November 7, 2007
WSKO Hombu Practice Session
WSKO Hombu Practice Session
Shorinji Kempo has marked its 60th anniversary this year, celebrated at Nippon Budokan in Tokyo attended by nearly 9,000 people including about 120 kenshi from outside of Japan on November 4th. After this big festivity, 60 kenshi traveled to Shorinji Kempo Hombu in Tadotsu to join the WSKO Hombu Practice Session on November 7th.
In the morning from 10:00 to 12:00, Hondo, the main dojo of Hombu, was open for free practice with Hombu staff. From 14:00 to 17:00, an organized practice program was offered to participants. Kenshi from Australia, Qatar, Indonesia, Italy, Sweden, Spain, U.K., and two Japanese university students came to Hombu.
With the formal drum sound, Chinkon-gyo started at 14:00 in Hondo, led by WSKO Instructor Kazuhiro Kawashima. After warming-up, WSKO Instructor Tsunehiro Arai explained the principles of techniques to all the participants.
The participnants were divided into some groups. Kyu kenshi practiced in Kodo, with WSKO Instructors Takashi Miura and Hiroyuki Mukada, and Dan holders in Hondo with WSKO Instructors Arai, Kawashima, and Shogo Fujii.
All the participants did "samu", racing while wiping the dojo floor after practice.
After the closing ceremony, Ms. Maria Soselisa, Indonesian Federation member, taught the participants how to dance "poco poco (pronounced as "pocho pocho")", a popular dance of Indonesia, telling them to step left, right, back, forward, and turn. Everyone, both participants and instructors, enjoyed dancing together.
(more pictures below)
Hombu Doin Practice
Hombu Doin, first Shorinji Kempo Doin/Branch Kaiso started, meets in the evenings on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays. WSKO Practice Session was held on Wednesday, so some of the WSKO participants also joined the Hombu Doin practice after the formal practice.
Hombu Doin used to meet at the dojo Kaiso used to teach behind his own residence. However, the building is now too old and the members currently practice in Rensei Dojo above the main office of Hombu.
Doin-cho Masaharu Kousaka led Chinkon-gyo, and jokyo members practiced with the visitors from abroad.
