Doshin So said looking back, “I didn’t just want to start a martial arts organization, the level of corruption of young people in Japan after losing the war had me covering my eyes. In order to regain the independence of the dilapidated people of Japan, I wanted to create a place for education to raise up young people with determination.”.
In order to realize his own thoughts, he tried to preach Buddhist teachings for some time, and this combination motivated him to establish Shorinji Kempo as the true martial art and the practice of the sect. The original placement of Shorinji Kempo as a martial art is to make a true leader who has earned the combination of the three virtues of mental cultivation, self-defense training, increased health and also has a body of steel and indomitable courage, harmonious personality, compassion, kindness, and most importantly has the power to build an ideal society where people are living happily and peacefully through the ascetic practices of the Reinikuichinyo, which has been passed down at the Religious corporation of Kongo Zen Sohonzan Shorinji Temple. In other words, it is said that the original purpose is to create a country by making men. In that sense, the term “social educational organization” is more suitable than a religious organization or a martial arts organization.
Shorinji Kempo’s techniques are divided into 3 systems: Goho (Hard techniques), Juhou (Soft techniques) and Seiho (Pressure pointing).
Goho… Striking and kicking
Juhou… Throwing and holding down the opponent by locking joints
Seiho… A method of osteopathy using joint structure and acupuncture points
It is said that it is crucial to learn these systems with a good balance of each one, and as you progress through the ranks, you will also start training in dealing with knives and stick fighting (bojutu).
All Shorinji Kempo techniques are fundamentally counter techniques.
This is because
・It is an art of self-defense, so it is assumed that someone is attacking you
・To legitimize your defense by having the opponent attack you first.
As you would expect from an art of self-defense, it prepares you well for fighting back when someone attempts to hit you and situations where you are being grabbed by the chest or when you are suddenly pulled by the arm.