Shorinji
Kempo was founded by Doshin So in 1947, in the town of Tadotsu
on the isle of Shikoku. The Founder had spent decades studying Japanese
and Chinese martial arts before and during the Second World War. Disillusioned
by the war's devastation, he became determined to establish some kind
of institute to develop people who would possess the qualities required
to work for a better world. He painstakingly reformulated and systematized
his knowledge of diverse techniques and welded them to a philosophy
rooted in Buddhism - thus Shorinji Kempo was born.
Shorinji Kempo is primarily an empty-hand martial art, and is comprised
of four integrated components: juuhou, or soft techniques (joint
locks, pins, break holds, etc.); gouhou, or hard techniques
(punches, kicks, blocks); seihou, or pressure-point techniques
applicable to either therapy or combat; and Kongou Zen, the
core philosophy. Shorinji Kempo does not promote competition; its
goal is to produce strong, healthy, cooperative, reliable individuals
for the betterment of the world community. The practice of techniques
in partnership with others is specifically aimed at supporting these
ideals.
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