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What should I do to learn Shorinji Kempo? |
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To study Shorinji Kempo, you must first become a member of the
World Shorinji Kempo Organization. In other words, studying Shorinji
Kempo's techniques and teachings is a privilege granted only to
members of the World Shorinji Kempo Organization. If you would like
to become a WSKO member, please check the list of branches on this
homepage for a branch you can attend, then contact your national
federation secretariat or (if there is no federation in your country)
branch master for further details. You can only become a member
of the World Shorinji Kempo Organization by first joining a branch
recognized by the World Shorinji Kempo Organization. Then you may
study Shorinji Kempo's teachings and techniques. For procedures
of joining WSKO, please refer to the "Notice Board for Individual Members".
Also, the List of Federations & Branches shows you all World Shorinji
Kempo Organization branches around the world, and the leaders instructing
at these branches are recognized by the World Shorinji Kempo Organization
as instructors.
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I would like to visit a branch on the WSKO Branch List. What
do I do? |
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Is there a federation in the country of the branch you chose? If
there is a federation, please start by contacting the federation.
They will give you the details on branches in that country. If there
is no federation in the country, inquire directly to the branch
itself about visiting. In either case, whenever you visit a branch,
make certain to contact the branch master before you go there.
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I checked the Branch List, but there is no WSKO branch in the
area where I live. How can I learn Shorinji Kempo? |
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To learn Shorinji Kempo, you are required to join a branch lead
by a World Shorinji Kempo Organization recognized instructor. If there
is currently no WSKO branch within your commuting range, right now
you cannot study Shorinji Kempo. There is, however, the possibility
that in the future a person holding qualifications to instruct may
move to your neighborhood, or you yourself may move to a region where
there is a branch, either of which would allow you the chance to become
a member.
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I would like to study Shorinji Kempo at the World Shorinji Kempo
Organization Headquarters in Japan. |
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If you are a member of any World Shorinji Kempo Organization branch,
you may participate in training camps held at World Shorinji Kempo
Organization Headquarters. For details, ask your branch master.
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There is no WSKO branch in the region where I live, so I would
like to train at the Shorinji Kempo Headquarters in Japan as a live-in
student. |
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The World Shorinji Kempo Organization holds training camps in Japan
which are open to members who belong to WSKO branches. Unfortunately,
we do not open these to people who are not members.
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Are there English language materials on Shorinji Kempo? |
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When you enter a WSKO branch, the branch master makes available
a basic textbook called the "Shorinji Kempo Tokuhon". This basic text
is distributed from the WSKO Secretariat in Japanese and English versions,
and there are also other versions which have been translated into
the local languages of our members' countries. For people who have
not joined our membership, only the information on this website is
available. Videos and other such materials may only be purchased by
WSKO members.
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How can I purchase print and video materials? |
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If you are a WSKO member, you may go through your branch master
to order the goods introduced on this website from the WSKO Secretariat.
Make sure to make full payment to your branch master when you order
these goods. If you are not a WSKO member, we regret to inform you
that it is a privilege solely of WSKO members to purchase goods sold
by WSKO, so we cannot meet your requests.
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There is no WSKO branch in my country, so I would like to learn
Shorinji Kempo techniques and teachings from videos and printed sources. |
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Shorinji Kempo is not something that can be acquired by using books
and videos on one's own. To study it properly requires feedback on
one's degree of understanding and degree of attainment while receiving
the direct guidance of an instructor. Furthermore, Shorinji Kempo
does not merely involve the study of techniques, but it is also the
study of how partners and friends can assist and even rescue one another,
a practice learned by partnering in practice and growing more skillful
together. In addition, as stated above, goods sold by the WSKO Secretariat
may only be purchased by WSKO members, so we cannot meet orders from
non-members.
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I teach a karate class. I am also interested in Shorinji Kempo,
but may I teach Shorinji Kempo in my karate class? |
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Shorinji Kempo and the various styles of karate, as well as the
other martial arts, are quite different things. One cannot teach another
martial art and Shorinji Kempo at the same time, and the reverse is
also impossible. Also, to instruct in Shorinji Kempo, one must be
recognized by the World Shorinji Kempo Organization as an Instructor
or Branch Master. Note that the name, "Shorinji Kempo,"
is the property of the World Shorinji Kempo Organization, and so,
may not be used except by branches recognized by the World Shorinji
Kempo Organization. Accordingly, one may not use the name of Shorinji
Kempo in teaching another martial art.
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When I was studying in Japan, I also studied Shorinji Kempo.
After returning home, may I teach the techniques just to my friends? |
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If you acquired a rank of 3rd dan or above, it is possible to establish
a branch, so please discuss it with your country's federation president,
a branch master, or the WSKO Secretariat. When you formally establish
a WSKO branch, you may gather members and teach Shorinji Kempo.
Instructing without establishing a branch or receiving the permission
of WSKO is a terribly irresponsible action. Those who have learned
from you, an unauthorized instructor, will not be members of WSKO,
so they will be unable at any time to receive grading examinations
or participate in WSKO training camps or study sessions. Those who
believe in you and study under you will be greatly inconvenienced
later.
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I am studying Shorinji Kempo now, but my sensei's name is not
listed on this website. Why is that? |
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All branches and branch masters recognized by the World Shorinji
Kempo Organization are listed on the WSKO branch list. If someone
not on the list is teaching, then they have no relationship with the
World Shorinji Kempo Organization. If you have concerns about this,
please contact your national WSKO federation or the WSKO Secretariat.
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I used to study Shorinji Kempo. My sensei's name is not listed
on this website. Am I a member of the World Shorinji Kempo Organization? |
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Among the WSKO branches, there are some that are not in operation
at this time, and some that have been disbanded. Branches that are
not currently operating are not listed on the Branch List. However,
the World Shorinji Kempo Organization has recorded and maintains the
data and ranks earned for every member who has joined in the past.
If the place where you studied Shorinji Kempo was an official WSKO
branch, and if the person instructing you reported your entrance and
grading examinations, then all that information is recorded at the
WSKO Secretariat. However, if your instructor was teaching without
the permission of the World Shorinji Kempo Organization, then your
entrance and grading examinations have not been reported to WSKO's
Secretariat. In such cases, although you may, for example, have passed
your 1st dan examination, it is not a properly awarded Shorinji Kempo
rank. If anyone has concerns about such matters, please contact the
WSKO Secretariat.
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I have a black belt which I earned in karate. To study Shorinji
Kempo, do I have to quit karate and start over from a white belt? |
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Shorinji Kempo is completely distinct from karate and other martial
arts. Shorinji Kempo has a unique curriculum, and all WSKO branches
around the world follow the same curriculum and study the same techniques
and teachings. This means that around the world, everyone of the same
rank practices the same techniques and fundamental principles. Consequently,
even if you have the highest ranking of 10th dan in another martial
art, when you start Shorinji Kempo you know none of the Shorinji Kempo
techniques or teachings, so, as you might expect, you will need to
start from a white belt.
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I am studying Shorinji Kempo at a WSKO branch. Next month, I
will move to another country. Can I continue Shorinji Kempo? |
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Please check the Branch List on this website for a branch in the
region to which you will move. Please visit the new branch, discuss
with the branch master your desire to transfer there, and receive
a transfer application from the branch master. When the branch master
delivers your transfer application to the WSKO Secretariat, the Secretariat
will send a new membership card to the branch master, and that will
complete the transfer process. Records for every member's entrance,
rank advancement, and other matters are all maintained at the WSKO
Secretariat. Your membership qualifications remain the same no matter
what WSKO branch you transfer to anywhere in the world.
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