ABOUT

OUR HISTORY

The study of fighting arts and skills has existed since the beginning of humans and probably before. It was not until the 5th Century that martial arts were born. It was then that Indian Monk Bodhidharma arrived at the Shaolin Temple in China, where he taught the monks zen meditative practices, a philosophy of peace and the Shih Pa Lo Han Sho — eighteen hands of the enlightened man. He showed them how these eighteen movements could improve their physical health and also be blended together and used in self-defense. Thus was born Kempo (Chuan Fa in Chinese; Fist Law in English), the original martial art.

Unlike the Western concept of "martial" derived from the Roman god of war, the Eastern meaning emphasizes stopping violence. Eventually, this philosophy spread to Japan, influencing the development of Samurai Bugei and the Ryu tradition, where effective combat skills were taught with an adherence to Butoku (the virtue to stop violence). 

In Okinawa, martial arts evolved to a very high level among the royal families, who blended elements from both Chinese and Japanese traditions with their own indigenous arts of Te to develop truly powerful and effective skills. These skills were passed down by formidable Okinawan teachers from generation to generation over centuries, and students of Kiyojute Ryu trace a direct lineage to these martial arts masters.

Kiyojute Ryu Kempo Bugei preserves the rich history and philosophy of true martial arts, emphasizing a unified approach to self-defense training that integrates physical techniques, mental discipline, and spiritual growth.