What is Shorinji Kempo?

Shorinji Kempo is practiced by more than 1.5 million registered members at 3,145 branches in 30 countries. It was founded by Kaiso, Doshin So.

Shorinji Kempo is a method of self-defense. Its techniques start with defense against the opponent's attack. One never seek a fight, but the techniques are used to protect oneself or someone else. Just hurting people is not the purpose of learning Shorinji Kempo

In Shorinji Kempo there are no winners or losers. Competition is unnecessary to the training of healthy minds and bodies. Shorinji Kempo emphasize is on equally training the mind and body. Meditation and philosophy are just as important to developing the mind as the techniques are for developing the body. Shorinji Kempo requires both to be mastered to be promoted.

Shorinji Kempo teaches both Goho (blocks, punches and kicks) and Juho (drawing, twisting, pinning or throwing) while many martial arts teach only Goho or Juho. Even when a fight is unavoidable, the techniques must not be used to attack the opponent. Rather Shoriji Kempo techniques focus on how to respond to attacks and control situations.

Just as a person can not live alone, good partners are needed to learn the techniques of Shorinji Kempo. Each student must be a good partner to everyone else. Cooperation among the two is the most important requirement for an improvement. Through such practice, Shorinji Kempo strives to build friendship, mutual respect, and foster people who can take those attitudes outside of practice to improve the society we live in.

Every aspect of our lives, human relations and society ultimately depends on the quality of the people involved. Shorinji Kempo hopes to create people who can rely on themselves and take responsibility for their own actions.

All techniques require two people to practice. Unlike some martial arts Shorinji Kempo practice involves working in pairs for the most part. Only then can techniques be perfected. The offensive person's role is to help improve accuracy and timing of the defensive person's techniques. It is not a chance to demonstrate superior fighting skills. Techniques do not require power to work. Therefore, even a child, small adult, or elderly person can defend themselves against someone else larger or stronger. The techniques are not meant for competition but real life defense situations.

"Live half for yourself, and half for the others" ---this is what the founder of Shorinji Kempo, Kaiso, said. It expresses the basic principle of Shorinji Kempo.