Shorinji Kempo
From DigitalKyohan
 Soen - Logo of Shorinji Kempo | |
| Shōrinji Kempō 少林寺拳法 | |
|---|---|
 One of the Shorinji Kempo techniques | |
| Country of origin | Template:Flagicon Japan |
| Creator | Doshin So |
| Parenthood | [[]] |
| Olympic Sport | No |
| Official Site | Shorinji Kempo Organization |
Shorinji Kempo (少林寺拳法 Shōrinji Kenpō is a modern martial art created by Doshin So (宗 道臣, 1911-1980) in 1947, who incorporated Chinese and Japanese martial arts to create a new fighting style as a way of teaching Kongo Zen. Doshin So, is more commonly referred to as Kaiso within Shorinji Kempo - meaning "The Founder".
Contents |
History
Kaiso travelled to China in 1928 at the age of 18, and lived there for 17 years. During that time he studied martial arts from a number of Chinese masters, and was eventually permitted to succeed Tai Zong Wen, a former Shaolin Temple monk, the 20th master of Northern Shorinji Giwamonken, and became the 21st master in the line.
In 1946 Kaiso returned to a defeated Japan and was shocked at the turmoil and chaos that was being committed by his fellow countrymen. Kaiso had witnessed the same situation in post-war Manchuria, and came to realise that events were largely determined by people in positions of influence and that "everything depends on the quality of the person". Kaiso believed that by instilling a sense of justice, compassion and courage in as many young people as possible the country would be able to move forward towards peace. He set out to gather youths with a "sense of purpose", but was unable to keep peoples attention for long with only his own words. One night he had a dream where he saw Bodhidharma, within which he credits the inspiration to start Shorinji Kempo.
Traditionally Bodhidharma an Indian monk who is credited with introducing Buddhism to China over 1500 years ago, as well as introducing meditation and martial arts to the monks of the Songshan Shaolin Temple. Kaiso decided to organise what he had learnt in his youth, and use it along with the teachings of Kongo Zen, cultivate people to have confidence, courage and a willingness to act. So it was in October, 1947 in the town of Tadotsu, Kagawa Prefecture on the island of Shikoku.
The name Shorinji Kempo was chosen for a number of related reasons. Kaiso received linage of the Northern Shorinji Giwamonken at the Shaolin Temple, and wanted to perpetuate the name and philosophies held by the monks who had traditionally trained there for hundreds of years. Since ancient times both Chinese and Japanese arts which orignated from the Songshan Shaolin Temple has been called Shaolin martial arts ('shorin bujutsu' in Japanese), and the weaponless forms Shaolin Fist arts ('shorin kenjutsu' in Japanese).
Present Condition
As of 2007, the Shorinji Kempo group is led by Yuuki So. Shorinji Kempo's numbers continue to grow world-wide, with a considerable number of females joining up in Japan with an interest to learn self-defence techniques.
The headquarters of the Kongo Zen Sohonzan Shorinji, All Japan Shorinji Kempo Federation and Zenrin Gakuen College are located in the town of Tadotsu, Kagawa Prefecture.
Every 4 years an international competition attended by kenshi from over 33 countries is held, with the next to be in Indonesia in 2009.
Also, references and study related to Kongo Zen, "Zen" and spiritual improvement are being phased out from clubs not under the control of Kongo Zen Sohonzan Shorinji, such as WSKO, shonen (Childrens), school and university, company and Japanese Jietai (JSDF) clubs.
Timeline
- 1947 - Doshin So establishes the Nippon Hoppa Shōrinji Kempō Kai (日本北派少林寺拳法会) and Komanji Kyōdan (黄卍教団).
- 1951 - Kongo Zen Sohonzan Shorinji (金剛禅総本山少林寺) received recognition from the Government (of Japan) as a registered religion.
- 1956 - The Nippon Shōrinji Bugei Senmon Gakkō (日本少林寺武芸専門学校) (Shorinji Bugei Academy of Japan) is established.
- 1957 - The Zen Nihon Shōrinji Kenpō Renmei (全日本少林寺拳法連盟 in English the 'All Japan Shorinji Kempo Federation') is established.
- 1963 - The Shadan Hōjin Nihon Shōrinji Kenpō Renmei (社団法人日本少林寺拳法連盟 Shorinji Kempo Federation of Japan, Inc.) is founded.
- 1972 - The Kokusai Shōrinji Kenpō Renmei (国際少林寺拳法連盟 International Shorinji Kempo Federation ), abreviated as ISKF, is established.
- 1974 - The Shōrinji Kenpō Sekai Rengō (少林寺拳法世界連合 World Shorinji Kempo Organization), abreviated as WSKO, is founded to replace the ISKF.
- 1977 - Shorinji Kempo joins the Nippon Budō Kyōgikai (日本武道協議会) (Japan Budo Council) upon its foundation.
- 1980 - First Shike, Doshin So, passes away and is succeeded by his daughter Yuuki So
- 1992 - The Zaidan Hōjin Shōrinji Kenpō Renmei (財団法人少林寺拳法連盟 Shorinji Kempo Federation Foundation) is established to replace the Shadan Hōjin Nihon Shōrinji Kenpō Renmei (社団法人日本少林寺拳法連盟 Shorinji Kempo Federation of Japan, Inc.)
- 1997 - 50th Anniversary, last 50 years of history is collected and published.
- 2000 - The 4 main Shorinji Kempo bodies are unified under the administrative body known as The Shorinji Kempo Group (少林寺拳法グループ).
- 2002 - The Shorinji Budo Academy of Japan establishes advanced courses.
- 2003 - The Shorinji Budo Academy of Japan changes its name to Zenrin Gakuen College (専門学校 禅林学園 Senmon Gakkō Zenrin Gakuen).
- 2003 - Shorinji Kempo Intellectual Property Protection Corporation founded (currently known as SHORINJI KEMPO UNITY).
- 2005 - The Shorinji Kempo logo is change from the Tatemanji (盾卍) to the current Soen symbol, and adopted by all federations around the world as a unified Shorinji Kempo mark.
- 2007 60th Anniversary.
Characteristics
Looked at from a Japanese martial arts perspective, it could be described as a combination of karate, judo, and aikijujutsu built on a Kung Fu framework, except that Shorinji Kempo generally has no killing moves because of its respect for life.
The Buddhist-influenced or "religious" versions of Shorinji Kempo emphasize cooperation and are almost exempt of the bias that competition brings - turning martial arts into sports. Instructors are forbidden from making profit from their tutelage and there are no ladder-based competitions. Shorinji Kempo competition relies on paired demonstrations called embu where the accuracy, the rhythm, and the realism are noted and compared (with something like "technical" and "artistic" marks, as in gymnastics or ice skating).
Shorinji Kempo in its various incarnations has grown into a popular art form in Japan, the United States, Australia, and some European and Asian countries.
The practitioner of Shorinji Kempo is known as a Kenshi (拳士).
Principles
The three main aims of Shorinji Kempo are:
- Healthy Body (健康増進 kenkō sōshin) - Improved physical fitness and health
- Healthy Mind (精神修養 seishin shūyō) - Spiritual development
- Self-Defense (護身練胆 goshin rentan) - Ability in self defence
Terminology
Shorinji Kempo is taught using the original Japanese in every branch in the world, meaning that language is no barrier to teaching and training with people from anywhere else in the world.
Common Shorinji Kempo words and phrases
Technical Training
Technical training of Shorinji Kempo is broken up into four different programs; kihon (基本), hōkei (法形), randori (乱捕) and embu (演武).
The relationship between kihon, hōkei, randori and embu is similar to that of the relationship between words, sentences and essays. A word forms the basis of the sentence, just like kihon forms the basis of hōkei. The sentence forms the basis of the essay, just like hōkei forms the basis of randori and embu. In order to master the art of writing good essays, one must first have a good vocabulary (words), and how you put them together to form sentences that conveys meaning. Similarly, in order to master randori, or unyohō (運用法) as it sometimes is called, one must know how to perform techniques, and how to put them together into hōkei.
Kihon (基本)
Kihon (基本) litrally means foundation, and contains all of the fundamental elements of Shorinji Kempo's techniques. Kihon is divided in six sub groups (seven if one counts shuhō). These groups are: taigamae (体構え body position), sokuihō (足位法 foot position), taisabaki (体捌き body movements), umpohō (運歩法 footwork), kōgi (攻技 attacking techniques) and bōgi (防技 defensive techniques). Kihon techniques are meant to be practiced repeatedly to try and make the movements unconscious to be better able to react.
Hōkei (法形)
Hōkei (法形) takes the techniques learned in kihon, and puts them to use in sequence to make a pattern. Most martial arts refer to these as kata (型) which in Japanese means a fixed shape or pattern (such as a clay mold), but because hōkei is almost always practiced with a partner the timing, spacing and other factors can be different. The second symbol is read on its own as kata (形), and in old Japanese referred to a plan or strategy, and was chosen to convey this idea.
Hōkei is almost always practiced with a partner, inline with the principle of kumite shutai (組手主体), and as such contains an attack and defense. There are some isolated forms similar to kata found in many other arts and in Shorinji Kempo are referred to as Tanen kihon hōkei (単演基本法形). They can be practiced with a partner without modification, in which case they are referred to as sōtai kihon hōkei (相対基本法形).
Randori (乱捕)
Randori (乱捕) is best described as sparring and makes up an important part of training. Randori literally means to "capture chaos" and is used as a way of putting hōkei and kihon into application. Also referred to as unyohō (運用法).
Embu (演武)
External links
- Shorinji Kempo
- WSKO: World Shorinji Kempo Organization - Japanese
- WSKO: World Shorinji Kempo Organization - English Homepage
- Shorinji Kempo Blog in Spanish
