| Shoorinji Kempo Monterey What is Shorinji Kempo? |
<What is Shorinji Kempo?>
Shorinji Kempo is one of Japanese modern Martial Arts,
which is based on Zen Buddhism.
Shorinji Kempo is a discipline for the training of the body and
mind recognized as an education system, which includes its
unique philosophy and technique. The practice places equal
emphasis on training body and mind by practice of Shorinji
Kempo techniques and Zen.
<Shorinji Kempo: Discipline of Kongo Zen>
Shorinji Kempo is also a discipline of Zen Buddhism for the
purpose of training body and mind taught at the Kongo Zen Sou
Honzan Shorinji Temple in Kagawa Prefecture, Japan. The
discipline is called "Shuumon no Gyou," and the essence is to
acquire "true strength" through the discipline.
Shorinji Kempo is called "Dou Zen" meaning "Moving Zen." Both
"moving Zen" and "sitting Zen" are indispensable in the Kongo
Zen. But practice of Shorinji Kempo is much more effective to
acquire "true strength" and "calm mind (Heijou shin)" than sitting
Zen. The reason is that we practice the moving Zen (Shorinji
Kempo) while we are going back and force among life and death
by devoting our body and mind fully into intense practice. The
effect from the moving Zen is thousand times as beneficial as
sitting Zen.
<6 Characters of Shorinji Kempo>
1. "Ken zen ichinyo" (Unity of Ken and Zen): appropriate way of
training.
Ken refers to the fleshly body. Zen means mind and spirit. Our
human bodies and minds are closely intertwined. Therefore, it is
important to keep a balance between the physical training and
the spiritual training when we practice Shorinji Kempo.
2. "Riki ai Funi" (Strength and love in harmony)" appropriate way
of acting.
Riki refers to strength. Ai means love. In order to live in
happiness, love, compassion, intellect, and
strength are necessary. If someone is tortured and need help, you
cannot do anything without strength to take action. Conversely,
strength without love and compassion is nothing more than
violence. It is necessary for us to have ability to evaluate the good
and bad, knowledge of how to judge the situation and how to use
ability, and the courage to face danger. "Justice without strength
is powerless. Strength without justice is violence."
3. "Shushu koju" (Defense is primary, offense is subordinate):
basic principles of applying techniques.
The techniques of Shorinji Kempo are constructed so they begin
with defending against the attack, and after completely protecting
oneself, counter attacking. Shorinji Kempo is based on the idea of
a martial art used only to defend oneself against violence.
4. "Fusatsu katsujin" (Not to kill, but to awaken): appropriate
purpose to apply techniques.
The physical techniques of Shorinji Kempo are not for killing or
injuring people. They are for protecting yourself, helping other
people, and improving people's lives. The techniques of Shorinji
Kempo are effective in causing intense pain that makes people
lose the will to fight. The techniques are done by attacking
pressure points identified by the meridians of Oriental medicine.
Therefore, Shorinji Kempo always aims at working for the good of
people without killing or injuring anyone.
5. "Go ju ittai" (Hard and soft makes one whole): distinguish
characteristics of the techniques.
Go refers to goho (hard techniques) such as punch, kicks, and
blocks. Ju refers to juho (soft techniques) such as defense,
release, and joint reverses. Although goho and juho works
differently, they supplement and reinforce each other to become
even more effective.
6. "Kumite shutai" (Paired practice is primary): distinguish
characteristics of the training.
In Shorinji Kempo, training in pairs is the norm. This is for the
purpose of gaining most skills that a person cannot learn alone.
Also, it is not simply a matter of making oneself stronger, but of
nurturing a cooperative spirit of partnering with each other and
getting stronger together with friends and peers. By applying the
techniques to each other and sharing the pain, we discover
nuanced approaches to speed and force for our particular level.
This is how two people training together lead to improvements in
technique as well as improvement in character.
<Benefits>
Shorinji Kempo is designed to benefit 3 areas: self-defense,
developing body strength and energy, and cultivating mind and
spirit. Through its practice,
For children, Shorinji Kempo helps growing up their body and
mind.
For teenager/youth, Shorinji Kempo develops their body strength
and nurtures spirit greatly.
For adults, Shorinji Kempo fosters their health and energy well.
For women, Shorinji Kempo enhances their healthy diet
excellently.
For seniors, Shorinji Kempo maintains their good health and
cultivates their energy well.
Shorinji Kempo is not competitive and it is enjoyable to practice
the techniques. Hundreds of thousands of people enjoy practicing
at school or district branches all over the world. At middle/high
school, students can learn as one of the school subjects along
school curriculums or as club activity. Almost all colleges in
Japan have Shorinji Kempo clubs. Moreover, there are about
3000 branches and district clubs in Japan and all over the
world. Not only young people, but also adults/seniors enjoy
practicing Shorinji Kempo for maintaining good health and spirit.
<Rank Certification>
The members will be able to earn an official certificate (Belt
Ranks) issued in Japan after passing the belt degree
examination. There are White, Yellow (only children), Green,
Brown, and Black Belt.
<Practice all over the world>
After the member registration is complete, an ID card will be
issued from World Shorinji Kempo Organization (WSKO) in
Japan. The members will be able to practice Shorinji Kempo at
any WSKO practice locations in 33 countries with its Shorinji
Kempo rank.
Documentary "Shorinji Kempo" by NHK (Japan National Broadcasting)
Empty Mind "Shorinji Kempo" Trailer
BBC Documentary "Way of the Warrior - Shorinji Kempo" Part 1
Part 2 Part 3 Part 4
Shorinji Kempo's philosophy and techniques are globally
registered as an intellectual property in each country where
Shorinji Kempo is taught. They are inherited, generation to
generation, by "Shorinji Kempo Shike" at Shorinji Kempo
Headquarter in Kagawa-Prefecture, Japan. All the Masters all over
the world must hold formal permission to teach Shorinji Kempo
from the "Shorinji Kempo Shike." Therefore, all the branches and
the Masters all over the world have strong relationship each other.
Shorinji Kempo is one of Japanese modern Martial Arts,
which is based on Zen Buddhism.
Shorinji Kempo is a discipline for the training of the body and
mind recognized as an education system, which includes its
unique philosophy and technique. The practice places equal
emphasis on training body and mind by practice of Shorinji
Kempo techniques and Zen.
<Shorinji Kempo: Discipline of Kongo Zen>
Shorinji Kempo is also a discipline of Zen Buddhism for the
purpose of training body and mind taught at the Kongo Zen Sou
Honzan Shorinji Temple in Kagawa Prefecture, Japan. The
discipline is called "Shuumon no Gyou," and the essence is to
acquire "true strength" through the discipline.
Shorinji Kempo is called "Dou Zen" meaning "Moving Zen." Both
"moving Zen" and "sitting Zen" are indispensable in the Kongo
Zen. But practice of Shorinji Kempo is much more effective to
acquire "true strength" and "calm mind (Heijou shin)" than sitting
Zen. The reason is that we practice the moving Zen (Shorinji
Kempo) while we are going back and force among life and death
by devoting our body and mind fully into intense practice. The
effect from the moving Zen is thousand times as beneficial as
sitting Zen.
<6 Characters of Shorinji Kempo>
1. "Ken zen ichinyo" (Unity of Ken and Zen): appropriate way of
training.
Ken refers to the fleshly body. Zen means mind and spirit. Our
human bodies and minds are closely intertwined. Therefore, it is
important to keep a balance between the physical training and
the spiritual training when we practice Shorinji Kempo.
2. "Riki ai Funi" (Strength and love in harmony)" appropriate way
of acting.
Riki refers to strength. Ai means love. In order to live in
happiness, love, compassion, intellect, and
strength are necessary. If someone is tortured and need help, you
cannot do anything without strength to take action. Conversely,
strength without love and compassion is nothing more than
violence. It is necessary for us to have ability to evaluate the good
and bad, knowledge of how to judge the situation and how to use
ability, and the courage to face danger. "Justice without strength
is powerless. Strength without justice is violence."
3. "Shushu koju" (Defense is primary, offense is subordinate):
basic principles of applying techniques.
The techniques of Shorinji Kempo are constructed so they begin
with defending against the attack, and after completely protecting
oneself, counter attacking. Shorinji Kempo is based on the idea of
a martial art used only to defend oneself against violence.
4. "Fusatsu katsujin" (Not to kill, but to awaken): appropriate
purpose to apply techniques.
The physical techniques of Shorinji Kempo are not for killing or
injuring people. They are for protecting yourself, helping other
people, and improving people's lives. The techniques of Shorinji
Kempo are effective in causing intense pain that makes people
lose the will to fight. The techniques are done by attacking
pressure points identified by the meridians of Oriental medicine.
Therefore, Shorinji Kempo always aims at working for the good of
people without killing or injuring anyone.
5. "Go ju ittai" (Hard and soft makes one whole): distinguish
characteristics of the techniques.
Go refers to goho (hard techniques) such as punch, kicks, and
blocks. Ju refers to juho (soft techniques) such as defense,
release, and joint reverses. Although goho and juho works
differently, they supplement and reinforce each other to become
even more effective.
6. "Kumite shutai" (Paired practice is primary): distinguish
characteristics of the training.
In Shorinji Kempo, training in pairs is the norm. This is for the
purpose of gaining most skills that a person cannot learn alone.
Also, it is not simply a matter of making oneself stronger, but of
nurturing a cooperative spirit of partnering with each other and
getting stronger together with friends and peers. By applying the
techniques to each other and sharing the pain, we discover
nuanced approaches to speed and force for our particular level.
This is how two people training together lead to improvements in
technique as well as improvement in character.
<Benefits>
Shorinji Kempo is designed to benefit 3 areas: self-defense,
developing body strength and energy, and cultivating mind and
spirit. Through its practice,
For children, Shorinji Kempo helps growing up their body and
mind.
For teenager/youth, Shorinji Kempo develops their body strength
and nurtures spirit greatly.
For adults, Shorinji Kempo fosters their health and energy well.
For women, Shorinji Kempo enhances their healthy diet
excellently.
For seniors, Shorinji Kempo maintains their good health and
cultivates their energy well.
Shorinji Kempo is not competitive and it is enjoyable to practice
the techniques. Hundreds of thousands of people enjoy practicing
at school or district branches all over the world. At middle/high
school, students can learn as one of the school subjects along
school curriculums or as club activity. Almost all colleges in
Japan have Shorinji Kempo clubs. Moreover, there are about
3000 branches and district clubs in Japan and all over the
world. Not only young people, but also adults/seniors enjoy
practicing Shorinji Kempo for maintaining good health and spirit.
<Rank Certification>
The members will be able to earn an official certificate (Belt
Ranks) issued in Japan after passing the belt degree
examination. There are White, Yellow (only children), Green,
Brown, and Black Belt.
<Practice all over the world>
After the member registration is complete, an ID card will be
issued from World Shorinji Kempo Organization (WSKO) in
Japan. The members will be able to practice Shorinji Kempo at
any WSKO practice locations in 33 countries with its Shorinji
Kempo rank.
Documentary "Shorinji Kempo" by NHK (Japan National Broadcasting)
Empty Mind "Shorinji Kempo" Trailer
BBC Documentary "Way of the Warrior - Shorinji Kempo" Part 1
Part 2 Part 3 Part 4
Shorinji Kempo's philosophy and techniques are globally
registered as an intellectual property in each country where
Shorinji Kempo is taught. They are inherited, generation to
generation, by "Shorinji Kempo Shike" at Shorinji Kempo
Headquarter in Kagawa-Prefecture, Japan. All the Masters all over
the world must hold formal permission to teach Shorinji Kempo
from the "Shorinji Kempo Shike." Therefore, all the branches and
the Masters all over the world have strong relationship each other.
