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Ryūkyū Kenpō (琉球 拳法) is a generic name used by some of Okinawan based karate (唐手) systems; because of its Chinese connotation. The word kenpō is a Japanese translation of the Chinese word "quán fǎ". This term is often informally transliterated as "kempo", as a result of applying Traditional Hepburn Romanization,[1] The first book published by Okinawan Gichin Funakoshi in Japan (1922) was titled, Ryukyu Kenpo Karate-do (琉球 拳法 唐手). Funakoshi and many other prominent teachers at the time were pressured by the Japanese to change the Kanji (referring to the Tang Dynasty, hence, China) to the neutral sounding Kara (空); today meaning, empty. As a result, in 1936, at the so called "Meeting of the Masters", it was determined that the change of kanji was acceptable.

Today, Ryūkyū Kenpō is, more and more, being seen as a system first introduced to the United States (and beyond) by Seiyū Oyata (親田清勇). Actually, they are not the only Ryūkyū Kenpō system being taught. Master Nakamura's students are continuing his Okinawan Kenpo; as are Master Seikichi Odo's Ryukyu Hon Kenpo Kobujutsu students. All of these great people have their own Wiki-pages.

Seiyū Oyata (親田清勇). His students decided to use "Ryukyu Kempo" as the Romanized spelling; due to its phonetic pronunciation. Ryūkyū Kenpō (or Kempo) is an amalgam of the teachings of Shigeru Nakamura, (empty hand kata and Bogu Kumite), Seikichi Uehara, (Tuite Jutsu, Kyūsho (急所) Jutsu, and other things unknown by this author) and Oyata's learning and interactions with the many instructors and people he met throughout his military career; and post-war.

By the spring of 1968, Oyata's association with Shigeru Nakamura ended. He formed his new organization, the Ryukyu Karate-do Renmei with Shian Toma and Seikichi Uehara and began learning with them. When he visited the United States, (Merriam, Kansas), he had himself filmed doing Shigeru Nakamura's Okinawan Kenpo kata. At the beginning, on a white sheet, he had "Ryukyu Kenpo" written in "Magic" Marker to identify his new style name. In 1984 he abandoned the Ryukyu Karate-do Renmei; and formed the Zenkoku Ryukyu Kempo Karate Kobudo Rengokai. In 1986, one of his top four students left to live in Israel. The problems surrounding George Dillman's exit from his organization led to Oyata creating his Ryu-te organization.

The Top Four: Before Oyata passed, Jim Logue, who Oyata was counting on to lead his organization after he died, passed away from cancer. Albert O. Geraldi had left earlier; and was teaching on his own what he is calling Ryukyu Kempo Kobudo. Greg Lindquist is teaching the Ryu-te system. And, J.D. Natan is teaching in Jerusalem, Israel what he calls Ryukyu Kenpo Kobujutsu.