History
History of Kempo
Shaolin Kempo can be traced back to India. In the 6th Century AD, a Buddhist monk named Bodhidharma traveled to the Shaolin Temple in China. Bodhidharma introduced a series of tai'chi like movements to the monks. These exercises (called the 18 Hands of Lo Han) were designed to improve the physical, mental, and spiritual condition of the monks. The exercises eventually evolved into the self defense movements that the monks used to defend the Temple from attackers. Over the next 1500 years, these techniques developed into full scale martial arts, and spread to Korea, Okinawa, and eventually Japan. From Japan, a man named James Mitose brought his family art of Kempo to Hawaii in the 1930's. Students of Mitose's brought Kempo to the West Coast of the United States around 1950. The development of Kempo in the US in 1950 will be examined much closer during future studies.
History of Goju
USA Goju (Hard & Soft Method) is a modern & eclectic self-defense system developed by the late O'Sensei Peter Urban in the 1950's after training in Post WWII Japan with Gogen Yamaguchi, Richard Kim, & Mas Oyama. USA Goju is a close combat / empty hand system which incorporates the hard & soft aspects of multiple strikes, blocks, low kicks, and grabbing / trapping techniques to neutralize an attack. It's unique Dynamic Tension exercises & conditioning are designed to build both physical and mental strength by developing the internal energy ( Ki or Chi ) contained within everyone. USA Goju simultaneously seeks to honor old knowledge, yet gain new knowledge in order to impart the finest martial information to it's students worldwide. This mission carries on Peter Urban's martial vision & philosophy of constant evolution and improvement through continuous and endless training.
History of Kajukenbo
In Hawaii, around the year 1950, a man named Adriano Emperado (a student of William Chow; both of whom you will learn much more about as your studies continue) began developing a hybrid martial arts form. By combining KArate, JUdo/JUjitsu, KENpo, and Chinese BOxing, Emperado created KAJUKENBO with other formidable martial artists. A student of Emperado's, Victor "Sonny" Gascon brought Kajukenbo to the West Coast of the US mainland in 1953.
History of Karazenpo
After a dispute with some of the lesser Kajukenbo people (not Emperado himself), Gascon decided to change the style to incorporate more structured forms and self defense techniques. Gascon called the new style KARAZENPO GO SHINJUTSU. This is the style which we are most closely aligned with today with the Pinans, Kata, and numbered combinations.
History of SASD Kempo
Syracuse Academy of Self Defense is the culmination of over twenty years of martial arts training by Sensei Bruno Daniele. After many years of training in various styles (USA Goju, Tracy's System of Kenpo, Shaolin Kempo, Karazenpo Go Shinjutsu), Sensei Daniele moved from the NYC area to Central NY in 1995. His first karate class was located at St. Joseph's Church in Camillus, NY. He then became a co-owner of CNY Academy in Geddes. His martial journey brought him to Sigung Rudy Duncan in Syracuse and ultimately back to Geddes under the current school name.