Before we go any further, we will address the correct pronunciation of the name of our art and some brief history.

The word “Ryukyu” is pronounced as “Roo-Queue” and is the historical name of the chain of islands which were annexed by the Satsuma clan of Japan, and of which Okinawa is the largest island.

The word “Kempo” is pronounced as it reads “Kem-Poe” and is a Japanese translation of the Chinese words “Chuan Fa” which translate directly as “Fist Law” or “Fist Method”.

Therefore, in studying the art of Ryukyu Kempo, we are learning the “Ryukyu Fist Law” or “Ryukyu Fist Method”.

Ryukyu Kempo pre-dates most forms of Karate whether they are of Okinawan or Japanese origin. Another word which we must understand is the various translations of the word “Karate”. Karate is correctly pronounced as “Car-a-Tay” not “Car-are-tee”. The word Karate has two translations, the most commonly used is “Empty Hand”, however this is not the original translation of the word. The original translation of the word indicates the origin of the methods which we refer to as Karate, and is “Chinese Hand”. This is the translation we use when referring to our art.

Ryukyu Kempo arrived in New Zealand in the mid 1980's through the efforts of Ian Waite who lives in Hamilton. Mr Waite learnt Ryukyu Kempo from an American named George Dillman. Mr Dillman received brief study in the art of Ryukyu Kempo during the early 1980's from Taika Seiyu Oyata. Mr Dillman then took what he had learnt and the name of Ryukyu Kempo and marketed it with large success.

Taika Oyata, determined to distance himself from Mr Dillman and his version of Ryukyu Kempo, then renamed what he taught to “Ryu Te” and placed a trademark on the name.

Taika Oyata spent 20 years training Mr Allan Amor, who is the founder and Kaicho (Organisation Head) of the United Ryukyu Kempo Alliance which is based in Independence, Missouri. Mr Amor is one of a select group of people who have been taught the complete and correct Ryukyu Kempo under its new name of Ryu Te.

Due to the trademark set in place by Taika Oyata, Mr Amor cannot teach Ryu Te under that name and, like many of his counterparts, is teaching Ryukyu Kempo as it was originally intended.

In July 2004, Marty Rickard was appointed as the Official New Zealand Representative to the United Ryukyu Kempo Alliance. The United Ryukyu Kempo Alliance (New Zealand) is working towards teaching the art of Ryukyu Kempo in its historically and technically correct interpretation.

There are a number of schools throughout New Zealand which are teaching Ryukyu Kempo from the Dillman lineage. We cooperate with a small number of these schools and support each others events, however they are not a part of the Alliance, nor do they teach the methods of the Alliance. Tauranga, New Plymouth and Stokes Valley are currently the only Alliance schools in New Zealand.

The United Ryukyu Kempo Alliance and its members do not discriminate against any other Martial Art. All Systems have their benefits and are appealing to certain individuals.

Ryukyu Kempo Karate is based around the study of Kata (forms), Bunkai (applications) and Ryukyu Kobudo (traditional weapons). When combined with training drills, our forms, applications and weapon skills combine into an effective, congruent and complete form of life protection.