USSD:Kempo

The history of Shaolin Kempo (also spelled kenpo) as studied at United Studios of Self Defense (USSD) and various other organizations descends from Ta Mo. Ta Mo arrived at the Shaolin Temple in 526 A.D. He was a member of The INDIAN Kshatriya warrior class and a master of staff fighting. He created a system of 18 dynmaic tension excercises. Today we call them the Lohan 18 Hand Movements. These are the core of Chinese Temple Boxing and Shaolin Kempo. Ta Mo developed a simple self defense system for Japanese Shorinji (Shaolin) Monks that traveled to different countries. That's what legend says anyway. Ta Mo passed away at age 57 in 539A.D. In this short life span he created the basis for Shaolin Ch'uan Fa which evolved into Sil Lurn Kung-Fu, Shaolin 5 Animals Style and Chung-Kuo Ch'ian (Chinese Kempo Arts). Out of those came Shaolin Kempo which has been modernized but still maintains the 5 animal roots. Shaolin monks maintain the ideal that defending ones own life and protecting the weak or loved ones are the only reasons to use violence. This is what is taught at USSD and (I'm assuming) other Shaolin Kempo schools. For more information please visit http://www.USSD.com