Introduction to Shorinji Kempo

Intro. Page
 

Characteristics

Class Structure

The Benefits to you

Membership

F.A.Qs
 

Main Page

  Welcome to the home of the Glasgow University Shorinji Kempo Club on the web!
 

This page is where those unfamiliar with Shorinji Kempo should start.

Shorinji Kempo was founded in 1947 by So Doshin sensei in the immediate aftermath of the Second World War. A concise history can be found on here on the website of the World Shorinji Kempo Organization. Shorinji Kempo came to Glasgow in 1976 when Sensei Benny Wang from Malaysia was studying here. The club has remained active throughout the intervening years and many of our alumni can be found continuing their training as far away as Toronto, Canada and Sapporo, Japan as well as closer to home in Edinburgh, Durham, Birmingham and London to name a few places.

If you're new to Glasgow University we hope that you'll come along to give our martial art a go. We're a friendly bunch who more than like a pint after training most days, as well as on days when we're not training! If you want to join us, please E-mail our club captain, all of the committees contact details can be found here: committee) for more details. Failing that, please feel free to come along at any time to any of our training sessions.

When you first come along, any loose fitting sportswear (tracksuit bottoms, t-shirt etc) will do to train in, you can get a dogi (the familiar white martial arts training suit) when you decide you want to take out full membership. We train in bare feet, so all you have to do is remove your shoes at the door of the dojo (training hall).

As Shorinji Kempo is a contact physical activity in a similar way to playing a sport such as football, hockey or rugby, please be aware of two simple safety points:

• We ask that everybody makes sure their nails are clean and trimmed short. This is to prevent cuts from long nails. This is by far and away the most common injury experienced in Shorinji Kempo and is so easily avoided with a little care.
• Please remove all items of personal jewellery (rings, necklaces etc) for the duration of the class. Particularly, all piercings should be removed. This for your own safety as well as that of your training partner's.

If you want some more information before you choose to come along, below are some useful pages which should give you an idea of what Shorinji Kempo is all about.

• Characteristics - The six characteristics that make Shorinji Kempo unique.
• Class Structure - The structure of a typical Shorinji Kempo session.
• The Benefits to you - Where Shorinji Kempo can take you.
• Membership - Details of membership costs.
• F.A.Qs - Answers to some Frequently Asked Questions. If you have any more, please come along and ask them!

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