Peninsula Branch, U.S.A. / May 2009 - Contributor: Branch Master Yoshiyuki Karahashi

March 7, 2009

The Peninsula Branch had a unique opportunity to introduce Shorinji Kempo to a group of local Japanese school teachers. In the greater San Francisco Bay Area, there is a good number of part time Japanese language schools; most of which typically have a few hours of classes on Saturdays. The teachers of these schools have a teacher association, and periodically meet to share their experience, have joint training, and discuss various issues.

For the spring 2009 gathering of this teachers' association, the Peninsula Branch was requested to give a short demonstration and an introduction to Shorinji Kempo.

Considering the uniqueness of the audience, we decided to put a spotlight on the educational and training systems of Shorinji Kempo. We shared our tools (DO protectors, curriculum booklets, TOKUHON textbooks, etc.) with explanations of how they are used in the actual physical training. We also utilized an overhead projector with couple of slides to help explain some of the technical categorization, logics, and principles of a few HOKEI.

The demonstration was planned to be 15 minutes long, but the teachers showed a great interest in Shorinji Kempo, as well as the common issues we all face in trying to teach; the session ended up to be well over 30 minutes. We all learned about each other's group, and it also was a great opportunity to support a regional community group through Shorinji Kempo.



April 12, 2009

The San Francisco Branch traditionally puts up a public demonstration during the San Francisco Japantown Cherryblossom Festival (held over two weekends ... April 11, 12 and April 18, 19). 2009 was no exception. This year, the Peninsula Branch and the Berkeley Branch supported the San Francisco Branch in a half-hour demonstration on April 12.

After the demonstration on the 12th and also during the weekend of April 18, 19, we all helped out at the TAKOYAKI food booth put up by the SOKOJI zen temple which is where the San Francisco branch practices.

This was an opportunity to further introduce Shorinji Kempo through a public demonstration, enhance the interaction amongst the local branches and kenshi, as well as to help the local community through the temple.



May 17, 2009

Once again, the MATSURI Festival was held at the Hakone Gardens in the city of Saratoga (approximately 45 minutes south of San Francisco). The Peninsula Branch was once again asked for a demonstration. This year, members of the Peninsula Branch and San Francisco Branch took part in the demonstration.

This was the Festival's 10th year. Along with a group of TSUGARU SHAMISEN, the Peninsula Branch is one of the few groups that has been invited in consecutive years, and actually we were the only BUDO group to demonstrate this year.

We were blessed with a nice sunny weather although it felt a little too sunny when the temperature hit about 100 deg F (approx 37 deg C). Despite the temperature, everyone had lots of fun putting up the demonstration, and the audience enjoyed the demonstration as well. We received many positive feedbacks after the demonstration, and hope to continue this tradition.

 

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