Japanese martial art
Shorinji Kempo
少林寺拳法
|
Also known as
| ? Nippon Shorinji Kempo
? Sh?rinji Kemp?
|
---|
Focus
| Hybrid
|
---|
Hardness
| Both
hard and soft
|
---|
Country of origin
| Japan
|
---|
Creator
| Doshin So
|
---|
Famous practitioners
| Yuki Kondo
,
Sonny Chiba
,
Etsuko Shiomi
,
Hiroyuki Sanada
,
Norio Wakamoto
,
Tak Sakaguchi
,
Kengo Ohkuchi
,
Keisuke Itagaki
,
Masaya Tokuhiro
,
Yoshisada Yonezuka
,
Shinobu Ichiyanagi
, Kenneth Kimmins,
Nao Nagasawa
,
Koji
,
Toma Kuroda
|
---|
Parenthood
| Shaolin kung fu
,
Uechi-ry? Karate
,
Hakko-ryu jujutsu
,
Fusen-ry? j?jutsu
|
---|
Descendant arts
| Byakuren Kaikan
|
---|
Olympic sport
| No
|
---|
Official website
| World Shorinji Kempo Organisation(WSKO)
Shorinji Kempo Unity
|
---|
Shorinji Kempo
(
少林寺拳法
,
Sh?rin-ji Kenp?
, meaning "Shaolin Temple Boxing")
is a
Japanese martial art
claimed to be a modified version of
Shaolin kung fu
.
[1]
The name
Sh?rinji Kempo
is the
Japanese reading
of
Shaolinsi Quanf?
. It was established in 1947 by
Doshin So
(
宗 道臣
,
S? D?shin
)
[born Michiomi Nakano
(
中野道臣
,
Nakano Michiomi
)
], a Japanese martial artist and former
military intelligence
agent who lived in China for many years before and during World War II.
[2]
Shorinji Kempo is a holistic system, whose training methods are divided into three parts: self-defence training, mental training and, health training. The basis are the concepts that "spirit and body are not separable" (心身一如:
shinshin-ichinyo
) and that it is integral to train both "body and mind as one" (拳?一如:
kenzen ichinyo
).
Through employing a well-organised technical course outline, Shorinji Kempo aims to help the practitioner "establish oneself" and to promote "mutual comfort". The philosophy and techniques of Shorinji Kempo are outlined in their master text, (少林寺拳法?範)
Sh?rinji-Kemp?-ky?han
.
Overview
[
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]
There are two sides of Shorinji Kempo ? true
bud?
(武道) and educational system. As the latter, the organisation is well known for their mental training institution as well as body training facilities
d?j?
(道場).
[3]
The founder, Doshin So, wanted to establish not only an organisation which incorporated mental and physical training but also wanted to educate Japanese people who had been completely demoralised by World War II.
His aim was to help those who had lost their way and rebuild Japan for the future. It is said that he tried to teach
Buddhist philosophy
but no one followed him. Later on, So reportedly saw a vision of
Bodhidharma
, which inspired him to pursue teaching martial arts, as Bodhidharma was believed to have done. Both of these are later to become the main training methods of Shorinji Kempo.
Shorinji Kempo includes a broad curriculum of
self-defense
techniques, known as
hokei
(法形). For demonstration or competition purposes, these are combined into a choreographed sequence known as an
embu
(演武). The
embu
consists of (typically) 6 sections and each section includes a series of
g?h?
(剛法) or hard techniques and
j?h?
(柔法) or soft techniques. During a pair-form or
kumi
embu
, one person attacks and another person defends for one section, and they then swap roles for the next section. The application of technique within an embu is known as
hien
(飛燕) or flying swallow which represents speed and smoothness of those techniques.
[
citation needed
]
The
embu
is occasionally performed wearing a black robe, called
h?i
(法衣), for example at an opening or closing ceremony of a
taikai
(大?, convention/tournament).
Hombu
[
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]
Headquartered in
Tadotsu
town,
Kagawa Prefecture
(on
Shikoku
island) in Japan.
Buildings:
- Hondo (main
dojo
/hall)
- Kodo (lecture hall)
- Rensei-dojo (former 1st
dojo
)
- Shokudo (dining room)
- Daigan-toh (memorial tower)
- Zenrin Gakuen (college house)
The bones and ashes of Doshin So are buried behind the lecture hall.
Organizations
[
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]
The organisation of the Shorinji Kempo group is divided into 5 entities:
- Religious entity (金剛??本山少林寺:
Kong?-zen S?hon-zan Sh?rinji
),
- Foundation entity Shorinji Kempo Foundation Federation (一般財?法人少林寺拳法連盟:
Ippan-zaidan-h?jin Sh?rinji-kemp? Renmei
),
- Educational entity Zenrin Gakuen College (?校法人?林?園:
Gakk?-h?jin Zenrin Gakuen
),
- Global entity World Shorinji Kempo Organization, WSKO (少林寺拳法世界連合:
Sh?rinji-kemp? Sekai Reng?
),
- Intellectual property entity (一般社?法人SHORINJI KEMPO UNITY:
Ippan-shadan-h?jin Sh?rinji-kemp? Yunit?
).
The relationship between these five entities is very close because of the unique fusion of religion, martial arts, and education. (Source: web site of Shorinji Kempo Foundation Federation and Shorinji Kempo Kyohan written by Doshin So)
National federations
[
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]
- Shorinji Kempo Foundation Federation (Japan)
- Indonesian Shorinji Kempo Federation
- Malaysian Shorinji Kempo Federation
- Swiss Shorinji Kempo Federation
- Finnish Shorinji Kempo Federation
- Swedish Shorinji Kempo Federation
- Italian Shorinji Kempo Federation
- French Shorinji Kempo Federation
- German Shorinji Kempo Federation
- Spanish Shorinji Kempo Federation
- Portuguese Shorinji Kempo Federation
- Russian Shorinji Kempo Federation
- Ukrainian Shorinji Kempo Federation
- United Kingdom Shorinji Kempo Federation
- United States Shorinji Kempo Federation
- Canadian Shorinji Kempo Federation
- Brazilian Shorinji Kempo Federation
The Shaolin monastery
[
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]
The name "Sh?rinji" is a literal reading of the Chinese "Shaolin Temple" from the
Shaolin Monastery
in
Henan Province
, China. D?shin S? claimed to have inherited the title of the 21st master of the
Giwamon-ken
(義和門拳) system (in Mandarin: Yihe Men Quan) which is believed to have been used during the Boxer rebellion of 1899 to 1901.
D?shin S? claimed to have been much impressed to see paintings on the wall of
Byakue-den
(白衣殿) chapel at Shaolin Temple, although there is no evidence that ever visited it. The style of the monks practicing the martial arts was supposedly very fresh and vital to him. He believed it was the origin of the existing quan fa in China. (source: a book "Hi-den Shorinji Kempo" 秘?少林寺拳法「光文社」written by Doshin So, published by Kobun-sha Kappa Books)
Emblem
[
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]
The
swastika
, called
manji
in Japanese, was originally the emblem for Shorinji Kempo, as it is used in Dharmic religions, as well as by many cultures around the world, for centuries. The swastika can either mean love (left-facing) and strength (right-facing) which symbolise Kongo-zen teaching. However, given the
social stigma
that the swastika carries, the WSKO replaced it with the character 拳 (
ken
), which means "fist", in the center of
tate-manji
(swastika guarded by shields) on the emblem or using
nagare-manji
which meant "rounded swastika".
In 2005, the Shorinji Kempo Group introduced a new symbol for all the international Shorinji Kempo federations. The new mark is called
so-en
(double circle) and it is said that this is the extreme shape of two swastikas intertwined. The
so-en
emblem is put on the training uniform (
keikogi
), belt (
obi
), and the
h?i
, a black robe worn by high-ranking practitioners during exhibitions.
History
[
edit
]
Doshin S?, birthname Michiomi Nakano, was born in
Okayama Prefecture
and spent his youth in northern China, first with his grandfather and then as an intelligence agent of the occupying
Imperial Japanese Army
to collect
military information
during the war. As part of his
cover
, he was posted to a
Taoist
school as an apprentice. There, Nakano met Chen Liang (陳 良), a Taoist priest and master of Bailian Men Quan or
Bailian Quan
(meaning "
White Lotus
Fist"). After some time, Chen introduced Nakano to Wen Taizong (文 太宗), a master in Yihe Men Quan or
Yihe Quan
(meaning "Righteous Harmony Fist"). Wen would take in Nakano as his student at the Shaolin Temple, at
Henan
, and passed onto him the title of grandmaster in that specific style of
quan fa
.
In the final days of the Second World War, the Soviet Union broke its
neutrality pact
with Japan, declaring war. The Soviets
invaded
Manchuria on 9 August, and overran the Japanese in less than 11 days. The aftermath was appalling; Japanese casualties were tenfold than that of the Soviets'; both civilians and wounded Japanese soldiers were left to die while the army retreated; and many Japanese civilians committed
mass suicide
[
citation needed
]
. It was in this carnage that D?shin S? recognised and understood the "nature of the human being". According to his book, the nature and quality of the person is extremely important since politics, law, and day-to-day living are all conducted by human beings.
After returning to Japan, S? thought of establishing a cram school for young people. He was stationed in the small town of
Tadotsu
, on
Shikoku
island, to teach Buddhist philosophy. He established Shorinji Kempo to take the concept of
ken-zen ichinyo
by following
Bodhidharma
and made use of techniques he had learned in China (source: the book "Hi-den Sh?rinji Kemp?" (秘?少林寺拳法) written by D?shin S?, published by Kobun-sha Kappa Books).
This promotion and campaign was known as
Kong?-zen und?
(Diamond-zen campaign) and expanded Shorinji Kempo throughout Japan by his pupils. This campaign and concept was inherited by his daughter Y?ki S?
(
宗 由貴
,
S? Y?ki
)
after his death in 1980 till present. After his death, D?shin S? is called "Kaiso" or founder.
Milestones
[
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]
1947 - Religious entity was established
1948 -
Nippon Hokuha Shorinji Kempo Society
(日本北派少林寺拳法?) was established
1951 -
Kong? Zen S?honzan Sh?rinji
(金剛??本山少林寺) and
K?manji ky?dan
(?卍??) established
1956 - Educational entity,
Nihon Sh?rinji Bugei Senmon-gakk?
(日本少林寺武芸?門?校) was established
1957 - "All Japan Shorinji Kempo Federation" (全日本少林寺拳法連盟,
Zen-nihon Sh?rinji Kemp? Renmei
) was established
1963 - "Shorinji Kempo Federation of Japan" (社?法人日本少林寺拳法連盟,
Shadan-h?jin Nihon Sh?rinji Kemp? Renmei
) was formed as corporate entity
1972 - "International Shorinji Kempo Federation" (ISKF) (?際少林寺拳法連盟) was established
1974 - "World Shorinji Kempo Organization" (WSKO) was established
1980 - Doshin So's death
1992 - "Shorinji Kempo Federation Foundation" formed as a foundation entity
1997 - 50th anniversary celebration
2000 - Shorinji Kempo Group was organised
2002 - Busen (Shorinji Kempo Budo Academy) High School was opened
2003 - Busen renamed as Zenrin Gakuen College
2003 - New logo of Shorinji Kempo (so-en) was designed
2005 - Official adoption of the 'so-en' emblem
2007 - 60th anniversary celebration
2008 - All Japan Junior High School Shorinji Kempo Federation was formed
2009 -
Sekai-taikai
(global convention) cancelled in Indonesia because of security concerns, but
taikai
held
2012 - Doshin So's 100th Birthday Memorial Taikai, held in Yokohama Japan
2013 - Shorinji Kempo World Taikai 2013, held in Osaka Japan
2017 - Shorinji Kempo World Taikai (in California) and 70th anniversary celebration
(source:
w:ja:少林寺拳法
, in Japanese)
Philosophy
[
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]
Shorinji Kempo is neither a traditional form of martial art nor a kind of competitive sport.
[1]
It is said to be as a religious
gy?
among pupils.
According to the Buddhist doctrine, the spirit and fleshly body are inseparable. By practicing Shorinji Kempo techniques and learning its philosophy, it is believed to develop a firm body like a pair of standing
Vajradhara
(金剛神:
Kong?-shin
or 金剛力士
Kong?-rikishi
) and the never-give-up spirit of
Bodhidharma
(菩提達磨:
Bodai-daruma
).
Shorinji Kempo incorporates
zen
for mental training.
Techniques are mainly divided into 3 categories:
g?h?
(剛法
hard techniques
- hand strikes, chops, hammers, elbows, knees, kicks, reaps, stomps, and blocks);
j?h?
(柔法
soft techniques
- throws, pins, chokes, joint manipulations, dodges and releases) and;
seih?
(整法
healing techniques
-
acupressure
, bone setting, and resuscitation techniques).
Doshin So in his book, "What is Shorinji Kempo?", said that he pursued his revelations and the development of the fighting technique of
Bodhidharma
known as the
Arakan no ken
(阿羅漢之拳) or the
Arhat
fist
. He believed this to have originated in India around 5,000 years ago. He was inspired by seeing representations of the wall paintings at the Shaolin Temple in China.
Those who practice Shorinji Kempo are called
kenshi
(拳士; meaning 'boxers'). Kenshi always salute with
gassho
(合掌) the greeting commonly used among Buddhist pupils. The
gassho-rei
(合掌?) is also
gassho-gamae
(合掌構) stance, with both palms put together and raised in front of one's face.
Qualifications
[
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]
There are qualifications for 1st degree black belt (1st "dan") in order to achieve the steps of body and spiritual training: These are
bukai
,
h?kai
, and
s?kai
.
Examples of
bukai
(武階 martial rank) and corresponding
h?kai
(法階 philosophical rank):
- 1st
dan
(初段
sho-dan
) - 准拳士
Jun-kenshi
- 2nd
dan
(?段
ni-dan
) - 少拳士
Sho-kenshi
- 3rd
dan
(?段
san-dan
) - 中拳士
Chu-kenshi
- 4th
dan
(四段
yon-dan
) - 正拳士
Sei-kenshi
- 5th
dan
(五段
go-dan
) - 大拳士
Dai-kenshi
After having 1st, 2nd and 3rd degree
bukai
qualifications,
kenshi
practicing at
doin
will automatically have
Jun-kenshi
,
Sho-kenshi
and
Chu-kenshi
in
hokai
qualifications,
those
kenshi
practicing at branches will have these corresponding
hokai
after joining the training at Shorinji Kempo headquarters in Tadotsu town in Kagawa prefecture in Japan.
From 1st to 3rd degree, the examinations are held in each prefectural Shorinji Kempo organization headquarters.
However, the special examination is only held at its main headquarters in Tadotsu for the qualifications of 4th degree and above.
Outside Japan 3rd degree practitioners (san-dan) are considered teachers. In Japan, 4th degree practitioners (yon-dan) and above are considered teachers, but those ranking at the 5th degree (go-dan) and above are officially called
sensei
(先生: teacher). Kenshi who obtained 4th
dan
automatically obtain
Sei-kenshi
as well.
WSKO's qualifications and conditions are a little different from its Japanese domestic counterparts.
Arm emblem "category" colors:
-
Red: for
doin kenshi
-
Blue: for
shibu kenshi
-
Green: for Zenrin Gakuen College
kenshi
-
Purple: for WSKO
kenshi
Arm emblem "title" colors:
-
Gold: for master of
doin
or
shibu
-
Silver: for master of
doin
or
shibu
with 4th
dan
and below
-
Red: assistant master with 3rd
dan
or above
Also, there is a
sokai
(priesthood rank) qualification in
Kongo Zen Sohon-zan Shorinji
. 2nd
dan
or
Sho-kenshi
will study Kongo zen's philosophy and submit an application form and thesis.
Training system
[
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]
Spiritual training
kiryoku
(?力)
kisei
(?勢)
kiai
(?合)
Mental training
iny?
(陰陽)
kyojitsu
(??)
temp?
(天方)
chii
(地位)
chijutsu
(知術)
chiryaku
(知略)
Physical training
?
G?-h?
(剛法) (”hard methods”: 8 techniques, 3 traditions)
8
G?-h?
techniques:
tsuki-waza
(突技)
uchi-waza
(打技)
kiri-waza
(切技)
keri-waza
(蹴技)
kari-waza
(刈技)
fumi-waza
(踏技)
taigi
(?技)
b?gi
(防技)
3
G?-h?
traditional weapons:
dokko-den
(???)
nyoi-den
(如意?)
kong?-den
(金剛?)
?
J?-h?
(柔法 ”soft methods”: 10 techniques)
gyaku-waza
(逆技)
nage-waza
(投技)
katame-waza
(固技)
shime-waza
(締技)
hogi
(捕技)
?atsugi
(押?技)
nukite-h?
(?手法)
nukimi-h?
(?身法)
shu-h?
(守法)
baku-h?
(縛法)
?
Sei-h?
(整法 "healing methods")
seikei
(整?)
seimyaku
(整?)
seikotsu
(整骨)
kapp?
(活法)
?
Taigamae
(?構え "stance")
Byakuren hachi-jin
(白蓮八陣 "8 stances of Byakuren")
gassh?-gamae
(合掌構え)
manji-gamae
(まんじ構え)
midare-gamae
(?れ構え)
hass?-gamae
(八相構え)
taiki-gamae
(待?構え)
gyaku taiki-gamae
(逆待?構え)
aiki-gamae
(合?構え)
byakuren chudan-gamae
(白蓮中段構え) (or commonly called
kaisoku chudan-gamae
開足中段構え)
Giwa ky?-jin
(義和九陣 "9 stances of Giwa")
kesshu-gamae
(結手構え)
ichiji-gamae
(一字構え)
ni?-gamae
(仁王構え)
ch?dan-gamae
(中段構え)
gedan-gamae
(下段構え)
gyaku gedan-gamae
(逆下段構え)
fukko-gamae
(伏虎構え)
tate mus?-gamae
(立無相構え)
yoko mus?-gamae
(?無相構え)
?
Fujin-h?
(布陣法 "body positions")
seitai-gamae
(正?構え) (both kenshi facing in
byakuren chudan-gamae
)
tai-gamae
(?構え) (when one kenshi has a left-front stance, the other also takes a left-front stance)
hiraki-gamae
(開構え) (when one kenshi has a left-front stance, the other takes a right-front stance)
?
Umpo-h?
(運?法 "footwork")
fumikomi-ashi
(踏?足)
maeyose-ashi
(前寄足)
kumo-ashi
(蜘蛛足)
kani-ashi
(蟹足)
chidori-ashi
(千鳥足)
sashikomi-ashi
(差?足)
sashikae-ashi
(差替足)
tobikomi-ashi
(跳?足)
?
Tai-sabaki
(?捌き "body movement")
furi-mi
(振身)
sori-mi
(反り身)
hiki-mi
(引身)
ry?sui
(流水)
han-tenshin
(半?身)
gyaku-tenshin
(逆?身)
han-tenkan
(半?換)
zen-tenkan
(全?換)
?
Ukemi
(受身 "breakfalls")
mae-ukemi
(前受身)
ushiro-ukemi
(後受身)
?ten yori okiagari
(??より起き上がり) (also in the Kyohan as
tombo-gaeri
とんぼ返り)
dai-sharin
(大車輪)
Embu
[
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]
Embu
is a combination of
hokei
(organised patterns of
goho
and
juho
techniques) which has 6 sections.
It is similar to "kata", except that two or more people participate.
Embu
is performed in the court, in the gym, at a Taikai or other ceremonial occasions. In these patterns one kenshi takes the part of attacker (k?sha 攻者) and one acts as defender (shusha 守者); they then change roles and repeat the technique. After the set form technique the kenshi perform ren-han-ko (連反攻: a series of offence after defence) which is a free form counter-attack which continues until the original attacker successfully blocks/parries and counters. The juho techniques are followed by
katame
(pinning techniques) or kime (finishing techniques with various hand strikes or kicks to nerve points).
Embu start with
gassho-rei
and are performed usually in kumi embu (pair), tandoku embu (single) and dantai embu (6 or 8 in a group).
Initially, there was no regulation in performing embu. Nowadays, it is rated out of 5 (sometimes 3 at preliminary selection) judges having 60 points each for the 6 sections and 40 points each for other factors for comprehensiveness. The maximum possible total of 300 points can be achieved after eliminating the highest and the lowest scores when 5 judges are judging. Kumi-embu and dantai-embu are performed within a time limit of between one and a half to two minutes.
The most famous embu pair was Masuomi Nakano and Toshio Misaki whose embu was said to have impressed Doshin So.
Unyo-ho
[
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]
Earlier in Shorinji Kempo's history, was the Unyo-ho, a fighting competition. After many accidents during sparring bouts with no headgear, the organization required the wearing of headgear, body protectors, and groin guards. A system of limiting each kenshi to one role of defender or attacker was also introduced for safety. Rating is done by judging attacking points, defensive techniques and counter-attacks.
Current status
[
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]
Currently, Y?ki So is the president of the World Shorinji Kempo Organization and the chairperson of the Shorinji Kempo Group. Tsunehiro Arai is the WSKO's board chairperson, as well as the president of the Japanese Shorinji Kempo Federation.
In 2010, the British Shorinji Kempo Federation (BSKF) split from the WSKO, in response to the latter's announcement on March 3 that it was dissolving the former.
[4]
[5]
However, the United Kingdom Shorinji Kempo Federation (UKSKF) still remains affiliated with WSKO.
[6]
The BSKF applied to the British
Intellectual Property Office
(IPO) to register the
trademark
that it has used for 25 years. Shorinji Kempo Unity opposed the application, but the IPO found that SKU had not demonstrated genuine use of its registered trademark.
[7]
SKU appealed the decision. In the High Court, the appeal judge found that SKU had shown genuine use of its mark, but that the BSKF mark can be registered. Judge Warren found that Shorinji Kempo is a
generic
term, which simply describes a martial art, and even if this were not the case, there is no possibility of confusion of the BSKF's mark with that of the SKU.
[8]
In 2015, the International Kempo Association (IKA) was formed (and incorporated in the UK), as an umbrella organisation and loose collective for several ex-WSKO groups. It currently includes member organisations from Czech Republic, Hong Kong, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Spain, Switzerland, and UK (BSKF).
[9]
See also
[
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]
References
[
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]
Bibliography
[
edit
]
- Shorinji Kempo philosophy and techniques
by Doshin So, Published by Japan Publications, Inc. Tokyo Japan.
- Kenkyusha's New Japanese-English Dictionary
, Kenkyusha Limited, Tokyo 1991,
ISBN
4-7674-2015-6
External links
[
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]