Nankai Kenpo
| First played | Lion's Rock, 1900's |
|---|---|
| Characteristics | |
| Contact | Yes |
| Mixed gender | No |
| Type | Combat sport |
| Presence | |
| Country or region | Worldwide |
| Olympic | No |
Nankai Kenpo, commonly abbreviated as 'Kenpo', is a modern martial art originating in the Lion's Rock. Originally developed as a karate variant oriented towards women's self-defence, it has since developed into a popular style of kickboxing. It is primarily taught in Anglic-speaking countries but has enjoyed a degree of worldwide popularity.
Etymology
'Nankai Kenpo' (南海拳法) as a term is Tsurushiman in origin, which literally means 'Fisticuff Techniques of the South Seas'.
Origins and characteristics
The founder of Nankai Kenpo, Miriam Nakamura, was borne in the Lion's Rock in 188. Her father was a shipping magnate of Anglicised Tsurushiman origin. Nakamura was known to be a scrawny, sickly child, affected by a myriad of health problems. She was also often bullied in school. As a result, her father hired trainers to teach her martial arts. She studied jujitsu from the age of 9, before switching to Karate at the age of 12. As a student at Kingston University in Arthurista, she also cross-trained in boxing.
As with most gentlewomen of the era, Nakamura engaged in charity work upon her graduation and return to her native Lion's Rock. Unlike many of her contemporaries, Nakamura chose an idiosyncratic field in which to contribute. Early-20th century Lion's Rock was rapidly develping into an international shipping centre. Thousands of migrant families eke out a precarious living in the Docks District, which at the time was a slum, rife with gang crime and violence. Identifying an area in which she could contribution, Nakamura decided to set up the Nakamura Athletics Association to teach the women of the Docks District potentially life-saving self-defence skills.
The style of martial art as taught by Nakamura is a striking-based system. Nakamura's curriclum, which was eventually refined into modern Nankai Kenpo, had its foundation in Karate. She retained a few basic Karate katas in their original form, condensed or abbreviated a few others, and created one ab initio, for a total of seven in all. She also incorporated the head movement and footwork of boxing. The emphasis of the system is in the practitioner's ability to control distance and set the initiative, using agility to maneouvre for position rather than brute force. On the whole, the system has a greater emphasis on kicks, including high kicks, than standard karate, whilst its hand techniques are closer to those of Arthuristan boxing. However, if one's opponent does manage to close the distance, the practitioner is encouraged to utilise its simple jujitsu-derived takedown moves rather than attempt to fight in the clinch.
Nankai Kenpo also incorporates some weapons training. Katas were compiled for two weapons: the short-staff of roughly 4 feet, and the knife. Both of these were considered to be important in the civilian self-defence context. For example, short-staff katas included variants adapted for use with an umbrella. Knife-fighting is no longer taught in many modern Kenpo curricula.
Nakamura was knighted in 1947 for her contribution to women's sports. She continued to be the chairman of the Nakamura Athletics Association until her death in 1973.
Modern developments
In the 21st century, Nankai Kenpo has largely grown beyond its original self-defence roots and is largely taught as a style of kickboxing. Kenpo-rules Kickboxing is a combat sport whose rule-set allows the use of low kicks and takedowns as well as limited clinching, but forbids the use of elbows and knees. Kenpo practitioners have enjoyed some success in international kickboxing competitions. It has also been employed in MMA competitions, where competitors often cross-train incorporate Kenpo in their fighting techniques whilst cross-training in a grappling art such as Jujitsu or Periclean Wrestling.
Notable practitioners
Elbareth Arthurius, Princess of the Shield of Arthurista, is a well-known practitioner of Nankai Kenpo and has particiated in many amateur kickboxing competitions.