Kara-Ho Kempo

Lore & Background

William Kwai Sun Chow created Kara-Ho Kempo in the 1930s in Hawaii. The system emphasizes rapid punches and kicks to vital areas, with equal use of hands and feet, and includes self-defense against weapons and multiple attackers. Its curriculum features empty hand and weapons kata, with 18 weapons originating from Ryukyu (modern Okinawa, Japan), China, and the Philippines, each with three kata.

In 1978, Chow and his top student Samuel Alama Kuoha established the Kwai Sun Company to oversee the art. This organization maintains student records, membership, and training, as well as dan rank promotions for roughly 150 schools worldwide. All rank certificates and diplomas are numbered and issued directly by the Kwai Sun Company.

Kara-Ho Kempo is currently headed by Sam Kuoha (10th dan), with an International Board of Directors composed of black belt instructors who help create and maintain the system's rules and guidelines. The organization has a membership of about 5000 students, most of whom are in the United States.

Reader's Guide

Kara-Ho Kempo holds significance as a martial art founded in the 1930s by William Kwai Sun Chow, blending influences from multiple weapon traditions. Its structured governance through the Kwai Sun Company, established in 1978, provides a centralized system for rank promotions and record-keeping across roughly 150 schools worldwide. The art's emphasis on rapid strikes and equal hand-and-foot use, along with its 18 weapons and associated kata, distinguishes it within the broader kenpo family. With about 5000 members, primarily in the United States, Kara-Ho Kempo maintains a modest but organized presence. Its legacy is preserved through the leadership of Sam Kuoha (10th dan) and the International Board of Directors, ensuring consistent standards. The numbered certificates and diplomas issued by the Kwai Sun Company underscore a formalized approach to credentialing. While not as widely known as some martial arts, Kara-Ho Kempo's systematic curriculum and historical roots in Hawaii contribute to its enduring relevance.

Did You Know?

• Kara-Ho Kempo was created in the 1930s by William Kwai Sun Chow of Hawaii.
• The system teaches self-defense against weapons and multiple attackers.
• The Kwai Sun Company was created in 1978 by Chow and his top student Samuel Alama Kuoha.
• The curriculum includes 18 weapons with 3 kata each, originating from Ryukyu, China, and the Philippines.