Seoul Ichon Branch, Korea / May 2010 - Contributor: Takashi Sudo

Seoul Ichon Branch members

My name is Takashi Sudo from Korea, and I would like to briefly report about our Seoul, Ichon branch.

Our Seoul Ichon branch in Korea has currently 10+ members and practice every weekend. Our sensei, Mr. Yamagishi opened the Dojo officially in 2006, and initially members were Korean mainly, but after few years passed, gradually non-Korean members joined and currently it has "International" atmosphere with Korean, American, Pilipino, Japanese and others. Our Dojo is located in the middle of Seoul city, Ichon dong area, and sometime we have guests from Japan and other countries from time to time.

Yoshida-sensei, 7th Dan and the branch master of Kawasaki Higashi Doin in Japan visited us in March this year.

In Korea, "Tae Kwon Do", is the most popular and traditional martial arts, therefore many people practice it, as local people are quite exposed to it from their childhood, with surrounding many Dojos in town and opportunity is there. My son and wife also started learning Tae Kwon Do quite naturally, thanks to the easy accessibility and many friends. As they started enjoying practice it first, and their activity also gave me an opportunity to start Shorinji Kempo a little later.

I start practice Shorinji Kempo first time about 10 months before, hot summer time, with my family. As I mentioned, Tae Kwon Do is quite popular in Korea, and when I started living in Korea years back, my son also started Tae Kwon Do as one of the kinder garden activities. He has enjoyed practice, but because of language barrier (He doesn't understand Korean, also teacher doesn't understand Japanese), I was worried if he just got physical power portion, without learning mental aspect. Even when he feels any type of frustration anytime, I wanted he knows the method of controlling skill and power he has.

iNew Year party at a local restaurant earlier this year. We have raised fund for earthquake survivors in Haiti.

I met Yamagishi sensei in such time when I feel anxious about our son. First period in Shorinji Kempo, I just considered it for our son, but gradually I also have been attracted in Shorinji Kempo as we practice every weekend, having a time for practicing not only physicality, but mental part also. Unfortunately I and my family had to leave Korea in this spring, but I understand there are many Dojos if I look for in Japan and worldwide, so this does not mean I stop practicing and studying Shorinji Kempo even after my return to Japan.

Thank you very much.

Takashi Sudo, 3rd Kyu
Seoul Ichon branch, Korea

 

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