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Creating a Healthy Body and a Healthy Mind
Founding of Shorinji Kempo
Shorinji Kempo was founded in Japan after the second world war by Doshin So.
Today Shorinji Kempo is the most popular form of martial art in Japan and is practiced by over 1.7 million people in 28 countries around the world.
Shorinji Kempo - Training the Body & Mind
Shorinji Kempo is a martial art than can be enjoyed by anyone of any age, sex or size. The techniques exploit the use of balance and specific pressure points (vital points) of the body. This means that strength is not required to perform any of the techniques.
Shorinji Kempo goes beyond the limits of self-defence. It's main practice is designed to benefit its students in three main areas: Self-defence, improved health and spiritual development.
The physical techniques are split in to two families Juho and Goho.
Generally Goho techniques are used against an opponent who attacks with a punch, kick or strike. Juho techniques are used when an opponent has grabbed or pinned the defender.
During his training in China, Doshin So realised that all techniques used in martial arts consist of three fundamental movements; the circular, the straight and the curved. These movements can be found in all Shorinji Kempo techniques.
In addition to these physical techniques, Shorinji Kempo teaches the practice of Seiho and Zazen Meditation.
In Shorinji Kempo it is taught that all are equal no matter what your age, sex or grade. Higher graded students and instructors are there to help each other and lower graded or new students. The lower graded and new students are encouraged to ask questions of the more senior students, and unlike some martial arts there is no problem in approaching the Sensei to ask a question. The colour of the belt signifies the amount of experience each person has, not that they are better than anyone else.
When training together in Shorinji Kempo students do not bow to each other as in many martial arts, but instead they use the Gasso rei.