The art of Kempo (often written Kenpo) was based on Ch'uan Fa which was developed in the Chinese Shaolin Temple. There are many stories of wandering monks travelling across Japan and Okinawa during the Sui and Ming periods, teaching Ch'uan fa. There it became known as Kempo, the japanese translation of Ch'uan Fa and meaning "Law of the Fist".

Today Kempo has moved away from its Chinese origins, and has a more Japanese "hard style" approach. Still the Chinese "Kung Fu" influences are apparant and still contains the "18 hands of Lo Han" and "5 animal" arts. Many Kempo schools also integrate arts from other martial arts, typically Jujutsu or Aikido forms. Most schools also include some sort of weapons training, typically the knife, stick, half stick (Jo), 6' Staff, sword and chain.

There are many styles of kempo including Kosho Ryu Kempo, Chinese Kara-Ho Kempo Karate, Shaolin Kempo Karate and American Kenpo Karate.