Dominic82555
Yellow Belt
Is Shorinji Kempo considered a sport or a martial art? And what would be an appropriate age for a child to start learning (in general)?
Shorinji Kempo
- Thread starter Dominic82555
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If you have a school nearby, I would consult with the school. I would, based on what little I know, consider it a martial art -- but I seem to recall that it was organized in a way that would tend to skew towards teens at least. But that's based on vague recollections of articles read years ago...
I have never heard of Shorinji, it sounds like this is Japanese Kenpo. Does it have any ties to any of the American Kenpo?
isshinryuronin
Senior Master
"Shorinji" simply means Shaolin temple. "Kempo/kenpo" can be loosely translated as fist way, and is a general term for TMA, similar to the way "karate" is. It has been applied to a particular, fairly recent Japanese style of Chinese influenced karate with a healthy dose of Zen and jiu-jutsu thrown in. Aside from this, I don't know much about it. What little I saw of it in video clips were simply demos, but they looked pretty cool.
I don't think there is any authentic, original style of Shaolin boxing anymore. One of its descendant's, monk fist, is thought to have been one of the contributors to early karate evolution. Shorinji kempo has absolutely no relation to American kenpo.
I would definitely call it a martial art from what I've seen. No doubt, some competitive aspect has found its way in like most MA, but I don't know if it can be done in open competition or just within the style since it seems a little unique.
Thanks for the explanation, it sounds very interesting. Would it be more related to Shaolin Kung Fu?
Same Trick
Purple Belt
Shorinji Kempo was founded by a Japanese who served in China during the Japanese occupation there, fluent in Chinese and interested in martial arts and Zen he managed to visit the Shaolin temple in Henan province, at the time the temple was basically in ruins and just a few monks there to take care of the little left to care, one elderly monk knew some Xinyiba from whom Doshin So(the Japanese man) picked the knowledge.
Interestingly Wang Xiangzhai(founder of Yiquan)met the same elderly monk during his visit to the temple but was unimpressed by the little knowledge and skill the monk possessed(two or three basic exercises). Doshin So’s own recording that he himself drew much inspiration from the mural paintings he saw on some still remaining walls of the temple in his creation of Shorinji Kempo kind of confirm Wang Xiangzhai’s observation on the level of martial arts knowledge at the temple at the time.
Also, the Xinyiba we see today at the Shaolin temple is a reconstruction taking inspiration from Xinyiquan and other sources.
Interesting is that in the early 1980’s the shorinji Kempo of Japan claimed to be the sole inheritor of Shaolin martial arts and offered to restore it at the Shaolin temple in Henan, the Chinese declined the offer.
With that said, I think Shorinji Kempo is quite a cool style of Japanese martial art
Interestingly Wang Xiangzhai(founder of Yiquan)met the same elderly monk during his visit to the temple but was unimpressed by the little knowledge and skill the monk possessed(two or three basic exercises). Doshin So’s own recording that he himself drew much inspiration from the mural paintings he saw on some still remaining walls of the temple in his creation of Shorinji Kempo kind of confirm Wang Xiangzhai’s observation on the level of martial arts knowledge at the temple at the time.
Also, the Xinyiba we see today at the Shaolin temple is a reconstruction taking inspiration from Xinyiquan and other sources.
Interesting is that in the early 1980’s the shorinji Kempo of Japan claimed to be the sole inheritor of Shaolin martial arts and offered to restore it at the Shaolin temple in Henan, the Chinese declined the offer.
With that said, I think Shorinji Kempo is quite a cool style of Japanese martial art
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