Nippon Kempo
| Also known as | Nipponkempo, Nihon Kempo, Nikken, Nichiken |
|---|---|
| Focus | Striking, Throwing, Ground Fighting |
| Country of origin | Japan |
| Date of formation | 1932 |
| Creator | Muneomi Sawayama |
| Famous practitioners | Yuichiro Nagashima, Jiro Watanabe, Michele Cianciulli, Kenichi Ogawa, Kenoh, Hiromi Wajima |
| Parenthood | Judo, Pre-Kodokan Jujutsu, Okinawan martial arts, Shitō-Ryu Karate, Goju-Ryu Karate |
| Descendant arts | Modern Taiho-jutsu, Jieitaikakutōjutsu (Self-Defense Forces Fighting) |
Nippon Kempo (日本拳法, Nippon Kenpō) is a Japanese martial art created by Muneomi Sawayama in 1932. Sawayama was a judoka who had studied under Kenwa Mabuni, a karate practictioner who would establish the Shitō school of Karate. There are multiple schools and groups based on the Nippon Kempo Association launched by Sawayama, and each has its own rules. It is typically practised wearing protective gear (face, body, crotch, etc.) and gloves and allows full use of stand-up striking, throwing, and ground fighting.