Grading success!

 

We are happy to announce that Jonathan passed his examination for 2nd kyu rank on May 28th.

Congratulations Jonathan!

Gassho

44th Annual Cornell Shorinji Kempo Camp

The attentive student

The 44th Anual Cornell Shorinji Kempo Camp was held in Trumansburg, New York over the Memorial Day weekend (May 25-27).

Rustic dojo

The Toronto Branch delegates were McCulloch sensei, Kevin and his son Josh.  It was the first time we had been back to Camp since the COVID pandemic and it was a wonderful feeling to return there.

Canada Squad!

The Camp was led by Sakuyama sensei of Ibaraki Takahagi Doin (Japan).  Sakuyama sensei was a direct student of Kaiso Doshin So at Hombu in the 1970s and is also well known for starring in the movie "Shaolin Temple" with Jet Li. However, what we appreciate Sakuyama sensei for is his incredible technique, warm spirit and ability to explain his technical and philosophical insights clearly and deeply - all of which makes him one of the best Shorinji Kempo teachers you could ever hope to study from.

With Oka sensei (Montreal Branch)

Sakuyama sensei focussed on basic elements and provided creative ways for us to study them. He always carefully tied the technical practice to our underlying philosophy.

Sakuyama sensei and the Legaults

The Camp afforded a long overdue reunion with many friends we hadn't seen for some time including Dolce sensei and Ziring sensei (Camp organizers and hosts), Hagata sensei, Oka sensei and his students (Montreal Branch), Tamaki sensei, Tondo sensei, Berlow sensei and Negishi sensei (Yokohama).

With Negishi sensei (Yokohama Negishi Doin)

We wish to thank Sakuyama sensei and the Camp organizers for providing such an amazing experience!

Happy Campers!

Gassho

 

Nanoka returns

Nanoka and Isabel study juho

 

We were delighted to see our former member Nanoka during her flying visit to Toronto.

Nanoka is a student based in Tokyo who had practised with us last winter and spring.

It was great to see her again!

Gassho

Closing Ceremony 2023

Every year we hold a Closing Ceremony on the final day of practice.

During this event we reflect on the achievements of the prior year, hold a longer Chinkon-Gyo including the recitation of Raihashi and Dokun, and have the members demonstrate their skills.

Here are some photos from our 2023 Closing Ceremony event.

Gassho 

Special Dan Grading

Tony with Kawashima sensei

 

We are delighted to announce that Tony Tan, Assistant Instructor at Toronto Branch, passed his examination for Seikenshi 4th Dan at Shorinji Kempo Hombu in Tadotsu, Japan on 13 October 2023.

Well done Tony!

The grading was held during the 2023 WSKO Official Seminar. Tony had the opportunity to receive three days of training with the top Hombu instructors and spend time with friends from all over the world. 

With Inoue sensei - star of "Kuro Obi World"

Gassho

Grading success

We are pleased to report that Toronto Branch kenshi have been successful in recent examinations.

Stephen passed his 5th kyu examination on 22 November 2022.

 

Jonathan passed his 3rd kyu examination on 29 November 2022.

 

Congratulations!

Kesshu

Grading success

 

Brian & Christian with their new certificates

We are delighted to announce that Toronto kenshi Brian and Christian successfully passed their examination for the rank of Chukenshi 3rd dan on August 23, 2022.

Many thanks to Oka-sensei (Montreal Branch) for being an examiner and Tal and Kevin for assisting with the grading.

Gassho

Grading success

 

Another kyu victory for Jonathan! He successfully passed his examination for 4th kyu on 26 July.

Well done!

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

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

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

Happy New Year!

We wish you health, happiness and peace in 2018.

Gassho

Toronto Branch feature on GTActivity

Video and editing by James Balutan.