Grading success - Spring 2022

 

More grading successes at Toronto Branch:

Jonathan passed his examination for 5th Kyu on March 12, 2022.

John McCulloch passed the examination for Hokai rank Junhanshi on February 25, 2022.

We look forward to more members advancing in the coming months.

Kesshu

We're back (again)!

 

We were delighted to return to the dojo in November 2021 after a very long pandemic break.

Unfortunately, our joy turned out to be shortlived as the Omicron wave caused a shutdown of all gyms in Ontario.

Today we were back in action for the first time after relxation of the Omicron restrictions and it was a wonderful experience!

We hope that our training can now continue without interruption.

Gassho

Chinkon-Gyo: WSKO Official Online Seminar

Toronto Branch had the distinct honour of conducting Chinkon-gyo at the January 22, 2022 WSKO Official Online Seminar.

In common with previous WSKO online seminars, this event was attended by members from WSKO branches all over the world.

Arai Shoji sensei led the kihon section and initial hokei instruction.

Kawashima sensei followed with an in-depth review of technical questions sent in by members.

We would like to thank WSKO Hombu for making this event (and other online seminars) possible during the current pandemic restrictions.

Gassho

We're back!

After spending the past 20 months of the COVID-19 pandemic training virtualy via Zoom, Toronto Branch held its first in-person class at its new home (Aikido Tendokai).

 

 

 

Practicing together after such a long gap was an incredible (and quite emotional) experience.

We will be holding two live classes per week (Tuesdays and Saturdays) at this location from now on.

Jonathan was able to be presented with his pre-pandemic 6th kyu certificate at long last!   

 

Gassho

What's happening at Toronto Branch?

 

Greetings!

It's been a long time since we shared a post, so it's a good idea to provide an update on what's happening at Toronto Branch.

The practice space we have used at CAMH since 1995 was closed to the public when the COVID-19 pandemic hit Toronto. CAMH has not re-opened the space to community users so far. Furthermore, there is no clear guidance as to when (or if) this will occur.

Meanwhile, we have been continuing to regularly host online classes for Toronto Branch members. We have also been attending the online training sessions provided by Shorinji Kempo Hombu and online events hosted by other WSKO branches.

Given the uncertainty regarding our CAMH practice location, we have been looking at a range of alternative practice spaces and hope to restart live practice soon. Please stay tuned for details.

Finally, Toronto Branch members will be playing a bigger role in the management of the Canadian Shorinji Kempo Federation during the current officer term. 

We wish you all happiness, peace and good health!

Gassho  

 

Happy New Year!

Visit from Brazil

On October 30 we had the pleasure of welcoming Daniel Estima Bandeira (2nd dan) from the Porto Allegre North Branch of Brazil to our dojo.

Daniel was on vacation in Ontario and Quebec and wanted to visit our practice.

We greatly enjoyed our time together and hope we can get a chance to train in Brazil in future!

Gassho

Sakuyama sensei - classic embu (~1975)

Here is a TV feature filmed at Shorinji Kempo Hombu around 1975-76.

The feature includes an embu demonstration by Sakuyama sensei and Manabe sensei.

Kaiso So Doshin also demonstrates gatame waza.

Gassho

US Federation Super Visit!

On August 14 we were extremely fortunate to have a visit from seven members of the Orange County, Los Angeles and Yuma Branches of the US Federation.

The delegation was organized by Rastogi sensei of Orange County Branch - a long time friend of ours.

Our joint practice was superb - we really enjoyed being able to pair up with the expert kenshi from California and Arizona.

Rastogi sensei gave us a heart-warming lecture on what Shorinji Kempo means to him and his motivation for teaching.

Finally, the delegates gave us a bunch of great swag!

It really doesn't get any better than this!

Gassho

24th Annual Shorinji Kempo Charity Kickathon raises $14,380 for CAMH

Every year during the month of May, Shorinji Kempo members worldwide engage in various forms of community support activities.

Here at Shorinji Kempo Toronto Branch, we have chosen to raise funds for the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, particularly to help fund their efforts to understand and treat the causes of drug addiction.

The method we employ is our annual Kickathon - an event where we perform 500 continuous full force kicks with kiai (yell!) in return for sponsorship.

Reviewing the Kickathon training plan

This is our 24th successive annual charity Kickathon for CAMH and, from a practical point of view, that also means we are also 24 years older than when we started!

Our kicks are lower and a bit slower than in 1996, but thanks to our incredible sponsors we were able to raise $14,380 in our event this year.  Our Kickathon initiative has now raised a total of $179,160 for CAMH since it began.

The start

Halfway done (shaken but not stirred)

Nearly done (kicks getting lower)

We wish to thank our wonderful sponsors for their incredible generosity and loyal support of our event.

We also wish to salute the efforts of Lidia and her team at CAMH Foundation for helping make this event successful once again.

Immediately after the kicking

Finally, we commend CAMH for all its work in helping to understand and address the serious threat of drug addiction.

Gassho

Shorinji Kempo Toronto Branch 

Grading success!

Well done Julie (now 5th kyu) and Ben (now 6th kyu)!

Toronto Branch members Julie and Ben successfully passed their kyu examinations on 14 January 2019.

Congratulations!

Gassho

Happy New Year from Toronto Branch!

We wish you health, happiness, peace and prosperity in the year ahead!

Gassho

Visitors from Japan

In 2018 we were fortunate again to have several visitors from Japan come to join our practice.

We are glad to belong to the worldwide Shorinji Kempo family!

Gassho

Chika-san (2nd dan) from Wakayama-ken

Takashi-san (3rd dan) from Mie-ken

Fujikawa-san (2nd dan) from Tochigi-ken

Karate master visits Shorinji Kempo HQ

Grading sucess!

Congratulations to Julie and Max on passing their examinations for 6th Kyu (Julie) and 1st Kyu (Max) on July 9, 2018!

Gassho

Grading success!

Toronto Branch member Daryl Ola passed his examination for Junkenshi 1st Dan on July 23, 2018.

Well done Daryl!

Gassho

Toronto Branch Charity Kickathon Raises a Record Amount!

2018 total = $15,500

On the hot and humid evening of Wednesday May 30, nine members of Shorinji Kempo Toronto Branch gathered at the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH) Russell Street site for our 23rd Annual Shorinji Kempo Charity Kickathon for CAMH.

Meditation first

Every year in the month of May, Shorinji Kempo members worldwide perform some form of community service as a tribute to the memory of our founder, Doshin So (1911-1980). At Toronto Branch our chosen activity is to hold a charity event in support of CAMH's work in the field of drug addiction.

A bit of stretching...

After a period of warm-up and stretching, we began the Kickathon proper. Those of us who just came back from the Cornell Shorinji Kempo Camp were participating with sore backs and stiff muscles (sponsors - please note that you were getting your money's worth!).

The Kickathon begins...

After 500 continuous kicks with kiai (yell) our Kickathon came to a close.

Huffing and puffing

Thanks to incredibly generous sponsorship from individual and corporate donors, we were able to raise a record amount this year.  Our final tally for the 2018 event was a truly spectacular $15,000.  The running total of funds raised since our first Kickathon in 1996 now stands at $164,780.

Feel the burn!

Almost there...

We wish to express our deep gratitude to our loyal crew of wonderful sponsors for making this year's Kickathon such a great success.

Also, we wish to commend CAMH for their important work to stem the suffering resulting from drug addiction and Lidia at the CAMH Foundation for her expert help with the event logistics.

We're all done - next stop the chiropractor!

 See you again next year!

Gassho

40th Annual Shorinji Kempo Cornell Camp

During the US Memorial Day long weekend, three members of Toronto Branch set off for Camp Barton in Trumansburg, NY for the 40th Anniversary Shorinji Kempo Cornell Camp.

The world's most beautiful dojo

It is almost unheard of for any annual Shorinji Kempo training event outside Japan to be held consistently for such a long time. Indeed, the Cornell Camp may be the longest standing annual Shorinji Kempo event in all of WSKO.

Getting ready to train

Once again we were delighted to receive instruction from Sakuyama-sensei of Takahagi Doin (Ibaraki, Japan). Sakuyama-sensei has an illustrious pedigree having been a direct student of Kaiso So Doshin, Nakano-sensei and even a co-star of Jet Li!

Ohashi-sensei (Cornell Camp founder) with Sakuyama-sensei

Sakuyama-sensei speaks English very well and can explain his teachings in a very detailed and accurate way. Also, Sakuyama-sensei's technical skill and understanding of body movement, mechanics, attention and energy is second to none.

Kevin, Sakuyama-sensei, John and Tal

The focus of much of the Camp was on the essence of Shorinji Kempo as a zen art. Although we were practicing self-defense techniques, Sakuyama-sensei always brought our attention to intent, feeling and awareness. Basic elements such as these are common to other zen arts as well as the practice of zazen itself.

The Camp attracted many of our friends from all across Canada, the USA and beyond and we had a great time with them.

Gary Dolce-sensei

We wish to thank Gary Dolce-sensei (Ann Arbor) and Neal Ziring-sensei (World Bank) for their incredible efforts in making 40 years of Cornell Camp a reality.

Neal Ziring-sensei

We also wish to thank Sakuyama-sensei for traveling all the way from Japan to give us such rare and valuable teachings.

What is the one thing that has made Cornell Camp a 40 year success?

Gassho

Happy New Year!

We wish you health, happiness and peace in 2018.

Gassho

Toronto Branch feature on GTActivity

Video and editing by James Balutan.