Zen Bu Kan Kempo Karate is made up of many dedicated Martial Arts students worldwide. The style places heavy emphasis on the concept of ‘family’ and this is born out in its directorship.

It is practiced and taught by Grandmaster Dr. Les Imre Harnos, his daughters Kyoshi Aniko Harnos-Jamieson and Renshi Marika Harnos; and Aniko's husband, Kyoshi Robby Jamieson.

Why the ZBKK was formed?

Clearly defining any martial arts style is a difficult task. Zen Bu Kan Kempo Karate is no different. A trip round the Internet to discover what some of the individual words mean reveals only part of what the style is all about:

Zen - The discipline of enlightenment that emphasizes meditation, discipline, and the direct transmission of teachings from master to student.

Bu - "Military" or "warrior."

Kempo "Fist method" or "Law of the Fist" based on the Chinese Martial Art of Ch'uan Fa.

Karate - "Empty hand" or "China hand", an unarmed method of combat in which all parts of the anatomy are used to punch, strike, kick or block.

In the words of Grandmaster Dr. Harnos though, Zen Bu Kan has two meanings – ‘Mind Training Centre’ and ‘Training for all’. So if you tie it all together Zen Bu Kan Kempo Karate means ‘Mind training centre in the Law of the Fist and Empty Hand’, a Martial Art that is training for all. But in reality it is a lot more than that. It is a path that leads to positive way of life.

Grandmaster Harnos says, “Most of our students come to us for help in some areas of their everyday living. There are some problems where experts are needed to give you that little help, to show you the way to self confidence, better ways to study, have a better relationship with your fellow man, to do things that you never thought you could, to rely on yourself, on your ability, to have better concentration, to focus on a given point when needed, to develop yourself in all areas, to make friends and become a friend to someone who needs a person like yourself, To become fitter, to have better understanding, to develop your potentialities to the full – to know that you can!”

Zen Bu Kan Kempo Karate covers a lot of ground. It teaches aspects from a variety of martial arts such as Karate, Ju-Jitsu, Judo, Aikido, Kendo, Kempo, Boxing, Wrestling, Self defence and Kick Boxing all put together to have a better technique in defending yourself if needed, emphasising that this is for defence only!

ZBKKK is ‘Training for Everyone’. Again Dr. Harnos says, “Students learn to extend their help to all those who need it. If a student has a problem, whether physical or mental Zen Bu Kan Kempo Karate students will make you welcome. How many times do we hear the story, “Because he is clumsy or too slow or too awkward” the local team won't let him become part of their side? Well we are looking forward to meeting with you and making you part of our team."

(Excerpts from “Zen Bu Kan Kempo Karate – Positive way of Life” )