|
So Doshin, the founder (kaiso) of Shorinji Kempo isolated six characteristics of training that, when combined, make Shorinji Kempo unique. These are outlined below and are highlighted in the methods of practice.
Ken Zen Ichinyo ('Mind and body are as one')
Shorinji Kempo is about training body and mind together. Fundamentally, it does not approach
the mind and body as separate entities, but as fully interdependent. The aim of Shorinji Kempo
is to help individuals to realise their full potential as human beings. This
requires a discipline which develops the strength of the spirit as well as the
body.
Riki Ai Funi ('Strength and compassion cannot be separated')
Again, Shorinji Kempo teaches that it is not enough to have
compassion or strength on their own. Compassion is useless without the
physical and mental resources to put it into effect, strength as an
end in itself can often carry the seeds of oppression. This applies
in the context of self defence, but more importantly also in
everyday life.
Shushu Koju ('Defence comes before attacking')
The techniques of Shorinji Kempo are taught only for self defence. Shorinji Kempo kenshi should
never initiate physical conflict. This is primarily for moral reasons, but there is also the
consideration that to commit yourself before an attacker's intentions are fully evident can
put you at a terrible disadvantage. Shorinji Kempo is not about passively waiting to be attacked,
but holding yourself in readiness to exploit whatever opportunities an attacker presents you
with. The aim of the martial way - budo - is to put an end to disputes.
Fusatsu Katsujin ('Not to kill, but to awaken')
Shorinji Kempo teaches effective self defence without inflicting permanent injury on an opponent.
The point is to prevent somebody doing harm to others, not to do harm to them. The technical basis of
this is to apply strikes to vital points, and using scientific principles of bodily mechanics to
understand how best to use an attacker's own strength to subdue them. Practising until these become automatic is
the key to the effectiveness of Shorinji Kempo as a system of self defence.
Go Ju Ittai ('Hard and soft are one entity')
It's important to realise that although goho and juho are presented to students as two distinct systems
or at least approaches to self defence, they are in fact integral parts of Shorinji Kempo
as a whole. Goho and juho employ the same basic principles in terms of movement, so what you learn in one
applies to the other. On a practical level, the effectiveness of juho techniques in self defence terms
relies on using well timed strikes to distract and unsettle opponents.
Kumite Shutai ('Pair-work is fundemental')
Shorinji Kempo emphasises training with partners. It is difficult if not impossible to grasp some of the
technical principles outlined above without benefit of training with partners. This applies to both hard
and soft techniques - for example goho waza requires that you be able to hit precise areas on an attacker's
body, which will necessarily be moving targets. Working with partners also develops the ability to cooperate with
others, and teaches that we can achieve more through this mutual cooperation than we can alone.
|
