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What is Shorinji Kempo ?






What is Shorinji Kempo??

Shorinji Kempo (少林寺拳法) was established by Doshin So (宗 道臣) as a system for self-improvement and training (行: gyo or discipline) in Japan in 1947 based on Shaolin kungfu (and using the same kanji).

The training methods are based on the philosophy “spirit and body are not separable” (心身一如: shinshin ichinyo) and “train both body and spirit” (拳禅一如: kenzen ichinyo). In this way, Shorinji Kempo has been known to have 3 benefits of “self-defense and training” (護身錬鍛: goshin rentan), “mental training ” (精神修養: seishin shuyo) and “promoting health”（健康増進: kenko zoshin).

Shorinji Kempo also incorporates an education system aiming to “establish oneself” (自己確立: jiko kakuritsu) and promote “mutual comfort” (自他共楽: jita kyoraku’) employing well organized technical training schedules (科目表: kamoku hyo) and a thick handbook for the philosophy and techniques (少林寺拳法教範: Shorinji Kempo Kyohan).








The relationship between Shorinji Kempo and Song Shan Shaolin Temple

The name “Shorinji” is a literal reading of the Chinese word “Shaolin Temple” from the Shaolin Monastery in Song Shan district (嵩山少林寺: Suuzan-shorinji) in Henan Province (河南省) in China. Doshin So inherited the title of the 21st master of the Giwamon-ken (義和門拳) system, which is believed to have been used during the revolt of Giwadan-school (義和団乃乱) or the Boxer Rebellion for the defense of Buddhist priests in 1900 and 1901.


A monument of Doshin So was erected in the 50s of Showa era (around 1975) representing the long term relationship of Shaolin Temple and Shorinji Kempo group. The Chinese film titled “少林寺 or Shaolin Temple” starling action star Jet Li (李 連杰) was shot at Shaolin Temple supported by members of the Shorinji Kempo group.


It is said that the word kempo (拳法) is seldom used in China. The pronunciation of these two characters in Mandarin Chinese is “quan2 fa3” (the figures 2 and 3 indicate which of the 4 tones of pronunciation for these two characters.)



On 9 August in 1945 the Soviet Army proceeded to Manchuria and he was forced to live under the occupation of the Soviet Army. Finally, he recognized and understood the “nature of the human being”. According to his book, this is extremely important since the politics, law and living are all conducted by human beings.


(source: a book “HIden Shorinji Kempo” (秘伝少林寺拳法) written by Doshin So, published by Kobun-sha Kappa Books）




It is said that one who has illness in mind cannot be healthy with one’s body. In this regard, Shorinji Kempo is believed to be a teaching which is aiming at creating the leadership contributing to the society by establishing the character of the human beings based on healthy body and spirit.

Kempo and zen


The people who entered Kongo Zen are called pupils (門信徒) and who are practicing Shorinji Kempo are called kenshi (拳士). Kenshi always salute with “gassho-rei” the greetings commonly used among buddhist pupils. gassho-rei is also “gassho-gamae” stance, the both palms are put together and raised in front of one’s face.

1947 established religious entity
1948 established “Nippon Hokuha Shorinji kempo Society”
1951 started “Kongo Zen Sohonzan Shorinji” (金剛禅総本山少林寺)
1956 established educational entity
1957 established “All Japan Shorinji Kempo Federation”
1963 established “Shorinji Kempo Federation of Japan” as corporate entity
1972 established “World Shorinji Kempo Organization” (WSKO)
1980 Doshin So died
1992 established “Shorinji Kempo Federation Foundation” as a foundation entity
1997 celebrated 50th anniversary
2000 Shorinji Kempo Group organized
2002 Busen (Shorinji Kempo Budo Academy) opened high school
2003 Busen renamed to be Zenrin Gakuen College
2005 migration from manji to so-en
2007 60th annversary
2008 established All Japan Junior HIgh School Shorinji Kempo Federation


Training system

Mental trainings (3 methods): Kiryoku/kisei/kiai

Body trainings




(source: Shorinji Kempo Kyohan)

Kamae (stances)
Byakuren (白蓮) 8 stances

Giwa (義和) 9 stances

Fujin-ho (body positions)

Umpo-ho (footwork):
tai-sabaki (body movement)
ukemi (passive devense):

(source: Shorinji Kempo Kyohan)


Embu is a combination of hokei (organized patters of goho and juho techniques) which has 6 sections. Embu is performed in the court, in the gym, at Taikai or other ceremonial occasions. In these hokei patterns one kenshi takes the part of attacker (kōsha 攻者) and one acts as defender (shusha 守者), they then change roles and repeat the technique. After the set form technique the kenshi perform ren-han-ko (連反攻: series of offence after defense) which is a free form counter attack which continues until the original attacker successfully blocks and counters. The juho techniques such as throwing are followed by katame (fixing or pinning techniques) or kime (finishing techniques with various hand strikes or kicks to nerve points).

Embu start with gassho-rei and are performed usually in kumiembu (performed by kenshis in pair), tandoku embu (performed by single kenshi) and dantai embu (performed by 6 or 8 kenshi in a group). The Embu of Shorinji Kempo is famous because of its speed, smoothness and the harmony of power and beauty.

Embu is rated out of 5 (sometimes 3 at preliminary selection) judges having 60 points each for the 6 sections and 40 points each for other comprehensiveness. A possible total of 300 points is the maximum, eliminating the highest and the lowest scores when 5 judges are judging. Kumi-embu and dantai-embu are performed within a time limit of between one and a half to two minutes.


The most famous pair in the history of embu was Masuomi Nakano and Toshio Misaki whose embu was said to have impressed Doshin So.



Earlier in the Shorinji Kempo’s history, Unyo-ho was called randori which was like a fighting competition. After many accidents during randori with no headgear, the organization researched and improved protecters including headgear, body protector (胴) and faul cup. A system of limiting each kenshi to one role of defense or offense was also introduced for the safety of kenshi.

Rating will be done not only by attacking points but also from the view point of defense techniques and counterattacks. Also the manner of kenshi is very important and to be considered when scoring.



Shorinji Kempo Group
Kongo-zen Sohonzan Shorinji
Shorinji Kempo Foundation Federation
Zenrin Gakuen College
World Shorinji Kempo Organization (WSKO)


Shorinji Kempo is practiced at 2,900 doin (道院) and branches in 33 countries world wide. Due to the current group president Yuuki So the daughter of Doshin So, Shorinji Kempo is very popular among women and a lot of female kenshi are joining the organization. Shorinji Kempo is practiced at doin (dojo with small altar) private gym, public gym, conference room, athletic fields, parks, etc.


The British Shorinji Kempo Federation has split from the WSKO following an announcement on the 3 March 2010 by the WSKO that it was dissolving the BSKF.[2][3]

Qualifications and dan (bukai and hokai)


Examples of dan and corresponding hokai
1st dan (sho-dan) -> Jun-kenshi
2nd dan (ni-dan) -> Sho-kenshi
3rd dan (san-dan) -> Chu-kenshi
4th dan (yon-dan) -> Sei-kenshi
5th dan (go-dan) -> Dai-kenshi



Please note that WSKO’s qualifications and conditions are a little different from its Japanese domestic ones.

Arm emblem category colors:

    • ■Red: for doin kenshi
    • ■Blue: for shibu kenshi
    • ■Green: for Zenrin Gakuen College students
    • ■Purple: for WSKO kenshi

Arm emblem title colors: Gold: for master of doin” or “shibu, Silver: for master of doin or shibu with 5th dan or lower, Red: assistant teacher with 3rd dan or above

Also, there is a sokai qualification in Konzo-zen Sohonzan Shorinji the religious entity. Kenshi with 2nd dan and Sho-kenshi will study the Kongo-zen’s philosophy and submit application form and thesis.

Shorinji Kempo Headquarters (honbu)


Hondo (main dojo/hall)
Kodo (lecture hall)
Rensei-dojo (former 1st dojo)
Shokudo (dining room)
Daigan-toh (memorial tower)
Zenrin Gakuen (collegehouse)

The bones and ashes of Doshin So are buried behind Kodo.

Zenrin Gakuen College







The so-en mark should be put on:

(source: web site of Shorinji Kempo Group)

Theme songs

“Song of Shorinji Kempo” (Hachiro Kasuga)
“Deep Within Each Man” (Phil Perry)
“Hitori Hitori no Kokoro ni Fukaku” (Kengo Kurozumi, Shigeru Matsuzaki)



“少林寺拳法: Shorinji Kempo” (leading actor: Sonny Chiba) 1975, Toei Movie, Japan
“少林寺: Shaolin Temple” (leading actor: Jet Lee) 1982, Hong Kong and mainland China


See also


  1. ^ “Shorinji Kempo”. Black Belt. Retrieved 2010-12-31.
  2. ^ BSKF page linking to announcement
  3. ^ BSKF announcement

“Shorinji Kempo philosophy and techniques” by Doshin So, Published by Japan Publications, Inc. Tokyo Japan.

External links

National Federations



(source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shorinji_Kempo)







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