What is Kempo Karate?
Fist Law · Mind · Body · Spirit
Kempo — literally “Fist Law” or “Way of the Fist” — is a traditional martial art that blends striking, grappling, and real-world self-defense. It carries an ancient lineage through China, Okinawa, Japan, and ultimately the American Kempo movement that shaped Universal Kempo Karate.
From ancient China to Colorado Springs.
The roots of Kempo trace back to ancient Chinese martial arts that traveled through Okinawa and Japan over centuries. The word itself means “Fist Law” — a reflection of its emphasis on both principle and application.
In the mid-20th century, American Kempo Karate emerged with a strong emphasis on real-world self-defense and the integration of Mind, Body, and Spirit — the three pillars that appear on our school patch.
Universal Kempo Karate has carried this lineage forward in Colorado Springs since 1980 — veteran-founded, family-run, and still teaching the art the way it was handed down.
A fighter’s art tempered by a scholar’s discipline.
Unlike sport-only karate, Kempo trains for the full range of real-world situations: close-quarters strikes, defensive flow, grappling and locks, and controlled sparring. The emphasis is on adaptability — using the right tool at the right distance.
- Striking with hands, elbows, knees, and kicks
- Blocking and defensive flow drills
- Grappling fundamentals, joint locks, and sweeps
- Kata and traditional form study
- Scenario-based self-defense application
The three pillars of our training.
The patch worn by every Universal Kempo student represents the three pillars of our art: a focused Mind, a conditioned Body, and a disciplined Spirit. Training without all three is incomplete — and that is the standard we hold students to, from Little Dragons to Black Belt and beyond.
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