meaning Okinawan Hands to "Kara Te” meaning empty hands. He is considered the Father of Modern Karate. He was the man to devise sparring.

 

Post World War II, Karate came to United States from our servicemen who studied in Japan during the war.

 

Kenpo is a combination of Hawaiian street fighting and Southern Chinese Kung Fu.

 

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