HISTORY
After
Shorinji Kempo was founded in 1947 in the town of Tadotsu, Japan by
Kaiso, Doshin So, kenshi who had studied the teachings and techniques
took the initiative in spreading them overseas. Japanese kenshi who
moved abroad brought the teachings and techniques with them and kenshi
who had studied while staying in Japan likewise built dojo to share
them with their friends, and so Shorinji Kempo spread gradually.
The World Shorinji Kempo Organization was founded in 1974 with the
goal of contributing to world peace by coordinating all the Shorinji
Kempo branches of the world, properly spreading the teachings and techniques
bequeathed to us by Kaiso, propagating Shorinji Kempo around the world,
and assisting the amity and friendship among the countries in the organization
based on the open minded acceptance of different races, religions, and
political worldviews.
The first President of the World Shorinji Kempo Organization was Kaiso,
Doshin So. However, after he passed away in May of 1980, Yuuki So succeeded
to the office.
Now, Shorinji Kempo has spread to 34 countries, over 3,000 branches
have been established in the world, and we count over 1,700,000 registered
members.
