About Debisu

The Art of Go Sei Do Kenpo is a mixture of five cultures: Chinese; Japanese; Okinawan, Hawaiian (before Hawaii became a state) and Filipino. Originally the martial arts in China were referred to as "Ch'uan-fa" meaning "fist law" or Kun Tao (Fist Way). The Japanese pronounce these same written characters "KENPO" -- or "KEMPO". In modern usage, "KENPO" spelled with and "N" indicates the original Chinese origin; when spelled with an "M" it indicates its incorporation into the Japanese culture. It is commonly said that it was Great Grandmaster James M. Mitose, who established the spelling of "KeNpo" with an "N" in the art we teach and call "KENPO" upon him beginning to teach in Hawaii after his family moved from Japan. The original art taught by Mitose in Hawaii was called "Kenpo Jiu-Jitsu." Mitose (pronounced me-toe-see) wrote several books on the subject of Kenpo Jiu-Jitsu.

From the traditional Japanese aspect of Kempo and according to Kokumin Hyakka Jiten, the Japanese encyclopedia published in 1966 by the Heibonsha firm, part of our origin, based from Goshindo Kempo Karate, Shorinji Kempo, and Go Kempo Jitsu, are rooted within the modern and old Jiu Jitsu RYUS, or schools, such as Hakko Ryu, Sekeguchi, Shibu-kawa, Kito, Jikishin, and the Tenshin-Shinyo. Some schools taught the special weapons techniques of Yawara for self-defense; others preferred Tai-Jutsu with its grappling and throwing forms, or Kempo, which stresses punching, striking and kicking techniques.

 

In the year 1659, a Chinese named Cheng Tsu U arrived in the province of Edo. While staying at the Kokuseyi temple, Cheng Tsu U impressed the observant Samurai with demonstrations of his art, which resembled pugilism. During the latter part of the 16th century, the Kempo aspect of Jiu Jitsu had become formalized into a distinct system of self-defense, employing both hand and weapon techniques. Between the 17th and early 19th centuries, additional RYUS teaching various self-defense techniques came into existence. In this period al self-defense forms were referred to as Jiu Jitsu

Go Sei Do Kenpo Jutsu means the Way of Five Systems. It is inclusive of five methods or systems of martial arts including: Karate, Kempo, Ju Jutsu/Aiki Jitsu, Arnis De Mano, and Kuntao. Go Sei Do is based on old traditional methods of martial science.

Go Sei Do Kenpo emphasizes five main areas including: Percussion striking (Kicking and Punching), Seizing (Joint Manipulation/ Levers), Kyusho (Nerve Striking), Grappling (Throws, Takedowns, Chokes, Ground Fighting) & Weaponry (Arnis De Mano). As Go Sei Do is a complete martial art, training is focused on Kihon (Basics), Kata (Shadow Boxing), Renzoku Waza (2-Person Drills), Jiyu Kumite (Sparring), and Goshin Jutsu (Self Protection).

Adapted from “The New Debisu Complete”
by Yoshimitsu Yamada and Steven Pimsler.