THE LAW OF CIRCLE AND LINE
The first law of Kempo states that when your opponent charges straight in and attacks, you should use your feet to move your body along a circular path, while moving your arms in a circular pattern to deflect the oncoming force. When your opponent attacks you in a circular pattern, you should respond with a fast linear attack along a straight line, just as the circle can.

Kicking high requires superior balance and focus, you should practice your leg techniques high, and deliver them low for self-defense. Kicking low to the legs, executing a "pillar attack" can break your opponent's balance and legs.

Strategically, a block is a wasted move because it does not stop your opponent from attacking again with their free limbs. It is much better to move out of the way and simultaneously counterattack. This way of fighting is reserved for brown belts and above, however, because it requires a higher level of skill to employ correctly and a significant amount of sparring experience to avoid the tendency to allow your feet to stick to the ground during the crisis your brain senses.

Redirecting is also of paramount importance. Many arts teach their practitioners to use a downward block to stop a front kick, resulting in the student's hammerfist being slammed into the attacker's instep, such an impact can break the blockers hand or arm. Kempo teaches that it is preferable to parry your opponent's leg to the side and spin him off balance before you counterattack hard. Such a redirecting movement will usually disrupt their balance and leave them vulnerable.

Every practitioner has different attributes that can make them effective. A tall person with long legs may have an advantage with kicking; a short person may have an advantage with their hands; a heavy person may have an advantage in grappling. The law of flexibility allows them all to develop their own repertoire of techniques from within Kempo.

Samurai warriors used to say that any day is a good day to die. That did not mean they sought death. On the contrary, they wanted to preserve life, especially their own. They knew that if they went into battle with fear in their heart, they could die or sustain a serious injury. They knew that only by embracing and accepting death could they focus everything on the physical task at hand: defeating the enemy.

Your kiai, facial expressions, stance and on-guard position must all work in unison. Following the principle of Yin & Yang, you should be hard on the outside and soft on the inside. When used in this way, warrior spirit can be more important than physical skill.