Hi, thinking about giving the above ago, I hear it involves alot of different techniques - so is it in a sense a MMA?? Any advice etc most welcome.
isn't nippon kempo just the japanese term for regular japanese kempo? AFAIK it covers a good amount of ranges, but isn't necessarily a MMA(which entails mixing different arts together). that doesn't make it any less effective though, so if you fancy giving it a try, i'd say do so.
Ive seen vids on youtube of classes sparring, it looks like fun. Im in a bit of a dilemma at the moment, really can't decide which art to take up!!!!
eh, it happens . stick around for a while, read some of the discussions and ask stuff and you'll find one that suits you .
if nippon kempo is just japanese kempo, then it is not an 'MMA'. It may refer to Okinawan Kempo, which is an original martial art, under karate of course. American Kenpo, on the other hand, is quite the mix of various traditional martial arts.
Nippon Kempo is sort of an MMA prototype. It was developed in the 30's, and is a mix of styles and techniques. The focus is mainly on striking and take downs, not as much on groundwork. The founders idea was to create a training style that didn't restrict too much the players' options in a fight. They wear headgear, body armor, gloves and a cup usually, with the idea that the armor allows you to go all out. It does effect the play, though. For example, the bogu makes shots to the body less effective except as displacement techniques, so there is often an emphasis on headshots as finishers. That said, they do allow for some neat stuff, like grabbing kicks that are left hanging, and locking out joints, as well as sweeps and takedowns that most "traditional' karate sparring (that is, contemporary point sparring) frowns upon.
Dillon is correct. Nippon Kempo is actually the name of a Gendai Budo system founded in the 1930's by Sawayama Muneumi, who was a judoka, jujutsuka and karateka. (It's said that he learned a good amount of boxing as well.) With the combined techniques from the martial disciplines he trained in, he formulated a rather effective system of pugilism and grappling, where bogu shiai (Armoured matches) could be practiced with a certain degree of realism. This system was and is still used by a number of regiments of the Japan Self Defence Forces (JSDF), particularly their Airborne Brigade and their Special Operations Group.
