Monterey Branch, U.S.A / July 2010 - Contributor: Monterey Branch Master Kazuki Arita

On July 11th (Sun), 2010, 15 Kenshi demonstrated Shorinji Kempo at the "64th Obon Festival" of Monterey Peninsula Buddhist Temple in Monterey, California, U.S.A. The participants were Mr. Makoto Hagata sensei (Mt. Diablo Branch Master), Mr. Yoshiyuki Karahashi sensei (Peninsula Branch Master), Mr. Carlos Gonzales (Mt. Diablo), Mr. Chris Chu (Peninsula), Mr. Fumio Nishimura (Monterey), Mr. Mitsugu Mori (Monterey), Mr. Merced Rodriguez (Monterey), Ms. Chelsea Rodriguez (Monterey), Mr. Kleto Hernandez (Monterey), Ms. Sofia Hernandez (Monterey), Mr. Gary Sumpter (Monterey), Mr. Roman Sumpter (Monterey), Mr. Brock Sumpter (Monterey), Ms Victoria Sahagwn (Monterey), and I (Kazuki Arita, Monterey Branch Master).












The Monterey Buddhist Temple was first established in the early-1940s by Japanese-American living in this area. There was Japan Town in Monterey. However, all of them were forced to move to the internment camp during the World War II. The Obon festival was restarted in 1946 a year after the war ended.

This is the 4th time to demonstrate Shorinji Kempo for all public in Monterey. Although we have demonstrated at the Language day of Defense Language Institute (DLI) in Monterey for 6 years, the access to DLI is still very limited for all public.
















The demonstration started from 13:00. We showed Chinkon, Kihon, Embu of brown belt, technique explanation, and Embu of Black belt. Although the demonstration time was only for 30 minutes, more than 100 audiences enjoyed watching and were very impressed with our techniques with sharp movement and big Kiai. This year, "children embu" was demonstrated as the first time. The audiences were very impressed with their kiai and techniques and gave big hands to the children.

Especially because it took over two hours for Hagata sensei, Karahashi sensei, and other branch members to come to Monterey even though they were very busy, I really appreciate their precious time, effort, and great kindness to join the demonstration.

 

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