EARLY YEARS

Nakano Michiomi was born on 11 February 1911, in Okayama Prefecture. He was the eldest in 3 siblings.

Following his father's death, the 8 years old Nakano has moved to Manchuria to live with his paternal grandfather, was an expert in kendo, sōjutsu, and most likely Fusen-ryū jūjutsu. He often taught young Michiomi whenever he had the time.

Samurai with a spear (yari).

Chinese influence

By 1928, Nakano Michiomi enlisted in the Japanese Army and and facilitated covert reconnaissance activities.

He was posted in a Taoist school headed by Chen Lian, a priest who was also the master of Báilián Quán (白蓮門拳 Byakurenmon-ken). This was Nakano's first experience with Chinese Quan Fa. Kaiso learned Báilián Quán while carrying out his assignment of making military maps and conducting geographic surveys throughout China.

Later on, Chen introduced him to Wen Taizong, grandmaster of Yihe Quán (義和門拳 Giwamon-ken).

Wen would take in Nakano as his student, training him for many years. In 1936 Wen formally passed his title of grandmaster of Yihe Quán to Nakano, at the Mount Song Shaolin Monastery, at Henan province.

Kaiso was repatriated to Japan in 1946.

Shorinji Kempo in The UK

The British Shorinji Kempo Federation was established in February 1980 and it was part of WSKO until March 2010 when the then Chief Technical Instructor Sensei Misuno has left WSKO. The following events has led the establishment of The United Kingdom Shorinji Kempo Federation, under Sensei Stephen Williams, Sensei Jenkins Russell and Sensei Peter Moor.

Foundation years

In October 1947 Kaiso has returned to his home-town, Tadotsu, and started to arranging and organizing the techniques he had learned during his time in China. Shorinji Kempo was born.

In 1948 he established Nippon hoppa shōrinji kempō kai [日本北派少林寺拳法会] and Komanji kyōdan [黄卍教団], and in December 1951 he established Kongō zen sōhonzan shōrinji [金剛禅総本山少林寺].

In 1956 he established Nihon shōrinji bugei senmon gakkō [日本少林寺武芸専門学校] (Japan Shorinji bugei special school) and in 1957 the Zen nihon shōrinji kempō renmei [全日本少林寺拳法連盟] (All Japan Shorinji Kempo Federation).

In 1963, he incorporated the organization as Shadan hōjin shōrinji kempō renmei [社団法人少林寺拳法連盟] (Shorinj Kempo Federation of Japan) to specifically use their efforts to train young people.

1972 founded the International Shorinji Kempo Federation (ISKF, kokusai shōrinji kempō renmei [国際少林寺拳法連盟]) by the countries Brazil, the Philippines, Indonesia, Iran, Japan, Malaysia, Sweden and the United States, and in 1974 was Shorinji Kempo in sixteen countries and ISKF was converted to World Shorinji Kempo Organization (WSKO, shōrinji kempō sekai rengō [少林寺拳法世界連合]).



Shorinji Kempo has three basic goals for its practitioners:

• goshin rentan [護身練胆] (ability in self-defence)
• seishin shūyō [精神修養] (mental development) and
• kenkō sōshin [健康増進] (improved health).

A Kenshi practices with two basic concepts:

• jiko kakuritsu[自己確立], which means “to build up one’s own self”, and
• jita kyōraku [自他共楽] “mutual happiness for oneself and others.”

One should never use Shorinji Kempo to create conflicts or to show off strength for one’s own gain.

Even if one is forced to use one’s knowledge that should be the last resort. Shorinji Kempo should help instead of being upset. This philosophy, known as Kongo Zen and is based on Buddhism, is a very central part of Shorinji Kempo.



Shorinji Kempo is one of the nine gendai budō [現代武道] (modern budo*) which, together with the Nippon Budokan[日本武道館] formes the organization Nippon Budō Kyōgikai [日本武道協議会].

The nine gendai budō are: 

Aikido, Judo, Jukendo, Karatedo, Kendo, 

Kyudo, Naginata, Shorinji Kempo and Sumo.