Here at Dragons Lair Dojo we are very committed to keeping  American Nippon Kempo a Martial Art  and are not interested in losing the aesthetic, spiritual, ceremonial or traditional aspects of American Nippon Kempo as other dojos have chosen to do so by concentrating on only the competitive sporting aspects of American Nippon Kempo. 
     Traditional katas (forms) and techniques are practiced at the Dragons Lair.   The spiritual enlightening of the mind, body and soul are constantly being strengthened and respected.   The ceremonial aspects are preserved through various ways of showing respect and through belt promotions. 
      Just as Master Sawayama felt convinced that Martial Arts needed to enlarge past just Kata, Dragons Lair feels the opposite is true as well, Martial Arts must continue to enlarge beyond just competitive bogu sparring, for if it doesn't it is just a Martial Sport.   Martial Sports is just the sparring aspect of Martial Arts, and is strongly growing into a new and large circuit.   
Martial Sports is a positive progression in its own path and really opens the door to many more Martial Practitioners.  Noteveryone wants to put in many long and tedious hours of Kata (form) practice as they do with Kumite (sparring) practice.  Hence the distinction between Martial Arts and Martial Sports.
      It takes true wisdom, commitment and hard work to reach the rewards of sparring in Bogu and executing precision self  defense techniques and flawless katas in the Martial Art of American Nippon Kempo at Dragons Lair Dojo.   
       American Nippon Kempo is based on ATEMI Waza (kicking and striking techniques), NAGE Waza (throwing techniques), KANSETSU-GYAKUTORI Waza (joint locking techniques), UKE Kata (blocking forms), UKEMI Waza and Ground Combat (wrestling and submission holds) while in Bogu.     Dragons Lair Dojo takes these areas to be the foundation and we add so much more to it.
       The style is composed of tradition Martial Arts like
Karate, Judo, Kempo, Juijitsu and modern professional sports like Boxing, Wrestling.   American Nippon Kempo is a full-force Art, based on scientific principles of human anatomy and
physiology.  Protected equipment called a BOGU:consisting of a DO (headgear), Men (chest protector), Kurobu (bogu or boxing gloves) and a Mata Ate (groin protector).