Ryukyu Kempo is a term used to describe the classical forms of karate practised in the the Ryukyu Islands, a chain of islands south of Japan. The largest of these islands, Okinawa (沖縄), is where karate originated. Kempo (拳法) literally translates to ‘fist way’.

 

What makes Ryukyu Kempo unique when compared to other styles of karate is that it remains untouched by the changes made in the earlier part of the twentieth century that transformed karate from a self defense method into a competitive sport. At that time the self defense techniques were watered down so those practising the new sport version did not cause serious harm to their opponent, unfortunately this meant those styles of Karate lost the most effective part of their teachings and became a shell of their former self’s

 

Ryukyu Kempo however was not watered down into a sport so today as well as offering the striking techniques associated with most karate styles, Ryukyu Kempo teaches the student two areas that are not included in Modern Karate and most other modern Martial Arts:

 

Tuite (捕手) or “grab hand” and Kyusho (急場) (vital point striking). Tuite refers to the grappling and joint manipulations contained in Ryukyu Kempo. Everyone’s body is weak in the same manor. These weaknesses occur near joints, nerves, tendons, and muscles. Tuite should not be thought of as an art unto itself. Tuite works in conjunction with Kyusho in that the pressure points are the keys to releasing the joints attacked by Tuite. Kyusho (急場) (vital point striking) is the pressure point striking of Ryukyu Kempo. To perform a Kyusho-Jitsu technique, a student must be trained in striking a combination of points. Strikes to the proper points – in the correct order, angle, and direction – can disorient, disable, or cause death to an attacker. The map of these pressure point combinations are hidden within Kata. With correct understanding and adequate practice of the techniques contained within Kata, Ryukyu Kempo techniques and combinations can be interpreted.

 

It is very easy to determine if a style of Martial Arts is an original unaltered version of old style Karate or the newer watered down sport version. If in any of the explanation for Kata movements in that style of Karate the movement is explained as a blocking action then it is a watered down sport version of Karate as there are NO blocking interpretations for movements in the original older style of Karate, all the movements in old style Karate Kata are grappling and or Kyusho-Jitsu striking techniques.

 

If your goal is to learn just a simplified sport version of the Martial arts then learning a watered down version may be fine. However if your goal in learning martial arts is for its self defense aspect then learning the older unaltered version of Karate is a much better way to achieve this.