Kempo means “The Way of, or Law of the Fist”. In China it is known as Chuan-Fa, and is the most famous style in today’s China. Shaolin or “Small Forest” compliments Kempo.

Kempoists believe it to be as close to the original martial art as was taught in India and the Shaolin Temple nearly 3000 years ago.

Kempo has retained all the ingredients of the original style and is a perfect blend of the ‘hard’ side of martial arts (known as karate – empty hand), the ‘soft’ side ( known as Gung Fu) and the ‘internal’ training with Chi Gung (Qi Gong). We also study the original Chen style Tai Chi Chuan with all its self defence techniques.

Considered an art that specializes in self defence combat, Kempo does not pass off physical training as self defence. Instead proper emphasis is placed on each quality of the martial art known as Kempo. There is also comprehensive training in both Chinese and Okinawan weaponry.

It is well documented that the Indian priest Bodhidharma also known as Ta-Mo or Daruma Taishi, traveled from India in 525 AD up through China to the Shaolin Temple in order to enhance the teaching of the Zen Buddhism. However, when he arrived at the temple he found the monks to be in poor physical condition through spending many hours just meditating. Believing that the body needs to be both physically and spiritually healthy he started the monks on a course of exercises, later to be known as the “Eighteen Hands of Lohan”. These exercises contain many self defence techniques.

He also taught them the many fighting techniques he had come across on his long journey from India.

Over many centuries the monks became very proficient in the art of fighting and were asked (or ordered) by the warlords to help protect their kingdoms. However, as with all things, the tide turned and the warlords started to fear the power of the Shaolin monks suspecting that anytime the monks, with their superior fighting skills, could overrun their domains and ordered the midnight burning of the temples and the slaughter of the unsuspecting monks.

It is documented that at least 5 monks escaped, and separated taking part of the fighting skills with them and developed them according to their environment and the indigenous fighting arts of the region.

For instance those who traveled to northern China sparsely populated areas and the locals to be skilled in horsemanship and good arobats, they found in order to get a rider off a horse they had to develop the flying high kicks.

In southern China they found the locals to be either farmers, boat people or living in crowded cities and hence emphasized the low strong stances and powerful hand techniques (imagine being knee deep in a rice paddy or in a little Sampan and trying to deliver a high flying kick).

Northern Gung Fu style emphasize kicking techniques. Southern Gung Fu styles emphasize hand techniques. There is an old Chinese saying “Southern Fist, Northern Foot”.

In about 1600 AD the art went from China to Okinawa, and although many pople consider Japan as being the source of all Martial Arts it was only introduced into that country in 1912 by Gichin Funakoshi and first taught in 1922 – his style became known as Shotokan. The development of the hard side – karate – took prominence.

Kenpo then coursed its way to Hawaii where James Mitose 1942 (Shorinji Kempo & Kempo Jitsu) and William Chow  (Combat & Warfare) taught Edmund Parker who took Kenpo Karate to the American main land.  Ed Parker developed a world renowned self defence system that is used worldwide.

Kempo was introduced to New Zealand in the 1950’s by Michael McCashin. In 1958 Mr McCashin opened the Hutt Valley Club, enabling the art to be taught more freely to the public. In 1964 Mr McCashin put all students of the school through a grueling test which proved Robert Gemmell to be the most advanced student.

In the late 1960’s Mr McCashin suffered a heart attack and Mr Gemmell was the only black belt, out of 3 to be graded as belts, to continue the art. Mr Gemmell trained with his brother for a number of years as well as training overseas in search of Kempo Instruction.

After 10 years of training, Mr Gemmell approached Mr McCashin in regard of opening his own school. Mr McCashin then began to teach him how to become an instructor. This involved many techniques that had never been taught to date.

Mr Gemmell’s first club wa called the Porirua Karate Club and was later renamed ‘Kempo Bushido Ryu Karate Association of New Zealand’.

Mr Gemmell continued his trips abroad to study the many styles of Kempo. His journey took him to Japan, Okinawa, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Peking, Singapore, Malaysia, USA and Australia. During his travels he trained among many great masters, including Mr Edmund Parker (who is referred to as the Father of American Karate). Before his death Ed Parker had been linked with the school for more than 20 years.

John Hamilton is responsible for bringing Kempo to Australia and established his first school in Wellington Point in Brisbane, Queensland in 1987. The school increased in size to 3 schools in its prime. In 1999 Mr Hamilton (Master Teacher / 6th degree black belt) with the support of 13 blck belts of varying rank resigned from Kempo Bushido Ryu and established a new school to be known as Kempo Australia. Mr Hamilton retired an 8th degree Kyoshi.

In 2002, due to unforseen circumstances, John Taynton left Kempo Australia after Brendan Gray in 1999.

Mr Taynton’s wish was to open his own branch under Kempo Australia. As this was no longer possible, and his thirst for martial arts was still evident, Mr Taynton decided to ope his own school and hence Shaolin Kempo QLD was born. Mr Taynton’s first class started on the 4th of September 2002 at Springwood Road State Primary School in Brisbane.

After many attempt to retire, Sifu Taynton handed the school to Mr Gray in October 2019 with 4 students. Sensei Gray was a 4th degree black belt (Chief Instructor). Sensei Brendan has built the school to be as many as 24 students continuing the school but also adding Kempo Jitsu (Groundwork) and Chinese Boxing to the training. Sensei B also restarted Tai Chi Chuan & Qi Gong classes. The school also trains with other schools of various styles.