Instructor Alan Creech demonstrates a
technique with a student.

Techniques

Aikiho

Aikiho is the principle of harmony and has been referred to as refined gentleness. From a fighting perspective the Kempoka learns from Aiki the idea of harmonizing with an attacker's strength so that it is either just neutralized or even turned back against them. Aikiho Kempo Jujutsu, as the art is known in Kiyojute Ryu, teaches the martial artist how to blend with an attacker’s movement, capturing the aggressive energy and using it to lock or throw the assailant.

Bukiho

Bukiho is commonly thought of as the study of weapons, and in Kiyojute Ryu the Kempoka is trained in over sixty weapons of ancient tradition. This is the reason the art is called the Bukiho Kempo Kobujutsu, in reference to the ancient weapons of combat tradition.

But the Kiyojute Ryu Kempoka is not learning the ancient weapon as only an exercise or with the idea of ever using the ancient weapons themselves. Bukiho literally means, martial tool principle. Thus the Kempoka of Kiyojute Ryu learn the principle of manipulating anything, following the idea of a tool used in a martial way, for self defense.

Goho

Goho means strength principle and has been considered by many the main concept expressed in the art of Karate. In Kiyojute Ryu Kempo Bugei, a person can specialize in Goho Kempo Karate in order to increase their strength, improve the focus of their mental concentration, and learn how to use strength in the most powerful manner.

True strength comes from the integration of body, mind, and spirit. By using strong mental intent, developed through Karate techniques, the Kempoka learns how to harmonize their true nature and develop the real strength that comes from striking and moving with Ki synchronized with mental focus and physical coordination.

Juho

Juho is the gentle principle and is the foundation of all forms of Jujutsu, as well as Judo. In Kiyojute Ryu Kempo Bugei a person learns Juho Kempo Jujutsu in order to fully understand the principle of gentleness. As a fighting principle, Ju contains various aspects. The foremost is yielding, so that a Kempoka can learn how to overcome an opponent’s strength by giving way before it, so that an attack cannot land and do damage.

Nimpo

Nimpo is the ancient principle of patience, which was developed in the temples as necessary to spiritual growth. That patience makes all of the other principles more effective. To grow and achieve requires the patience to practice daily so that skills can manifest their highest level.

Nimpo Kempo Kobujutsu is the art of Kiyojute Ryu that preserves some of the most ancient arts of the Japanese Bujutsu. Through skills associated with Ninjutsu and the higher levels of survival, sometimes referred to as Heiho, the Kempoka learns the patience necessary to master all the levels of the martial arts. With patience a person avoids conflict and seeks peace. When there is a way to protect without fighting, this is what the true Kempoka will do.

Shuho

Shuho is one of the most esoteric principles of the martial arts and few people know it or have even heard of it. In Kiyojute Ryu this principle is now taught under the name Shuho Kempo Toidejutsu and preserves the grappling principle of Okinawa from the royal families. There are two main lineages in regard to Toide, one deriving directly from Sokon Matsumura and the other from the Motobu family.

The principle of Shu, which can be called Tori in Japanese and Toi in the Okinawan dialect, has nine interpretations in regard to its use as a fighting principle. The main idea is that a Kempoka takes what they are given, from the point of view of an attack, and turn it to their advantage. This means that no matter what an attacker does, it is possible to turn it back on the assailant and defeat them because of their own aggression. This principle can also be applied to weapons, allowing for many grappling techniques using them.

As a principle of life Shuho teaches a person not to bemoan their fate or position, but rather to look at what life has given them in a positive way and see what they can do. It teaches that life is full of opportunities and one has but to be ready to take what they are given and turn it to their advantage.

Shimpo

Shimpo is the principle of self control, but it requires a great deal of physical discipline as well and the development of Mushin for the expression of mental and emotional control. Using the Hakutsuru methods of China and its unique forms of physical movement, the Kempoka gains a greater sense of control of their body while improving their mental focus and intent in their techniques.

White Crane Kempo as taught in China and shared in Okinawan, especially through the Sokon Matsumura and Gokenki lineages has a strong grappling aspect, referred to in Japanese as Kinda from the Chinese Chin Na. The techniques of Kinda are empowered by the unique Okinawan power generation developed out of what has been referred to as the physical Ching, pronounced in Japanese as Kei. Once a person has learned this aspect of Kempo they have a greater concentration of power in their techniques along with greater self control.

Inyoho

Inyoho is a principle of life that was part of the Taoist philosophy and also influenced Buddhist philosophy as it was adapted to Chinese ideology. In Kiyojute Ryu, we specifically preserve the many aspects of Chinese skills from which many Japanese and Okinawan martial arts derived. The martial art is called Inyoho Chugoku Kempo, and, through the specific art of Tsung Shih Tai Chi Chuan, preserves the five form fists of Shaolin, Tai Chi gentle methods, Tai Chi methods of balance, and other martial arts methods of China.

In a fighting context, the Kempoka is taught how to empty themselves when being faced with the fullness of an attacker's energy, then enter the emptiness of the opponent to strike them in a vital point. Proper use of emptiness allows you to never oppose the energy of an attacker, but to move in such a way that you end up in an advantageous position which will allow you to overcome any assailant.

As a living principle Inyoho is all about establishing balance in your life. You seek balance in your personal relationships -- neither giving too much, nor giving too little.