Kimura Martial Arts Academy
		Shorinji Kempo

"Shorinji Kempo is not a mere pursuit of technical excellence or physical ability. It is made for the purpose of self-development and fulfilling our human potential." -- english edition of basic text

A Brief History of Shorinji Kempo

Shorinji Kempo was founded in Tadotsu, Japan in 1947 by So Doshin. Born in 1911 in Japan, So Doshin spent much of his early life in China, where he studied martial arts. In 1936 he was designated the 21st Grand Master of the Kita Shorin Giwamonken. When he returned to Japan after WWII he found a society in chaos. He became deternined to do something about it. "For the restoration of my country, I will devote the remaining half of my life to training young people with courage, strength, mercy, and a sense of justice." In his efforts he finally turned to the martial arts he had been taught, fragmentary though they were. He systematized the art and extended its philosophy and thus created Shorinji Kempo. In time Shorinji Kempo spread and came to be practiced outside Japan and so is now a world wide effort dedicated to making the world a better place.

The Teachings and Philosophy Shorinji Kempo

Shorinji Kempo is a way of life. It is driven by the question, "How can the world be made a better place ?" - a question that bears much contemplation. Shorinji Kempo suggests that the quality of the world depends on the quality of each individual person in it. Shorinji Kempo encourages each of us to "Live half for ones self and half for others". While Shorinji Kempo is not shy about its meditations on these issues, one of its fundamental tenets is that no one person or organization can make decisions for you. You must decide what to believe, what to accept and what to reject, what is true and what is not. Shorinji Kempo's hope is that no matter what path people follow that ehy will strive to improve themselves and to address the issues of life and the day.

The practice promoted by Shorinji Kempo is organized in to three parts: physical, spiritual, intellectual. The physical training is also organized into three parts: Goho, Juho, and Seiho. Goho is "hard" techniques, blocking/deflecting, punching, kicking. Juho is "soft" techniques, escaping from grabs, throwing down, locking. Seiho is healing techniques. The physical techniques are designed with an emphasis on self defense - and particularly so that a smaller person might defend themselves against a large person. They are also designed to help one overcome one's self and thus achieve the larger purpose of Shorinji Kempo.

Shorinji Kempo strives to transmit its philosophy through physical practice, For example one teaching is that no one person should be over another person - every person is worthwhile. Therefore Shorinji Kempo does not use bowing as its greeting, but rather stands upright and uses the palms together gassho. Another teaching is that the world becomes a better place when people cooperate rather than compete. Therefore physical practice is done in pairs and "Embu" is emphasized and sparing de-emphasized. You might think of "Embu" as pair kata, where the pair gets to create the kata. Or you might think of Embu as a choreographed fight. It involves the individual best effort, pair cooperation and good application of good technique. But in addition Shorinji Kempo is quite verbally articulate about it's philosophy. For example, without explanation, here are the "Six characteristics of "Shorinji Kempo". Mind and body are inseparable. Strength and Compassion must go together ("Punch with Love") Defend first, attack after Respect Life, Protect People without injuring Hard and Soft Work together Pair Work is fundamental.