Amsterdam Branch, Holland / Apr 2004 Contributor: Nino Ruijfrok

2004 Taikai - Report from the Dutch Shorinji Kempo Branch


Sunday 14th of March 2004 the Dutch Shorinji Kempo Amsterdam based branch held it's annual Takai demonstration event. The Amsterdam Shorinji Kempo branch is a small branch but has a dedicated group of about 35 members. The members made a lot of effort to draw a good audience for this event by hanging out posters around Amsterdam and handing out information days and weeks before the event. They also invited family members and friends. Although not in very big numbers there was enough audience on the day of the event. 25 enthusiastic kenshi ranging from 5th kyu to 3rd Dan were eager to demonstrate the Shorinji Kempo skills they had learned.

Wendy Meijer and Donar Teunissen

The Taikai started with Chinkon and a demonstration of the basic techniques. Followed by Tenchi Ken Dai ikkei through rokkei single form and Giwa Ken Dai ikkei and Nikei. In pair form Tsubaume Geashi was preformed.

Mark Veldhuijzen-van Zanten and Arie Beekhof

Then Minarai kenshi got their turn to perform their Embu. Below 5th kyu kenshi Wendy Meijer and Donar Teunissen and 1st kyu Mark Veldhuijzen-van Zanten and Arie Beekhof show the skills they have learned.



After a tanto knife attack demonstration, performed by Rafael Monnich and Daniel van den Varst and an impressive group demonstration of five black belt kenshi, our Sensei Hiromi Tojo (4th dan) demonstrated defence against group attack with three senior members.



After Juho randori preformed by Nino Ruijfrok and Marcel Pietersma, it was time for some humour. Our only female black belt kenshi Eva Katona preformed lady's self-defence in a humoristic way. She had to withstand two annoying drunken man, which she did in a gentle but insisting way using some effective Shorinji Kempo technique.

Sensei Hiromi Tojo, 4th dan

Sensei Hiromi Tojo demonstrated several 5th and 6th dan techniques to the audience. He also explained the week spots to be attack with an opponent. He talked about sei-ho techniques. After a goho ju randori segment it was time for senior members to perform their Embu. There where three pairs. Nino Ruijfrok 3rd Dan and Marcel Pietersma 2nd Dan, Daniel van den Varst 1st Dan and Rafael Monnich 3rd Dan, and Thomas Overing 1st Dan and Harry Muller 1st Dan.

Daniel van de Varst and Rafael Monnich

This Taikai was another very nice experience for the kenshi of the Dutch Shorinji Kempo branch which exists for over 20 years in Amsterdam, the capital city of the Netherlands.

Nino Ruijfrok and Marcel Pietersma

The group reflects the multicultural nature of the Dutch capital and has people from various backgrounds. This Taikai helped strengthen the strong bond of friendship they have which continues also outside the dojo.

 

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