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Newsletter
Shorinji Kempo
Publisher: World Shorinji Kempo Organization Address: 3-1, Tadotsu-cho, Nakatado-gun, Kagawa Pref.764-8511, Japan Phone: 0877-33-1010 Fax: 0877-56-6022 WSKO homepage URL: http://www.shorinjikempo.or.jp/wsko/
Editor: Tsunehiro Arai , World Shorinji Kempo Organization Translator: Michael Eastwood Design &Layout: World Shorinji Kempo Organization
What's Inside
Messages for the International Taikai From National Federation President ___________ 2 The Japan Foundation Funded Project Delegation to Kenya, Tanzania, France ___ 4 Shorinji Kempo Instructional Series ______ 4 Kaiso's Philosophy ____________________ 8
Philosophy of Shorinji Kempo Characteristics of Shorinji Kempo ________ 9 World Shorinji Kempo Organization Board Director Tameo Mizuno Receives the Ambassadors Commendation ________ 10 WSKO Instructor Kunio Bando Deceased __ 10 Editor's Postscript _____________________ 10
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The first day of the seminar opened at The University of Nairobi. When the Hombu members arrived with a gassho rei at the practice ground, several of the kenshi who had already begun getting ready welcomed us with anenergetic greeting, "Jambo!" (Hello!)
after the demonstration, 20 or so of the audience stayed and expressed their interest in the practice.
Aside from the branch master, this group at this session consisted purely of kyu-kenshi, thus we focused mainly on the basic techniques. The existence of principles in hokei as well as how the principles drive the techniques of selfdefense were explained as many of the kenshi seemed fixed on an understanding of hokei as mere external forms. In addition there was a lecture by Hombu Instructor Mukada at the end of the first day. "The aim of Shorinji Kempo is not in developing sheer strength and raising champions but in raising individuals and leaders who can better the world at large. Shorinji Kempo is based on the mindset of developing both self and others through cooperative relationships. Please bring this mindset not only into practice but into your daily lives at home as well as at your workplace." All of the kenshi listened intently as these words were spoken.
The Tanzania region has been experiencing a steady increase in members each year and its members have been quite active. This year there was a four-day study session in the Dar Es Salaam district and a two-day special practice session in the Iringa district. At the Dar Es Salaam regional study session, the teaching started off focusing on umpo ho (footwork), ukemi (rolls) and the solo forms of basic hokei. Evidence of the regular solid practice could been seen in the movements of each kenshi.
The first ever public demonstration of Shorinji Kempo in Kenya was performed in front of an audience of 100 at the Nairobi City Hall on the afternoon of the second day. Even
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Because many of the Tanzanian kenshi were highly athletic as well as strong, it seems that they are skillful at goho, yet their movements in juho were stiff at times. We then focused the session on how to lessen the use of sheer strength and still execute a technique smoothly and effectively. Many questions were posed by the kenshi and we could tell that they regularly practiced with a probing attitude. The vision of the kenshi practicing their freshly learned techniques over and over during the break was impressive. As an extension of hokei the instructors demonstrated and explained both goho and juho randori (as a method for learning technique usage). At this point the role of randori as part of training was clearly defined and explained.
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On the last day there was a public demonstration in the Starlight Social Hall of the Dar Es Salaam district. The event hall was filled to overflowing with 600 people, including Japanese ambassador Sato and his wife. The strong foothold and further development of Shorinji Kempo within Tanzania was evident from the confident faces of the kenshi as well as from the reactions of the audience.
Iringa district is a little town about 500km west of Dar Es Salaam. The kenshi who trained in Dar Es Salaam had brought Shorinji Kempo over and are practicing with 30 or so members. Over the two days of the special practice session, fundamental techniques were the focus, and a small, but public, demonstration was also performed.
The history of the French Federation dates back to 1972 when Hiroshi Aosaka director of WSKO went to France with the intention of spreading Shorinji Kempo, and there are now 17 very active branches in France. The French Federation special practice session was mainly led by the branch masters and senior members, with the Hombu instructors joining in the general instruction. In the French Federation, slow speed randori is used as a warm-up. When there is a difference in level among the kenshi, measures are taken such as making sure that when one is hit, he or she is always allowed to land a hit. With this method's thorough emphasis on always considering the improvement of one's opponent during practice, the tendency to let strength rise up and overwhelm the exercise of randori is transformed into a mode of practice that can be enjoyed in a very relaxed state. Whenever one opponent successfully executes a technique, the pair always stops to express their gratitude with an "arigato gozaimashita". In such practice, French Federation kenshi's sense of cooperation, care and respect, as well as their ability to remember to have fun in the midst of serious practice showed how well they understood the spirit of Shorinji Kempo
At this point, stand at the front of the kenshi and model the motions while giving instructions. Question 1 "When you rotated the fist inward, did the wrist die? When you rotated the fist outward, did the wrist die?"
Everyone answered that the wrist didn't die. Instruction 2 "As before, make a firm fist in the vertical position and put it forth. This time, bend the wrist of your vertical fist so that the striking surface angles downward. Make the upper side of the fist and the upper side of the arm form a straight line. (Diagram 2) From that position, turn the fist inward. Then turn the fist outward." "When you turned the fist inward, did the fist die? When you turned the fist outward, did the wrist die?"
Question 2
Nearly everyone answered that their wrists had died. Finally, offer an explanation in the following manner. "In order to kill the wrist, there are several basic principles. We have just experienced one of those. When the line made by the thumb side of your attacker's grappling hand curves up, the wrist is difficult to kill. When that line makes a flat, even line with the upper side of his arm and you turn the fist inward or outward, it is easy to kill the wrist. Make use of this principle when killing the wrist. To have kenshi confirm the above principle in actual techniques, have them carry it out slowly in the defenses of kote nuki, juji nuki, and kata muna otoshi and let them observe the state of the attacker's wrist. Diagram 1 Diagram 2
Kaiso's Philosophy
The proper use of Shorinji Kempo Sayings current in some martial arts, like "instant death with a single blow," have no place in Shorinji Kempo. What matters is ikken tasho, ("one fist helps many people out of trouble"). The discipline is designed to develop minds and bodies as well as to allow its students to protect both themselves and others in danger. Use it only to help people. This is the meaning of fusatsu katsujin.
World Shorinji Kempo Organization Board Director Tameo Mizuno Receives the Ambassador's commendation
November 16, 2000, World Shorinji Kempo Organization Director Tameo Mizuno was awarded a "Year 2000 Ambassador's Commendation" at the Embassy of Japan in England. The award was made for the Chairman's achievements across many years of arduous efforts toward Japanese-British friendship. A total of eight people received the award, but Shorinji Kempo was the only martial arts organization recognized. Eight executive members of the British Federation were also invited to the reception and attended with the Director and his wife
Editor's Postscript
The International Taikai 2001, our first highlight of the 21st century, will be held on the 29th of April, with a two day study session on April 30th and May 1st. I am certain that many kenshi will gather together from around the world, that it will be a magnificent Taikai, and that the participants will find it a meaningful experience. Also, I expect that many friendships will sprout from this occasion, and that the bonds between kenshi will be linked ever more firmly. This Taikai could become the priming charge that spreads the circle of Shorinjio Kempo on the world scene. However, there are many kenshi who cannot participate in the Taikai and study session due to the demands of work, for economic reasons, and for a variety of other circumstances. To all those who cannot participate, I would like to transmit the conditions of the Taikai and the study sessions through this newsletter and other pathways. It is my hope that we can share the significance and the results of the Taikai and study session with those who cannot attend. This year as well, I hope that this newsletter can provide a medium to more firmly bind together WSKO and the branches, the branches themselves, and fellow kenshi. To kenshi of the world, and to those who have gained an interest in Shorinji Kempo, I hope this newsletter will provide the greatest amount of information and that it will prove indispensable to you all.
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