Shorinji Kempo

Shorinji Kempo (少林寺拳法, shōrinji-kenpō?) was established in 1947 by Doshin So (宗 道臣, Sō Dōshin?), a Japanese martial artist. Shorinji Kempo is a system for self-improvement and training (行: gyo or discipline) with many similarities to Shaolin kungfu, including using the same first three kanji.

Shorinji Kempo is a system of "self-defense and training" (護身錬鍛: goshin-rentan), "mental training " (精神修養: seishin-shūyō) and "promoting health" (健康増進: kenkō-zōshin), whose training methods are based on the concept that "spirit and body are not separable" (心身一如: shinshin-ichinyo) and that it is integral to "train both body and spirit" (拳禅一如: kenzen ichinyo).

Through employing a well organized technical training schedule, (科目表: kamoku-hyō), Shorinji Kempo aims to "establish oneself" (自己確立: jiko-kakuritsu) and to promote "mutual comfort" (自他共楽: jita-kyōraku'). The philosophy and techniques of Shorinji Kempo are outlined in a handbook, (少林寺拳法教範: Shōrinji-kenpō-kyōhan).

The organization of Shorinji Kempo group is divided into 5 corporate entities:

• religious entity (金剛禅総本山少林寺: Kongō-zen Sōhon-zan Shōrinji),
• foundation entity Shorinji Kempo Foundation Federation(財団法人少林寺拳法連盟: Zaidan-hōjin Shōrinji-kempō Renmei),
• educational entity Zenrin Gakuen College(学校法人禅林学園: Gakkō-hōjin Zenrin Gakuen),
• global entity World Shorinji Kempo Organization, WSKO (少林寺拳法世界連合: Shōrinji-kenpō Sekai Rengō),
• intellectual property entity (Shorinji Kempo Unity).

The relationship between these 5 entities is very tight because of the unique fusion of religion, budo and education. (source: web site of Shorinji Kempo Foundation Federation and Shorinji Kempo Kyohan written by Doshin So)

It is important to know that Shorinji Kempo derives its basic philosophy from ancient Buddhism and its basic techniques from old Chinese martial arts.