We will update information as needed regarding events hosted by WSKO and events hosted by Shorinji Kempo Group member organizations that can be observed or attended by WSKO members.

2024

June 29-30

2025

On December 17th, 2017 has been held in Biznaga Branch Dojo, in the city of Malaga, an Open Day, part of the Christmas activities organized by the Teatinos district.

The day’s practice was very pleasant and very gratifying to see how some people enjoy and learn for the first time Shorinji Kempo. The event was attended by participants and spectators of the district who came to know our art, kenshis of Biznaga Branch and friends of others Shorinji Kempo Branches.

Angel Sensei (Biznaga Branch Master), prepared a varied practice with the intention of showing as much as possible to all those attending the extent of Shorinji Kempo. There was a little bit of everything for the promotion and dissemination of Shorinji Kempo.

The practice began with a good Jumbi Undo consisting of a complete warming and stretching of the entire body. After that, Kihon was executed with movements and combinations where the importance of correct positions and weights of the body was explained.

Began technical partner, alternating Goho (positions, movements, stops, hitting, kicking, etc.) and Juho (projections, dislocations, forms of detention, etc.) from different families and degrees. Gakka is fundamental part in the practice of Shorinji Kempo so, Angel Sensei also explained that Shorinji Kempo is a discipline (gyo) created by Kaiso as a method of human development through personal effort where self-confidence, courage and strength are gained (Jiko Kakuritsu) to obtain collaborative spirit and promote mutual happiness (Jita Kyoraku). The event ended with photos of the group and acknowledgements by the instructor and by the assistants for the opportunity to know the Shorinji Kempo.

For the third year running, following the principle established by Kaiso “think of others’ happiness as well as their own”, SHOKEMA Branch in cooperation with CARRANQUE, BIZNAGA, MALAKA Branch and Themis Association ―a non-profit organization whose main function is integrating immigrants into the culture of Málaga and helping less favored people― have decided to bring Christmas a little closer to those who cannot afford it.

In previous years we succeeded in collecting toys and staple food for these groups. This year we have collected Christmas food that was delivered on November 23 to the members of Themis Association, along with representatives of all the dojos who have devoted their time and effort to reach this wonderful goal that will enable a lot of families to have a merry Christmas.

WSKO Secretariat office will be closed from December 28, 2017, to January 3rd, 2018.

Please understand all replies to any e-mails received during this period will be on and after January 4th, 2018. 

We ask you for your continued support in 2018.

May the year of 2018 bring you a lot of happiness and smiles.

 WSKO Secretariat

Shorinji Kempo 70^th Anniversary Event

2017 Shorinji Kempo World Taikai in California, USA

2017 Shorinji Kempo International Study Session

On July 30, 2017, Shorinji Kempo World Taikai, which takes place once in every four years, was held in California. Fellow members of Shorinji Kempo from 22 countries gathered together for this occasion.

The theme of the World Taikai was “Be the Bridge Make the World Better, One Person at a Time.” From the last World Taikai in Osaka in 2013, it traveled the borders, crossed the ocean, and met again in California. We acquainted, helped each other in training, established bonds, and became a bridge to the world and to the future.

July 28, 2017 WSKO General Meeting

Previous to the World Taikai, Shorinji Kempo World Organization General Meeting was held in San Francisco, and representatives from 22 countries attended to discuss WSKO projects for the coming years. At the World Taikai venue, volunteers from the US Federation worked hard to set up the site.

July 29, 2017 Special Dan Grading Examination & Preliminary Round for America

A special dan grading examination was held for WSKO members who are not of the Japanese Federation. 55 candidates for 3^rd to 7^th dan with permission to take their examinations gathered from the morning, and they took the written, physical, and oral tests. The preliminary round for the US Federation also took place, and those who qualified participated in the World Taikai as representatives of America. At the same time of the preliminary round, participants for the World Taikai had a chance to practice at the venue. The participants for the World Taikai on the next day gathered together, and there were many smiles of joy for reuniting over national borders.

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July 30, 2017 2017 Shorinji Kempo World Taikai in California, USA

The Shorinji Kempo World Taikai was held in San Mateo, CA. This event was at the San Mateo County Event Center, and it is located on the north end of Silicon Valley by the San Francisco bay, where people enjoy its blue sky in this time of the year.

We had honorary guests such as Mr. Jun Yamada, Consul General of Japan in San Francisco, and about 1,500 people from 22 countries gathered together after four years from the last World Taikai in Osaka in 2013.

We had great embu of each national representative in the competition and exhibition divisions, and we also enjoyed seeing unique exhibitions in the disabled, elderly, group, international group (kenshi from different national federations), and essay divisions.

As an attraction during the World Taikai, a taiko performance was presented by San Francisco Taiko Dojo supervised by Mr. Seiichi Tanaka, a former member of Chiba Shoka University Shorinji Kempo Club.

When the taiko performance completed, people complemented it by saying “excellent!” and “very nice!”, Shorinji Kempo’s unique and heartwarming culture of respecting and accepting each other.

We also had some presentations of awards. For awarding 20 years of federation service, the Swedish Federation (2014), the Italian Federation (2015), and the Portuguese Federation (2017) received their recognitions. Mr. Indra Kartasasmita and Mr. Hiroshi Aosaka, both WSKO Directors, received the 70^th anniversary distinguished service award, and at last, Mr. Katsuya Hirayama, President of the Americna Federation, received a letter of appreciation from Yuuki So, WSKO President, for organizing and supervising the World Taikai.

During the closing ceremony, the hosting country of the next World Taikai was announced, and Japan will host the World Taikai in 2021. The World Shorinji Kempo Organization Flag was returned from Mr. Hirayama, Executive Committee Chair, to Yuuki So, WSKO President, and then it was passed to Mr. Kazuhiro Kawashima, President of the Japanese Federation.

Celebration

After the World Taikai, the US Federation hosted a celebratory event at Hyatt Regency San Francisco. Tom Torlakson from the State Ministry of Education attended the celebration and had conversations with Yuuki So, WSKO President. He presented Shorinji Kempo a title of “Champion of Peace.” A local chorus group “Kakehashi” performed beautiful music numbers, and the Cheerleaders of Oakland Raiders excited the participants.

July 31 – August 2, 2017   2017 Shorinji Kempo International Study Session

The day after of the World Taikai and celebration, 2017 Shorinji Kempo International Study Session was held for three days, and over 500 kenshi from 22 countries participated. It became a great opportunity for every kenshi to deepen understanding of both Shorinji Kempo teachings and techniques, and it was also a chance for them to cultivate and cherish friendship over the borders.

In her lecture on the theme of “Be the Bridge Make the World Better, One Person at a Time,” Yuuki So, WSKO President, focused on the world situation, particularly in Asia. She quoted the words of Kaiso, “No peace in Asia without a relationship of friendship between Japan and China, no peace in the world without peace in Asia” and emphasized that this is not limited to the relationship between Japan and China, but it applies to all the relationships in the world: between neighboring countries at the national level and neighboring houses at the community level. In order to realize a peaceful world without war, we place “human development” as our core purpose. It is the foundation of Kaiso’s thinking about the world, and we will continue pursuing his vision.

After the lecture, the participants were divided into groups of 10, and they shared and discussed their opinions while respecting each other’s thoughts and ideas. At the end of the group discussion activity, one female kenshi from Italy and another young kenshi from America had presentations on “what can we do in our daily lives to realize peace”, and “how Shorinji Kempo helps them in their daily lives.” During the technical practice under the instructions by WSKO instructors, kenshi from all over the world, both old and new friends, trained together, had enjoyable times, and deepened their relationships.

On the evening of the second day, a BBQ style social gathering outside the study session site. The US Federation prepared a quiz for the participating countries and a competition on drawing portraits of Kaiso. The Indonesian Federation also presented their tradition dance, to which participants from other countries joined, and we all had a wonderful time together.

At the closing ceremony, Shorinji Kempo Shike granted certificates to all those who passed their special dan grading examinations. In the closing remark, Mr. Hiroshi Aosaka, WSKO Director, invited all the participants to meet again in Japan in 2021. When all the events completed, all the participants were reluctant to part, and they all promised to meet again. It became a precious opportunity for all the participating kenshi to re-confirm the “One Unity World Wide – Shorinji Kempo.”

Pamphlets prepared by the US Shorinji Kempo Federation were distributed to all attendees who kindly donated during the 2017 Shorinji Kempo World Taikai in California, held on July 30, 2017 at the San Mateo County Event Center.

Due to a production error on the part of the WSKO Secretariat, the names of some participants were not included in the pamphlet. We deeply regret this omission, especially in light of the rigorous training of all participants, many of whom travelled great distances to attend the Taikai. The WSKO sincerely apologizes for this mistake.

Please find a corrected list of participants attached.

As part of the commemoration of Shorinji Kempo’s 70^th anniversary, the 2017 Shorinji Kempo World Taikai in California, USA was held on July 30, 2017 at the San Mateo County Event Center in San Mateo, California, USA.

Representatives from 22 countries proudly held their nation’s flag, and kenshi from 16 countries performed embu in the Competition, Exhibition, and, Theme Exhibition divisions.

Please find the results for the Competition division attached.

Kenshi from Auckland Central Branch and North Shore Branch were invited to perform an embu demonstration at the 2017 Japan Day festival of Japanese culture held at The Cloud Events Centre, Queens Wharf, Auckland on 26th February 2017. The event is an annual celebration hosted by The Japanese Society of Auckland and the Consulate –General of Japan in Auckland. The event features Japanese martial arts, cuisine, art , music , dance and popular culture .

Kenshi from both branches had been preparing embus for about a month prior to the event and it was a great opportunity to show to the Auckland public a wide variety of embus including Dantai ( group embu) , senior men and women performing paired embu and  shakujo embu as well as  children demonstrating basic techniques. It was good to see a number of minarai kenshi who were prepared to demonstrate Tenchken Dai Ikkai in front of a large crowd. We wanted to show that Shorinji Kempo is a martial art which appeals to men , women and children of all ages. The demonstration was well received and as a result we received enquiries from people who were interested in joining Shorinji Kempo.

The participants in the demonstration were:

Steve Young and Takeyuki Morita ( Auckland Central branch ) performing an embu with tanto ( knife) .

Manuel Agbayani and Nathaniel Changco ( Auckland Central branch) performing a paired embu.

Sean McIlvride ( North Shore branch) and Takeyuki Morita ( Auckland Central branch) demonstrating some basic goho and juho techniques slowly and fast.

Rob Burnett , Junior Paepaerei and Sean McIlvride ( North Shore Branch) demonstrating shakujo in single and pair form.

Jarrod Moreton and Nick Howdle  ( North Shore branch ) kyu kenshi performing a paired embu.

Kazuko Noichi and Kanae Atsumi ( Auckland Central branch) performing a paired embu.

Minarai kenshi performing a group embu demonstrating basic techniques.