Shorinji Kempo
From OTMWiki
Insert non-formatted text hereShorinji Kempo (少林寺拳法 Shōrinji Kenpō -- note that the World Shorinji Kempo Organization prefers the Romanization kempo to kenpo) is a martial art form of Kempo that was invented by Doshin So (宗 道臣, 1911-1980) in 1947, who incorporated Japanese Zen Buddhism into the fighting style. This form of Kempo literally can be both a religion and a fighting form at the same time much like Shaolin Kung Fu from which its name is derived. It could be seen as a combination of Karate, Judo, Aikijujutsu built on a Kung Fu framework, except that this art has no killing moves because of its respect for life. It is a form of Kempo that tries to get its practitioners to move through life doing minimal damage whenever possible.
Shorinji Kempo's training emphasizes cooperation and is 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 has grown into a popular art form in Japan, the United States, and some European and Asian countries.
The practitioner of Shorinji Kempo is known as a Kenshi.
Principles
The three main principles of Shorinji Kempo are:
- Healthy Body - Improved physical fitness and health
- Healthy Mind - Spiritual development
- Self-Defense
