My Experiences with James Mitose

(Black Belt Magazine Aug. 1990 V-28 No. 8)

Contrary to some published claims, I was never a student of James Mitose.  I observed his Honolulu Kempo class in the mid-1940s, but my experience as a young streetfighter made me doubt the effectiveness of many of his methods.  I felt many of them lacked realistic applications.  For example, a streetfighter punches comes fast and furious, but Mitose’s students would practice catching punches in midair!  This was in sharp contrast to William K.S. Chow’s teachings, which were based on Chow’s extensive street altercations.

The next time I saw Mitose he was in the early 1970s when he visited me over a period of five months at my Pasadena, California, home.  Many of our conversations lasted hours on end, touching on an array of topics, including his desire to build a Kempo Temple replete with resident trainees.  Mitose revealed many interesting historical facts about Kempo and occasionally demonstrated self-defense techniques and discussed Kempo principles with some of my black belts.  Many of Mitose’s moves seem to lack continuity and forethought, and left him dangerously exposed.

Many questions came to me during his visit.  Why had the Mitose (Kosho) clan deviated so drastically from the circular moves that were a vital part of the original Kempo teachings of Ta Mo (Drauma) and his disciples?  I cannot understand why the Kosho clan, which probably trace their roots to Ta Mo, were willing to discard the circular theories as well as other rudiments of motion.  While I supported the Mitose clan’s desire to change the art to suit the needs of the Japanese people, I wondered why they chose to employee moves that were predominantly linear.  Circular moves, used within the framework of logic, indisputably balanced the blend of motion which leads to practical movement.  Replacing Kempo's circular moves with linear motion's would be like replacing and automobiles round tires with square ones.

I'm not saying that all of Mitose’s is teachings were impractical.  He did employ methods that, once modified, could work with convincing results.  Mitose’s Kempo stressed attacking vital areas by punching, striking, thrusting and poking, and also incorporated throws, locks and takedowns.  Although similar to judo's methods of atemi waza (vital body-part strikes), Mitose’s methods and philosophy were different.

I also give Mitose credit for placing importance on the order that fundamentals are taught.  He felt that punching, striking and kicking are not only faster than throwing, but were better methods of self-defense.  He felt that when a person was attacked, he should preserve his physical resources and use his energy economically.  It was his belief that one should not risk exhausting himself by attempting to grab and throw his opponent.  Throwing, Mitose warned, exposed one's vital points.  Mitose also taught how to unknowingly maneuver your opponent into precarious and vulnerable positions.

Although Mitose did not encourage Kempo as a sport he did feel that, if he were able to be made into a sport, effort should be taken to properly protect the body's vital areas.  Kempo, he said, was purely an art of self-defense and, although similar to boxing, possessed differences in fundamentals and philosophy.

It was Mitose’s desire that Kempo would one day become Americanized.  And although it was William K.S. Chow who actually started to cultivate the seed of American Kempo, Mitose will always remain part of Kempo history.