From continental Asia the Chinese "Ch'uan-fa (fist way) systems of sparring, pronounced Kempo in Japanese, were numbered among the skills of the Japanese who founded Ju jitsu systems. It is recorded that Chin Gempin (Chinese. Ch'en Yuan-pin; 1587-1674) was a Chinese born, naturalised Japanese, a resident of Owari taught three ronin in Edo three tactics (not methods) of Ch'uan-fa. The ronin, already experience Ju jitsu stylists then took these tactics and then further developing and adding to their syllabi.

Many techniques were borrowed from Chinese; the legend relates that a physician and herbalist of Nagasaki, one Yoshitoki Shirobei Akiyama travelled to a coastal town south of Peking in or around 1530. Yoshitoki's purpose was to study Chinese methods of healing, where he learnt 28 methods of resuscitation, body massage, bone setting and joint manipulation which are known as in Japanese Jujitsu circles as Kuatsu or Kappo. Akiyama returned to Japan and when meditating was inspired to name his school Yoshi Ryu (willow hearted school).

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