Key attitudes towards training
Shorinji Kempo is a discipline that develops individuals.
Through the technical practice of Shorinji Kempo, people gain confidence, courage and vigor, and nurture a spirit of compassion and a sense of justice.
This discipline is a gyo for developing individuals and it bri of self defense, spiritual cultivation, and improved health.
“Why am I training this art?”, a kenshi might ask. As you continue the training, you should clarify the goals of training, namely to become a balanced person, physically healthy and sound in spirit.
Carefully learning the kihon will help to grasp the basic principles of the technics, one at the time in logical order, so you make each individual technique a part of yourself.
Learning the kihon with care and make them my own my hands and feet will move naturally when they need to. The way to improvement is to take ones physical condition into account, avoid excess strain and train by reiterating the movements again and again. Doing training is not over emphasizing one particular technique, the right balance between goho and juho must be found.
There are eight key attitudes toward kempo training:
- establishing goals for training – Why train?
- Follow the sequence – No matter what to study, it will have its own internal order
- Learn the kihon – kihon are the first step to improvement
- Know the principles – Knowing the root principles is a fast path to improvement
- Practice movements repeatedly – Where others do ten, you do a hundred
- Balance the training – do not concentrate solely on your strong points
- Training in according with your physical condition – do not over-extend; enjoy your time doing kempo
- Never give up
Key Attitudes for the Dojo
Shorinji Kempo is a training method developed to train both the mind and body, nurturing people in jiko kakuritsu and jita kyoraku, and develop people with unity of mind and body.
Before kenshi enter the dojo, branch masters must have started their instruction on this fact. Thus the following applies not just to life in the dojo, but should be stressed as vital in every life.
- Kyakka Shoko
Learn about yourself and the importance of self-reflection through the “careful placement of shoes taken off” and “caring about the shoes of others.”
- Gassho-rei
All interactions with people must start and end with a bow. Delivering true greetings from the heart naturally improves both posture and the heart.
The gassho-rei conducted in Shorinji Kempo is one embodying respect and give-and-take.
- Samu
All kenshi work together to clean the dojo before and after training. This type of cleaning and preparation for meals is known as “samu” in Shorinji Kempo, and is an important aspect of training.
Working together regardless of seniority in order to clean the dojo, showing appreciation, and creating an environment suited to welcoming to train in is important as it brings all back to their starting roots and lets them clean their hearts and minds.
- Clothing
Training in Shorinji Kempo is to always be done in the dogi as defined by SHORINJI KEMPO UNITY. Dogi should always be kept clean.
In addition to impeding training, long or unkempt hair, long nails, and jewellery can all lead to accidents. Please ensure both your physical appearance and dogi are in an appropriate state for training.
- Attitude
In Shorinji Kempo, in addition to training, members are expected to respect their seniors, support their juniors, and lead an everyday life in which they conduct themselves and interact respectfully with those they meet.
When receiving instruction, members should face each other with a kesshu stance and avoid folding their arms. They must maintain a style of sitting / standing and movement that is conducive to learning.
- Language
Words have power, and that power reflects a speaker’s personality.
In Shorinji Kempo, being careful to use appropriate and correct language, polite language, and respectful language is as important as maintaining the proper attitude.
