In
order to study Shorinji Kempo
 In
order to study Shorinji Kempo, you are required to join a branch
that is a member of the World Shorinji Kempo Organization, and you
must become a WSKO member. |
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Method
for Joining WSKO
When joining a WSKO branch, make sure to fill out one of the WSKO applications
your branch master will have, and the branch master or the federation
secretariat will send it to the WSKO Secretariat. All the data on forms
sent from every branch around the world will be entered into a computer
databank by the WSKO Secretariat, the Secretariat will assign individual
numbers to each person, and will issue a membership card for each application.
Every WSKO member throughout the world should have one of these - it
will have your picture on it and be about the same size as a credit
card.
The above describes the procedures for application to WSKO membership.
Certain branches or federations may also require distinct application
forms for entry to the branch or federation, or contracts for each person
who uses a gymnasium, or other forms.
The membership card you receive from the WSKO Secretariat is required
for your kyu or dan examinations, or when your home region hosts a training
camp or study session, or to participate in a WSKO run training camp
or study session. Please keep it in a safe place.
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Things
you may do after becoming a WSKO member
- You may study Shorinji Kempo techniques and philosophy.
- You may hold a WSKO membership card.
- You may wear a WSKO badge.
- You may take a Shorinji Kempo grading examination for kyu or dan
rank, and receive a rank.
- You may participate in the training camp or study session of a WSKO
affiliated federation or branch.
- You may participate in a training camp or study session run by WSKO.
- You may visit WSKO Headquarters.
- You may purchase WSKO publications or videos.
- You may participate in practices at other WSKO branches.
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Kyu
and Dan Grading Examinations
When a member belonging to a World Shorinji Kempo Organization branch
has fulfilled the conditions listed in the curriculum and the branch
master or federation president has given approval, the kenshi may receive
a grading examination for rank advancement. These conditions, the method
of examination, and the curriculum are the same at every WSKO branch
throughout the world. Rank advancement tests may only be conducted by
examiners who have been authorized as examiners prior to the test in
a certificate issued by the Shorinji Kempo Shike. Moreover, the branch
master or federation president is obligated to report the results of
the test to the WSKO Secretariat. The WSKO Secretariat will report the
results of the test to the Shorinji Kempo Shike, record the data by
computer, and issue the appropriate certificate of rank. Shorinji Kempo
ranks worldwide are all recorded by the WSKO Secretariat.
However, on occasion the following problem arises. A person without
the credentials of a Shorinji Kempo instructor will use the name of
Shorinji Kempo without permission and teach techniques, giving out ranks
such as 1st dan and second dan, but without authority. The student who
has received such a 1st dan - a counterfeit rank never issued by the
Shorinji Kempo Shike - will expect to be able to receive a second dan
examination, but in fact has never even received the ranking of 1st
dan. WSKO branches around the world are all required to conduct examinations
under the same conditions, so unfortunately, no special honorary rankings
or other degrees may be awarded in such situations. The recipient's
personal kenshi code is always recorded on WSKO-issued certificates
of test completion and rank, so if you have doubts please inform the
WSKO Secretariat including your name and kenshi number.
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Ordering
Shorinji Kempo Goods
Purchase of the videos and other goods sold by WSKO Headquarters is
a privilege of WSKO members, and none other than members may make such
purchases.
Whenever a WSKO member wishes to purchase such goods, please submit
your request to your branch master. We do not take orders on an individual
scale. When you make your request to your branch master, make certain
to include your payment with the request. The WSKO Secretariat will
send the goods to your branch master on receiving the payment in full.
Please note that when ordering goods, if any previous bills have not
been paid, we will not process any new orders until such payment has
been completed.
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On
Visiting World Shorinji Kempo Organization Headquarters
Members of the World Shorinji Kempo Organization may visit Hombu (Headquarters)
in Tadotsu, Japan.
Currently, university student kenshi belonging to university clubs
gather at Hombu in the spring and summer seasons to participate in training
camps. WSKO kenshi from outside of Japan may participate in these camps,
provided they have the permission of their branch master and/or federation
chairperson.
When visiting WSKO Hombu to participate in a training camp, please
fill out the necessary information on an application form (these forms
will be mailed to each branch master), get a signature from your branch
master, and send the application to the WSKO Secretariat by the application
deadline.
Also, when participating in a training camp, not formally but as an
observer, make sure to go through your branch master and communicate
the following information to the WSKO Secretariat, in advance:
- Your Name, branch name, kenshi number, name of branch master
- Reason for visiting
- Date and time of your arrival at Hombu
- Date and time of your departure from Hombu
Once your visit is announced and approved, the WSKO Secretariat's staff
will be waiting for your arrival. If there is a change in your schedule,
or some other matter that will affect your visit, make certain to notify
the WSKO Secretariat. Also, when you visit, please show your WSKO identification
card at the reception area.
At Hombu, we regularly host study sessions and training camps, but
on other days we plan and prepare for events, and also handle the paperwork
and data from federations and branch masters. Accordingly, we are not
always available to give Shorinji Kempo instruction or perform embu
demonstrations for visitors. Furthermore, our vacation days differ from
month to month. Please make certain to inquire about your schedule with
the WSKO Secretariat.
If kenshi require a visa for entry from their country into Japan, and
only if kenshi are entering Japan for the purposes of Shorinji Kempo
practice at a spring or summer training camp or at an International
Taikai or International Study Session, then the World Shorinji Kempo
Organization will issue an invitation to the event as required for the
visa. However, the duration of the invitation will be limited to the
dates of the event and the time immediately before and after the event
required for transit. Also, the WSKO Secretariat will not bear any costs
of travel to or from Japan, travel within Japan, lodging, or food. If
an invitation is required, please complete your application for participation
in the WSKO event and get your application to the WSKO Secretariat one
month prior to the date you plan to arrive in Japan.
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Good
Manners When Visiting Other Branches
The World Shorinji Kempo Organization is a single organization formed
by the confederation under its aegis of national federations and branches,
and it acts with the goal of building a circle of friendship that supercedes
differences of race and ethnicity, religion, age, and gender, and the
goal of contributing to shared world peace.
WSKO members generally practice at the branch to which they belong,
but when traveling to other regions, they may visit that region's WSKO
branches, practicing and sweating together to share fellowship.
When you wish to visit another branch and participate in its practice,
prior to this please make certain to inform the branch master at your
branch of which branch(es) in which country(ies) you will visit.
For any branch master whom you visit, please inform them specifically
of:
- Name of all visitors, branch name, rank, and name of branch master
- Date and time of the visit, method of travel to the point of arrival,
and address and contact information for visitors accommodations on
the day of arrival and express your desire to make a visit. Make your
visit only after receiving a response that they can accommodate you.
Sudden visits inconvenience those being visited, so please make certain
that you do not do so under any circumstances.
Visitors, please take care of transportation and accommodations on
your own. Also, if any of the information you provided your hosts changes,
please make sure to inform them. In some cases, members of the host
branch may prepare accommodations, sendoffs, and welcomes out of goodwill,
but this is not to be taken for granted.
We encourage you to work to learn the language and culture of the host
country and to understand its customs while still minding your manners,
and we look forward to everyone practicing together enjoyably.
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In
order to teach Shorinji Kempo
If you wish to teach Shorinji Kempo by yourself, you are required to
establish a branch of Shorinji Kempo. Only after you establish a WSKO
branch officially, you may recruit 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.
Requirements for establishing a Shorinji Kempo Branch are:
- You are a member of one of the branches recognized by the World Shorinji
Kempo Organization (WSKO).
- You are recommended by the branch master of the branch you belong
to.
- You hold the rank of 3rd Dan or above in Shorinji Kempo and are 20
years old or older.
- You have attended a seminar held to certify branch masters within
the last two years. Such a seminar should be organized by the national
federation in a country where the national federation has been established
or by WSKO where there is no federation in the country.
- Your neighboring branch masters agree to your branch establishment.
- You can secure the place for practice.
If your country already has a national federation, there may be requirements
other than above. In such a case, you are required to satisfy them.
Please see the
list of the National Federations.
If your country does not have a national federation, please ask your
branch master for details.
If a country already has a national federation, a new branch must affiliate
with the federation. If you do not want to join the federation and ask
WSKO to approve your branch as an independent branch, WSKO will never
approve such a branch.
If you wish to open a branch in a country where there is no Shorinji
Kempo branch, please contact the WSKO Secretariat.
When your branch has been approved as an official WSKO branch, you
are at the same time recognized as its branch master. WSKO will issue
a "Letter of Attestation" or a "Letter of Permission"
for the new branch.
All the branches on the "List
of Federations and Branches" on this WSKO Official Website
have been established in this way. Your new branch will be added to
this list after being officially recognized.
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To Non-members who want to visit Shorinji Kempo Headquarters
There are many non-members who contact the Shorinji Kempo headquarters in Tadotsu by e-mail / fax / telephone, especially before and during holiday seasons.
Please note that the Shorinji Kempo Headquarters premises are for Shorinji Kempo kenshi who attend seminars and training camps.
Regular daily trainings are given by the qualified instructors at local branch dojos in each country listed here, and members are invited to come to our headquarters for seminars and camps.
Most of the non-member visitors say "I want to learn Shorinji Kempo here in an intensive course. I want to become an uchi-deshi (apprentice) and stay here."
Please understand that we do not take any uchi-deshi or live-in student like some other arts or Shorinji Kempo kenshi do not live in an "ivory tower" separated from the real world without TV or the community.
Rather, Shorinji Kempo teaches you to be a good part of your society in good harmony. We do not believe in abandoning the world for your own good only.
Also please understand that the headquarters premises are not open to tourists for sightseeing. We do not invite non-members into our premises, so please do not waste your train fare to come to Tadotsu.
Non-members can visit our headquarters at Daruma Sai event held in October annually.
You may say "Then I will become a member at the headquarters." If you are interested in learning Shorinji Kempo, please start with this topic.
We will not let anyone attend our seminar without approval of local branch masters / federation presidents.
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