Sadu Kaza Uyenishi's “Textbook of Ju-Jutsu as Practiced in Japan” is one of the earliest English-language books about jujitsu. The book appeared in at least eight editions, one of the most recent being in 1952. The date of the first edition is unknown—the book itself does not bear a copyright date. From the timeline of Uyenishi's life, we can assume that the book was written between 1905 and 1921 (the latter being the date of the first dated edition). However, most put the actual date of the publication of the book in the year 1905. Textbook of Ju-Jutsu as Practiced In Japan is not only a piece of martial arts history, it is also a well-constructed introduction to the basic techniques of classic jujitsu.
To my surprise I found a few paragraphs regarding Kenpo in this book that caught my attention.
S.K. Uyenishi
“One of the styles alluded to, known as the Kempo, which may be roughly described as a Method of killing people, possessed many points of resemblance to Ju-jutsu but was totally different in practice, being a system of self-defence against sudden attack with intent to kill and replying thereto in kind. It was certainly more closely related to ju-jutsu than are Boxing (even under the old Prize Ring rules) or le savate to Wrestling. It might perhaps be best compared to that very strenuous old Greek Physical Contest, which was known as the Pancration.”
By-the-way, I may here remark on the possible derivation of the old English phrase "Kempery man" and the Anglo-Saxon cempa, signifying "a warrior," from the Japanese Kempo. This is a point which should not be without interest to etymologists, and particularly to those who follow the late Professor Max Muller in his theory of the Indo-Germanic origin of the Anglo-Saxon Race.
Kempo, of course, was a system of attack and defence which branched off from ju-jutsu into the paths of strenuous endeavour, but, apart from the fact that it was less scientific than, ju-jutsu, it was declared an illegal practice when the sanctity of human life was recognised under the new regime.” - Textbook of Jujutsu as practiced in Japan, S.K. Uyenishi
In 1868 a new Japanese government had emerged and the Samurai as a class was abolished and their wearing of swords was outlawed. Prior to 1868 the Samurai had the power of life and death over anyone of less rank. If they thought a commoner or peasant had offended them in anyway, they could kill that person with complete immunity. When the new Japanese Government recognized the sanctity of human life, it outlawed the wearing of swords and MAY very well have, according to the Uyenishi in his book, outlawed Kenpo as well.
The outlawing of carrying weapons issued by the Japanese government was not unheard of even then. They imposed such sanctions and laws on Okinawa as well, forcing the Okinawan’s to practice and train in secret.
Kenpo outlawed again in WWII by the US
Much like the U.S. Armed Forces military servicemen that trained in Combat Judo during WWI and WWII, Kajukenbo was designed to disarm, disable and destroy an opponent with fierce proficiency. According to Tony Lasit, 1st generation Kajukenbo (J. Emperado) MSgt. U.S. Air Force, Ret., WWII, Korea, Vietnam veteran and Founder of the U.S. Kajukenbo Association, “Prior to it’s known existence in 1947, the history of Kajukenbo began when the USA was at war with Japan. Before it became worldly known as Kajukenbo, we called it Kempo Karate."
From its beginnings, Kajukenbo was an eclectic and adaptive self-defense oriented fighting method. Its sole purpose…..SELF DEFENSE. A strong and brutal streetwise fighting method, the dynamics of this hybrid self-defense system speaks for itself. Kajukenbo combines the most effective street fighting techniques from its respective disciplines, Karate, Judo, kenpo, and boxing into a no-frills self-defense system designed to take out attackers as quickly as possible. The name Kajukenbo is an acronym from the names of the martial systems that served as its basis (KA) Shotokan Karate, (JU) Judo, (KEN) Kenpo, and (BO) boxing.
Developed in Hawaii, Kajukenbo gained its reputation for being brutally effective decades ago in the U.S. Territory of Hawaii. During World War II (1939-1945), the U.S. Territory of Hawaii was held under martial law due to the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor (December 7, 1941 - October 24, 1944). Due to martial law, all martial arts except judo, wrestling and boxing were prohibited in the US Territory of Hawaii. At the time, Kenpo karate was kept secret and trained underground in China Town, Oahu. Only the elite and military were invited to these underground sessions.
In the late 1940's, the Palama Settlement was a community center in a violent area of Oahu where fist-fights or stabbings were commonplace. From this environment, the founders Adriano Emperado, Joseph Holck, Peter Young Yil Choo, Frank F. Ordonez and Clarence Chang developed a fighting method that would be readily useful on the street. The emphasis on the training was on realism. The founders followed a simple rule: if a technique worked consistently on the street, then it stayed in the system; if it did not, it was discarded. This allowed the style to maintain a self-defense focus. This no-nonsense approach to self-defense has contributed to Kajukenbo’s reputation as a highly effective self-defense system.
