Southampton University Branch, UK / Jan 2003 Contributor: Branch Master Adrian Foster-Starr

Southampton University Branch at Hombu Summer Camp September 2002

I am Sensei Adrian Foster-Starr, 3rd Dan, Branch Master of Southampton University Branch, British Shorinji Kempo Federation.
I started practicing Shorinji Kempo with Sensei Peter Moore, now 5th Dan, in about January 1982 when I started college in Southampton at 18 years of age. I found Shorinji Kempo by pure accident, I had tried many martial arts from the age of 8 starting with Judo, then getting caught up in the Bruce Lee inspired Kung-Fu boom of the late 1970's tried Kung-Fu, Karate, Tae-Kwon-Do and Ju-Jitsu.
I wanted to be tough like my movie heroes and was probably considered a troublemaker and a little wild.
But in all the martial arts that I tried there was something missing, looking back now I realise that it was trust in my teachers and the techniques that they were teaching.
Then Sensei Peter did Gyaku-gote on me and I had what I now term a moment of "Kempo clarity!"
It really hurt and I knew that I had found the real thing.
Japan in general, and what little I heard about Hombu, seemed, at that point, distant, mystical and almost secretive.
I dreamed of going, but nobody ever told me I could and I didn't dare ask.

Years later my grading partner, Sensei Ian Ferguson, and myself inherited the Southampton University Branch and together we resolved that one day we'd take the club, irregardless of belt grade, to Hombu one day.
Our first visit was for the 50th anniversary celebrations in 1997 and we've been back twice since for Hombu summer camps in 2000 and this year.

On this occasion we were lucky enough to have letters of introduction from the British Shorinji Kempo Federation's Chief Instructor, Sensei Tameo Mizuno, 7th Dan, to 3 Doins: Rakuto Doin with Morikawa Sensei, Kamogawa Doin with Sensei Hayashi, and Kobe Doin with Sensei Mori Doki as well as the chance to train at Hombu.
Upon arrival in Kyoto we met up with our translator and guides, to whom we are forever indebted, Taka Toshi Mitsuhashi-san, 3rd Dan, Doshisha University Branch, who stayed with us throughout our travels and smoothed our way, and Senichi Mie, 4th Dan, Kintetsu Culture Branch.
Taka brought bad news, Sensei Mori Doki was unavailable for training due to minor health problems and there was a hiccup with communication, which meant that out of the 18 students that we took to Japan this time only Ian and myself got a chance to train at Rakuto Doin on Monday 26th August.

Whilst there I got to train one on one with Kazuhito Morikawa-san, 6th Dan, and Ian with his brother Hirohito Morikawa-san, better known as the embu competition winners from the 1997 Tokyo Taikai, (which video I have shown at every recruiting stand/branch barbeque since as a teaching aide and a show stopper!)
It was superb and I owe them and the Doin a real debt of gratitude, though I must apologise to Kazuhito-san for my weighing so much and then asking that he did Yahuza nage on me!!! The squad training at the end was a killer, I nearly died, and press-ups, squats, star jumps and the like in 40 degrees and 90% humidity were interesting.
Sensei Morikawa could see we were suffering and kindly invited us for refreshments in his living room next to the doin. Two half pints of neat gin with ice later I was feeling no pain, though Anton Eliens from Amsterdam had to be propped up on the way home! I really regret that our club missed out on this opportunity and can only say we'll be back.

The entire club got to train the next night at Kamogawa Doin, which was our branch's first introduction to heavy duty sweating, great fun and followed by an extremely rushed Chinese meal, which the branch desperately wanted to stay at for longer but Youth Hostel hours would not allow, never mind we'll be back again with better accommodation arrangements. Thanks to Sensei Hayashi and his doin for their teaching and his recollections of founder.
Sensei Nakamura, Keio Doin was also present at the lesson and the meal and I asked him what he thought of us. His reply stays with me
"They are respectful and their kihon is very strong, two very good signs!"

What can I say about training at Hombu? The university summer camp was excellent. But to top it all Sensei Arai suggested that because of the heat that the visiting WSKO students be taught for a morning and an afternoon in a separate air-conditioned room.
It was an open session with Sensei's Arai, Kawashima and So opening up the training session to questions from us on aspects of training and specific techniques.
I know that all of them are very busy men who took time out of crammed schedules to help us; it was much appreciated and will be talked about for many years for those of us who were there.
In all of my years of Kempo experience I've never had so many moments of "Kempo clarity" in such a small space of time, I will be trying to teach those hints in an effort to understand them for the rest of my Kempo life. They were assisted in translation by Taka and Duncan.

I can't thank everyone at Hombu enough, though I will take this opportunity to especially thank Sensei Arai, Sensei Kawashima, Sensei So and Hidemi Uebayashi of the WSKO Secretariat, for making us feel so welcome and helping us so much.

We would also like to thank everyone that we got to train with, our new friends.

I believe that, apart from the stunning technical instruction hints and tips that we pick up, that visiting Japan and Hombu teaches two major lessons.
Firstly it forever lays to rest the image that Japan is mystical or secretive and reveals that modern Japan is unreservedly friendly and cosmopolitan.
Secondly it changes the way you train, think and feel about Shorinji Kempo, for my students and I it's rekindled our enthusiasm for training and teaching, and proves that training in Japan, whilst at times undeniably arduous, is never frightening or brutal.

I started my Shorinji Kempo life as a troublemaker; but Shorinji Kempo changed my life. I'm now a detective in the Police service and I take great pride in helping everyone I deal with, even the criminals.

The lessons of this, our club's third visit, are the same as they were on the first, but unless you make the effort to go you'll never personally experience them.

Don't make excuses, make plans and go to Hombu, don't be scared, it's easy, all it takes is effort, why not try?

Sensei Adrian Foster-Starr,
3rd Dan Branch Master,
Southampton University Branch,
British Shorinji Kempo Federation.

Work hard, play hard, and enjoy your Shorinji Kempo.

 

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