Friday, August 16, 2013

Kempo, Chuan-fa,or KunTao

FRIDAY KNIGHT NEWS

As most of you know besides writing I have been a martial art instructor. My primary arts have been jujutsu and kempo. Today I would like to address some thoughts on the kempo that I have studied. The kempo, (fist law) jujutsu (art); utilizes just five kata (forms). Kempo is from (Chuan-fa) which is often pronounced Kun Tao in various regions of South East Asia. Our kempo is composed of chuan fa (Chinese boxing) that has been influenced by Japanese arts such as aiki-jujutsu and we seek to understand the commonality of principles. Many people think of kempo as a style of kung fu, others look at it as a type of karate. The principles and techniques of kempo are often found in various forms of jujutsu and aiki-jujutsu. I have always told my students that kempo as we know it today is an American version, of the Japanese version, of a Chinese art.

Many styles of karate utilize far more forms as do many styles of kung fu, although there are several styles of kung fu that utilize just a few forms and some styles use only one. Generally the styles that utilize a single form practice a very long form. The kata that we utilize are reputedly truncated segments of one such long form. Our purpose is to limit the amount of kata (forms), waza (techniques) and henka (variations) and instead focus on the keys we find essential for renshu (polishing) our movements.

Kempo Jutsu is a study of unarmed combat skills and the study of universal laws and principles. We seek to avoid violence with our thoughts, words, and actions but we can defend ourselves without malice. Tokoshi Kempo Jutsu teaches from core principles to the application of those principles, not in numbered drills.

The three principle states of water are: Ice, water, and vapor, and are reflected in movements and actions. One should respond to an attack in a yielding and enveloping manner and sometimes finished in an ice like manner. Techniques should deliver power like that of an ocean wave and sometimes it should be as elusive as a cloud. Just remember to be spontaneous with responses and non-resistance to force.

Tokoshi Kempo Jutsu is a style that teaches methods for generating an appropriate response to any situation and any opponent. The technical characteristics of Tokoshi Kempo Jutsu are based on Chinese and Japanese arts mainly from striking and grappling arts derived from Chinese boxing with the emphasis on Chin-Na (Chinese for seize control) and influenced by jujutsu and aiki jujutsu. Its goal is to achieve simultaneous attack and defense with diagonal and circular footwork with the emphasis on getting offline while controlling the distance. It has a broad syllabus of striking, kicking, choking, locking, throwing, and pressure points.

Kempo Jutsu also uses many training aids and methods of movement from each of these categories. Kempo is known for its returning fist flowing strikes and the cardinal point horizontal angles and concentric circles. We also use the points of the hour from a clock to describe angles on a vertical plane.

My stories are about martial arts adventures that are intertwined with paranormal or supernatural events. The following links are to the Kindle version books from the "Dream Walker” series. Our adventurers find themselves on a quest where they are confronted with both conspiracy and mystery. Their challenge is to unite their mind and body skills together utilizing what they have learned in the martial arts with the transcendental power of dream mediation. They attempt to do this while they are trying to make a life for themselves and elude those that seek to use and control them.

Conversations with a Sage (Book 1 of the Dream-Walker)

Conversations with a Sage: This explores Xander Davidson's early encounters with the mysterious fog like Dream Walking martial art sages. He ponders if they are real or if they are only remnants of his dreams. He mainly keeps this secret world to himself as he tries to copes with abuse, growing up without support or guidance and the mystery of his family's past. 

Xander and the Assassins Gift (Book 2 of the Dream-Walker)

The Assassins Gift: Xander Davidson struggles with the conspiracy of his family and the group that is actively trying to manipulate him to join them or die. The young Dream Walkers learns an early lesson to be careful about whom they let into their circle.


Warriors of Perception (Book 3 of the Dream-Walker)

Warriors of Perception: Xander Davidson and his band of friends embark on a mission to free themselves from their oppressors. They bravely face the challenge all the while vying for the right moment to turn the tables.


Jace Lee The Shift (Book 4 of the Dream-Walker)

Jace Lee The Shift: We find a new apprentice, Adam, that is fighting for his life. He is struggling to understand the amazing skills of his mentor, Jace Lee; a younger man that has trained under Xander Davidson. All the while his mentor attempts to reconcile the fact that his skills do not match up with the other Dream Walkers.


Jace Lee No Agenda (Dream Walker Book 5)

Jace Lee No Agenda: Jace Lee attempts to find himself on a self-imposed vision quest of sorts. Instead he finds himself being stalked by the same group that had previously sought after his teacher, (Xander Davidson). Instead of mastering his odd Dream Walking skills he finds love and the potential loss of his powers.


Jace Lee The Tutelage of Ming Wu: Jace Lee rejoins his teacher Xander Davidson as they cope with a possible combined threat (the mysterious), Ming Wu and the Council that has continuously monitored the Dream Walkers.      

No comments: