The influence of Karate began changing it into a craft more similar to the Karate we can see today, so it is also a reason for it to be known as Kenpo Karate. Later, it had to be modified and adjusted to remain effective against new arts and styles that came to life through the years. The literal translation of Kenpo would be Fist Law or Fist Method. It was first used by the Yoshida and Komatsu Clans. The founders used the Chinese style of unarmed combat and adapted it to be more effective and practical to defend against many other known styles. The first types of Kenpo were developed in Japan, and influenced by Chinese fighting styles. To understand how Kenpo Karate came to be, we need to go further back in history to the origins of Kenpo itself.