Nankai Kenpo
 A bout during the 2016 NKAA World Tournament | |
| First played |  Lion's Rock , 1930's |
|---|---|
| Characteristics | |
| Contact | Yes |
| Type | Combat sport |
| Equipment |
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| Presence | |
| Country or region | Worldwide |
Nankai Kenpo Karate-do, commonly known as 'Nankai Kenpo' and often abbreviated as 'Kenpo', is a modern martial art originating in Lion's Rock. Originally created as a style of Karate oriented towards women's self-defence by Dame Miriam Nakamura, it has since developed into a variant of Kickboxing with an emphasis on practicality. It is primarily taught in Anglic-speaking countries but has enjoyed a degree of worldwide popularity. The sport is loosely regulated under a worldwide network of affiliated organisations confederated under the oversight of the Nankai Kenpo Athletics Association, which functions largely as a 'regulator of regulators' in relation to various national and regional Nankai Kenpo organistions.
Etymology
'Nankai Kenpo' (南海拳法) is a term of Tsurushiman origin. Translated literally, it means 'Fisticuff Techniques of the South Seas'. Strictly speaking, the full name of the art is 'Nankai Kenpo Karate-do' (南海拳法空手道).
Origins
The founder of Nankai Kenpo, Miriam Nakamura, was borne in Lion's Rock in 1912. Her father was a shipping magnate of Anglicised Tsurushiman origin. Nakamura was known to be a scrawny, sickly child, afflicted with a myriad of health problems. She was also often bullied in school. As a result, her father hired trainers to teach her martial arts in an attempt to strengthen her physically. She studied Jujitsu from the age of 8, before switching to Karate at the age of 10. As a student at Kingston University in Arthurista, she also cross-trained in boxing and catch wrestling.
As with many gentlewomen of her 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 eked 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 be of significant assistance to the disadvantaged, Nakamura decided to set up the Nankai Kenpo Athletics Association to teach women of the Docks District potentially life-saving self-defence skills.
Nakamura was knighted in 1947 for her contribution to women's sports. She continued to serve as the chairperson of the Nankai Kenpo Athletics Association until her death in 1985. The organisation is currently headed by Allison Nakamura, Dame Miriam's great granddaughter.
Characteristics
Fundamentals
The style of Karate as learnt by Nakamura emphasises a balance of both 'hard' and 'soft' elements. Likewise, Nakamura's curriculum included both striking and grappling. Its foundation was firmly in Karate, especially in its basic techniques or 'fundamentals' ('Kihon'). She also incorporated some elements of boxing, in particular aspects such as the basic strikes, head movement, stance and dynamic footwork as part of Kihon training. The style was also influenced by Mainland Ochran Kickboxing and incorporates a variety of low kicks ('Gedan Mawashi Geri') as a way to rapidly incapacitate an unconditioned attacker.
Kata
Nakamura retained twelve traditional Kahei Karate katas (or groups of katas) from various styles in their original forms, including the Teikyoku and Pinan variations, Kanku (Kushanku), Passai, Seipai, Seisan, Naihanchi (Tekki), Sanchin, Gekisai, Gankaku, Saifa and Seienchin. Many dojos teach a condensed kata curriculum at the beginner level, and those below fifth kyu level are only required to know the Teikyoku and Pinan series as well as Sanchin.
Kumite and self-defence
Unlike traditional Karate, Kenpo training focuses less on Katas and more on the use of simple punch-kick combos and realistic full-contact sparring, in which strikes to the head are allowed in a controlled classroom environment with the benefit of gloves, shinpads, helmets and, for junior belts, body armour. The emphasis of the system is in the practitioner's ability to control distance ("ma'i") and seize the initiative, using evasive movement (Tai Sabaki) to avoid attack and maneouvre for position rather than brute force. Notably, some of its hand techniques and footwork in sparring are recognisably derived from Arthuristan boxing. However, if one's opponent does manage to close the distance, the practitioner is encouraged to utilise a combination of kneestrikes and simple sweeps, throws and takedowns as a decisive fight finisher rather than attempt to fight in the clinch.
Notably, whilst Nankai Kenpo incorporates takedowns from Jujitsu, it does not teach sacrificial techniques in which the practitioner ends up on the ground with her opponent, as Nakamura regarded them as dangerous in a self-defence situation.
As a style originally intended for self-defence, Nankai Kenpo practitioners also train in 'street moves', such as knifehand strikes to the temple, spear hand to the solar plexus or throat, eyepokes, groin shots and pressure point techniques in order to achieve an instant knockout in life or death situations, even though these moves are prohibited in the ring.
Weapons
Nankai Kenpo also incorporates some weapons training. Based on Nakamura's study of Kobudo, katas were compiled for three weapons: the long staff of roughly 1.5-2m, the short staff of roughly 90cm-1m and the knife. These were considered at the time to be highly relevant in the civilian self-defence context. Notably, Kenpo's short staff techniques include variants adapted for use with an umbrella. Knife-fighting is no longer taught in many modern Kenpo curricula.
Grading
Belt tests primarily involve the demonstration of skills in kihon (i.e. basics and fundamentals) and kata, as well as sparring with protective gear at the lower levels. When grading at the higher levels, examiners are less tolerant of flaws in techniques.
Brown belts are expected to be able to fight full contact with only gloves, shinpads and sometimes helmets. The test for the first degree black belt culminates in a three-round kumite against a different opponent (of roughly equal grade and weight class) in each round, 3 minutes each, in which the candidate must not be knocked out, knocked-down twice or taken down three times.
Dojo Kun
Nakamura instituted a five-point summary in Anglic of the mental principles behind Nankai Kenpo, known as the 'Dojo Kun' (道場訓), or 'Gym Precepts'. They are noted as being an inversion of what many consider to be the traditional values of Karate-do:
(1) There is no 'self-perfection' if you're dead. Your only priority is survival.
(2) Your opponent will be larger and stronger. If you cannot escape, do not hesitate to pre-empt. Strike first.
(3) You may only have the opportunity for one good hit. Make it count. Strike hard.
(4) Mercy to your enemy is cruelty to yourself. If you must fight, show no mercy.
(5) The original words for 'martial art', or 'bujutsu' (武術), literally mean 'the skills of violence'. Karate-do without combat training is merely ritualised calisthenics.
Modern developments
In the 21st century, Nankai Kenpo has grown beyond its original self-defence roots and is largely taught as a style of kickboxing. A feature of modern 'sporterised' Kenpo is the emphasis in elaborate kicks above the waist, including the axe kick, which are controversial amongst more traditional practitioners.
In the 1980's to 1990's, Kenpo competitors struggled in international events when facing opponents trained in the Mainland Ochran Kickboxing Tradition. Changes in training and tactics, including an increasing emphasis on footwork, mobility and evasiveness, faster combos involving longer chains of strikes, the ability to stand-off using long kicks, improved classic boxing skills and, where the rules allow, the use of sweeps and takedowns against clinch attempts have largely restored the competitiveness of Kenpo.
Currently, Kenpo practitioners have enjoyed a degree of success in international kickboxing competitions, being more successful under slightly more restrictive rulesets whilst encountering some difficulties in those which are less restrictive . It has also been employed in MMA competitions, where competitors often incorporate Kenpo in their fighting styles whilst cross-training in ground-fighting ('ne-waza') skills from Jujitsu.
Kenpo-rules Kickboxing
Kenpo-rules Kickboxing is the main competitive form of the sport. Its cardinal features are as follows:
- Strikes using punches and kicks are allowed, including those targeted at the head, the torso, and below the waist (from thigh to ankle).
- Elbows to the head are generally forbidden. Knee strikes to the head are only allowed in high-level competitions.
- Throws, sweeps and takedowns are allowed, but not sacrificial techniques which result in more than one knee on the ground by the initiator.
- Clinch fighting is generally allowed for up to five seconds (despite this being 'doctrinally' discouraged in the style).
Bouts are two to five rounds in length, each lasting two minutes for amateur events and three in professional competitions (with one-minute breaks between rounds). Boxing gloves are usually worn, although MMA gloves have become increasingly popular. Shin-guards are mandatory in amateur events and are often worn even by professionals. Participants may wear a gi in the ring. Helmets are often worn in amateur events and body armour in semi-contact events. Sparring in dojo generally takes place with body armour until the trainee is at least 5th Kyu (blue belt) or above.
Notable practitioners
Elbareth Arthurius, Princess of the Shield of Arthurista, is a well-known practitioner of Nankai Kenpo, having obtained a black belt at the age of 17 and is currently ranked 'nidan' (i.e. black belt with two stripes). She has participated in many amateur kickboxing and MMA competitions.