What is Shorinji Kempo?

Shorinji Kempo is "moving zen." We seek to achieve zen (meditative awareness) in motion because awareness under stress helps make people confident in themselves and helpful to others. We use self-defense and conflict to practice how we can relax and move into cooperation when we focus on what we mean to do, rather than be swept away by situations. Thus, we train to de-stress and enjoy a discipline that mobilizes paired hard and soft techniques, choreographed confrontations, sparring, philosophical principles, basic healing techniques, pressure points, and seated meditation.

Six Week Introductory Course

The Introductory Course teaches concrete ways to recognize and attain Shorinji Kempo's basic spirit: Never to give up on ourselves. Beginners learn how to face others, how to breathe, to voice their spirit, to move, to defend themselves from a few basic grabs and strikes, and in a fall to the hard floor how to land and stand up unhurt. The course prepares anyone older than 12 of any size and physical conditioning to join the Shorinji Kempo Ongoing Training group.

Ongoing Training

Students who wish to commit to long-term training in Shorinji Kempo can practice three days a week through this program.