California Branches, USA / October 2006 Contributor: Peninsula Branch Master Yoshiyuki Karahashi

In the evening of October 1, 2006, the Berkeley, Defense Language Institute, Mount Diablo, Peninsula, Silicon Valley, and San Francisco branches gathered together to give a public demonstration. The "Oakland Fukuoka Sister City Association" was hosting a Otsukimi (Moon Viewing) gathering at the Lakeside Park in Oakland, California. Oakland is approximately 20 minutes east of San Francisco.

The demonstration started quietly with a short Chinkon-gyo, and then warmed up both the audience and the participating kenshi with Kihon. One Embu was shown in the beginning to give the audience a quick overview of the techniques of Shorinji Kempo.

The technical aspects were demonstrated with several Goho and Juho Hokei, as well as Hokei that illustrated the concept of Go Ju Ittai. Also, two and three person exercises was shown, that illustrated the application of the basic techniques, with emphasis that the training is for mutual cooperation and not for deciding winners & losers.

The demonstration concluded with two additional dynamic Embu, leading the audience to a very up-beat finish.

Special thanks goes to Ms. Nicole Cheng (San Francisco Branch) for making this demonstration possible.

 

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