this is a rare gem of a film. a rare example of empty hand fighting films that focus on action and less on plot that moves quickly and has a wide array of fighters. kempo is rare on screen and we are lucky this one was made. the intenstity is on the level of some sonny chiba movies. its a winner!
material may be challenged and removed. (February 2009)
Shorinji Kempo
Country of origin
Japan
Founder
Doshin So
Ancestor arts
Byakurenmonken Kempo, North Shorinji Giwamonken School, Arahan no Ken
Shorinji Kempo (少林寺拳法 shōrinji-kenpō?) was established by Doshin So (宗 道臣 Sō Dōshin?) as a system for self-improvement and training (行: gyo or discipline) in Japan in 1947 based on Shaolin kungfu (and using the same first three kanji).[1]
The training methods are based on the philosophy "spirit and body are not separable" (心身一如: shinshin-ichinyo) and "train both body and spirit" (拳禅一如: kenzen ichinyo). In this way, Shorinji Kempo has been known to have 3 benefits of "self-defense and training" (護身錬鍛: goshin-rentan), "mental training " (精神修養: seishin-shūyō) and "promoting health"(健康増進: kenkō-zōshin).
Shorinji Kempo also incorporates an education system aiming to "establish oneself" (自己確立: jiko-kakuritsu) and promote "mutual comfort" (自他共楽: jita-kyōraku') employing well organized technical training schedules (科目表: kamoku-hyō) and a thick handbook for the philosophy and techniques Shorinji Kempo (少林寺拳法教範: Shōrinji-kenpō-kyōhan).
The organization of Shorinji Kempo group is divided into 5 corporate entities: religious entity (金剛禅総本山少林寺: Kongō-zen Sōhon-zan Shōrinji), foundation entity Shorinji Kempo Foundation Federation(財団法人少林寺拳法連盟: Zaidan-hōjin Shōrinji-kenpō Renmei), educational entity Zenrin Gakuen College(学校法人禅林学園: Gakkō-hōjin Zenrin Gakuen), global entity World Shorinji Kempo Organization, WSKO (少林寺拳法世界連合: Shōrinji-kenpō Sekai Rengō), intellectual property entity (Shorinji Kempo Unity).
The relationship between these 5 entities is very tight because of the unique fusion of religion, budo and education. source: web site of Shorinji Kempo Foundation Federation and Shorinji Kempo Kyohan written by Doshin So)
It is important to know that Shorinji Kempo derives its basic philosophy from ancient Buddhism and its basic techniques from old Chinese martial arts.
this is a rare gem of a film. a rare example of empty hand fighting films that focus on action and less on plot that moves quickly and has a wide array of fighters. kempo is rare on screen and we are lucky this one was made. the intenstity is on the level of some sonny chiba movies. its a winner!
