Seattle Branch, U.S.A. / November 2005 Contributor: Colin May

Aki Matsuri demonstration/ September 11, 2005

On September 11, fourteen kenshi from the Seattle Branch participated in the 8th annual Aki Matsuri (autumn festival of Japanese culture) held in Bellevue, the city immediately to the east of Seattle.

As usual, we began our demonstration with chinkon, during which our narrator-kenshi briefly introduced the background and purpose of Shorinji Kempo. We next presented kihon, first in group formation, then in pairs in motion. This was followed by a solo (tan-doku) embu by this humble writer, who was afterward reported to have shouted a lot very loudly. It is said that loud kiai can counteract nervousness...

The next segment was a hokei presentation by branch master Hiroshi Onaka and 3-kyu kenshi Taihei Fukumoto; then, on to kumi embu. First up were Andrew McFarlane (2-kyu) and Papken O'Farrell (3-kyu). They, too, expressed kiai in noble proportion. Their embu was followed by the Seattle Branch's first 3-person embu, presented by Benni Jonsson (2-dan), Andrew Schneiderman (2-dan) and Adam Sedgley (shodan).

All the demonstration segments were framed by narration explaining the nature of Shorinji Kempo. We were well received by the audience, and in fact our efforts brought us a couple of new branch members. Afterwards we gathered with family and friends to form a party of some 25 people to perform Tenchi Ken 7 at a local restaurant. Another good day in the life of Shorinji Kempo.

 

TOP