About Ryukyu Kempo [Old School Karate]
Ryūkyū Kempo is a generic term often used to describe all forms of karate from the Ryūkyū Islands, and more specifically to refer to the particular styles associated with Taika Seiyu Oyata. Oyata is credited with being the originator of the American use of the terms Ryukyu Kempo, tuite-jitsu and kyusho-jitsu. The name Ryūkyū Kempo was adopted by a prominent martial arts personality, George Dillman, who taught his own version of Oyata’s style and promoted it heavily through seminars and publications. This prompted Oyata to change the name of his style to Ryu Te. The Ryu Te organization is international and includes a select cohort of long-time students known as "Oyata Shin Shu Ho," whom he considers the heirs of his art.Oyata’s Ryūkyū Kempo teaches a style of close-in striking and blocking as well as his own creations[citation needed] of a set of grappling, locking, and escape techniques (tuite-jitsu) and of advanced striking techniques (kyusho-jutsu). There are twelve open-hand kata and a number of traditional Okinawan kobudo weapons including the bō, chizikunbo, eku, jō, kama, sai, tanbo, tonfa, manji-sai, and nunti-bo. Practitioners also train in Bogu Kumite, a style of combat training in protective armor initiated by Oyata and his instructor Shigeru Nakamura.
Several branches of Ryūkyū Kempo have developed. These organizations are headed by members of the former Zenkoku Ryūkyū Kempo Karate Kobudo Rengo Kai. Their separate associations are loosely affiliated. They all have curricula based on that of Oyata. Seikichi Odo, heir to one of Oyata's instructors, Shigeru Nakamura, had his own organization that taught Ryūkyū Kempo. Odo apparently died without naming a successor, but his organization continues to exist.
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