Leaside Branch, Canada / Feb 2005 Contributor: Branch Master Ryoichi Oka

Shorinji Kempo Ontario Group Practice Session at Leaside Branch

Demonstration by the Leaside Branch

The group practice session of Shorinji Kempo Ontario was held at the Japanese Canadian Cultural Center (JCCC), located in northeast of Toronto, on January 15th, 2005. The Toronto Branch has been the only branch of Shorinji Kempo in Ontario for a long time, however, Eglinton was established in 2002, Huronia in Barrie (north of Toronto) and Leaside, in 2004. In order to promote Shorinji Kempo in Ontario, we have decided to hold a group practice session at each branch, every three months.

Demonstration by the Toronto Branch

The Leaside Branch at the JCCC hosted the second session. Nearly 40 kenshi joined the session from all of the branches in Ontario, including women and children of various ages. During the session, each branch demonstrated their embu. Afterwards the members from all branches practiced together. For the new members, it was a great opportunity to see advanced techniques of Shorinji Kempo and to practice with those from other branches whom they seldom have a chance to practice with.

Group Practice

After the practice, we moved to a lounge in the center, and had the "Tsunami Fundraiser". This event involved selling meals and raffling items brought in by kenshi. Based on this we managed to raise $730 dollars, which was donated to the Canadian Red Cross Society. Outside of this event, members of Shorinji Kempo Ontario have additionally donated more than $2000 to tsunami-related charities.

Fundraising

Although our efforts have just begun in Shorinji Kempo we will continue to contribute towards our society as much as possible. Our ultimate goal is to establish this art as the "way to develop society by developing people" in Canada.

 

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