You may have heard shorinji kempo mentioned as a legendary martial art or read about it in texts on judo and karate as an ancient Chinese-temple style. But shorinji kempo lives, and, what’s more, it’s growing.
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Japanese Martial Arts
Japanese martial arts have been influenced by Chinese martial arts. As a result, strands of Chan (Zen) Buddhism are woven into the martial fabric of bushido (way of the warrior) and budo (martial way). Bushido emphasizes courage, honor, duty, respect, benevolence, wisdom, honesty, loyalty, rectitude, wisdom and self-sacrifice.
In his Zen- and bushido-steeped 20 Precepts of Karate, founder Gichin Funakoshi outlined the aim of karate as being not about victory or defeat but about perfecting one’s character. His dojo (training hall) philosophy stated that one should seek perfection, excel in what they do, respect others, avoid violence and be faithful.
After World War II, bushido was replaced with the more peaceful budo. Gosei Yamaguchi stated that karate’s purpose was to protect oneself and train the mind and body and that the Way is not to attack or harm others but to exercise restraint.
Chinese martial arts schools see the sifu like a father, whereas Japanese schools view the sensei like an emperor.
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Shorinji Kempo: More Than a Martial Art
– February 7, 2013
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Samurai Code of Bushido: The Roles of Samurai Weapons and Bushido Virtues on the Path to Self-Mastery
– May 14, 2012
Excellence in swordsmanship demands that one make a conscious effort to learn and execute correct techniques and practical cuts with samurai weapons while living in accordance with bushido virtues — the samurai code for living. With time and experience, and assuming a certain level of physical ability and perseverance in
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Way of the Ninja: Strategies for a Better Life Today
– December 26, 2011
Centuries ago, the art of ninjutsu was born into a world enveloped in war. That one fact makes it vastly different from styles like aikido and Brazilian jiu-jitsu, which were founded during peacetime. Because of its violent childhood, ninjutsu matured into a system that focused on fighting methods that
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Shito-Ryu Karate Trailblazer: Fumio Demura
– November 21, 2011
Ask the average karate practitioner to name the main styles of Japan, and chances are he’ll rattle off shotokan, goju-ryu and wado-ryu with no trouble. But unless he’s really up on his art, there’s a good chance that he’ll stumble over the name of the fourth major style, snap his
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Top 10 Karate Concepts Every Martial Artist Should Know
– November 18, 2011
For many practitioners, one of the most challenging components of karate training is learning the nuances of the terms used in the dojo. Any instructor can offer a one-word definition of each Japanese word, and that can certainly lessen the complexity of what’s being taught. But often a quickie translation
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Japanese Weapons Master Masayuki Shimabukuro Demonstrates Samurai Sword-Cutting Techniques in Advanced Samurai Swordsmanship DVD Preview!
– November 9, 2011
In their new Japanese martial arts DVD collection, Advanced Samurai Swordsmanship, samurai sword masters Masayuki Shimabukuro and Carl E. Long detail and demonstrate a variety of samurai sword techniques. In this exclusive DVD preview, Long introduces Shimabukuro’s cutting demonstration, or suemono giri. “We’re going to explore the more advanced section
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Ancient Samurai Swordsman Scrolls
– October 6, 2011
In 1588 the famous samurai swordsman Kagehisa Ittosai started thinking about which of his two students would officially inherit his itto ryu. Always enigmatic, he told them they were too equal in skill for him to decide. They’d have to come up with a test of their talents. The men,
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Black Belt Goes to Disneyland!
– August 26, 2011
Martial arts fans and practitioners are gathering to watch, learn and compete at the happiest place on Earth!
On Saturday, August 27, Black Belt will be setting up a booth at the 2011 Origins International Martial Arts Festival at Disneyland Resort in Anaheim, California. There will be tournaments, seminars and martial
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George Kirby’s Top 10 Jujitsu Techniques: Basic Hand Throw
– August 18, 2011
For the last move in our jujitsu techniques series, check out the very first jujitsu weapons technique George Kirby learned.
Here is what the jujitsu master had to say about it:
“Believe it or not, this was one of the first techniques I learned under Seki and it was for a knife
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George Kirby’s Top 10 Jujitsu Techniques: Armbar Rear Throw
– August 9, 2011
George Kirby— a 10th-degree black belt in jujitsu—is an internationally recognized martial arts instructor and author, has taught jujitsu techniques and tactics to the Los Angeles Police Department. Because it allows you to control your opponent, the armbar rear throw is a popular jujitsu technique among law enforcement.
See what the
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