Is it Kenpo or Kempo?

James Mitose 1916 – 1981

Is it Kenpo or Kempo?

James Masayoshi Mitose was a Japanese American martial artist who brought the art of Kenpo to the United States starting in the early 1940s.

Many Kenpo teachers trace their lineage to him. Mitose was and remains a controversial figure in the history of Kenpo in America. He was convicted of murder and extortion in 1974 and died in 1981 while serving his sentence in Folsom Prison due to complications from diabetes.

On October 22, 1920, at the age of four, he and his two sisters were taken by their mother back to Japan from Hawaii to be given formal education and upbringing with family living there. While there, in addition to their schoolwork and university studies, they trained in the art of Kenpo. James returned to the United States 1935 at the age of 21.

Mitose always claimed his art was Japanese rather than Okinawan.

Mitose began teaching Kenpo in Hawaii in 1936, and in 1941 set up a martial arts school. He gave the style he taught a number of different names during his lifetime, including "Shorinji Kenpo" and "Kenpo Jujutsu," (both names of recognized Japanese martial arts), but over time, settled on the name Kosho Shōrei-ryū Kenpo. The word "Kenpo" (or "Kempo") is a Japanese form of kung fu.

Mitose is known to have taught only one Kata at his school the Naihanchi Kata, which also was Motobu Chōki's primary form and the only one featured in Motubu's second book Okinawan Kenpo Kumite. Mitose also taught the use of the Makiwara, a signature Okinawan training method.