Welcome sign at Atsugi Doin. 

Sumo Demonstration in Yamato

Removed at request of WSKO Hombu

Removed at request of WSKO Hombu

Removed at request of WSKO Hombu

Visit to Tamagawa Juniors Branch, Japan

John McCulloch and Slava Burdenyuk of Toronto Branch had the opportunity to visit Tamagawa Juniors Branch in Kanagawa-ken, Japan on October 16, 2005. The Branch is led by Hiate-sensei (Seihanshi, 7th dan). It was a lot of fun to see the children training so enthusiastically and quite amazing to see how good their techniques were. We wish to thank Hiate-sensei and the members of Tamagawa Juniors Branch for their kindness.

Hiate-sensei teaching at Tamagawa Juniors Branch.

The members of Tamagawa Junior Branch in Nanasawa, Kanagawa-ken, Japan.

Hombu - Kato-sensei

Hombu - Arai-sensei teaching

Hombu - seiho by Hamada-sensei

Hombu - juho technique by Kawashima-sensei

Hombu - Tokushima folk dance

Hombu - display by Nagata-sensei (Yamaguchi Fedn.)

Hombu - Aosaka-sensei and the Italian Fedn. sing, sing, sing!

Hombu - British kenshi show us how a typical UK training session looks

Hombu - display by Spanish kenshi

Hombu - reunion with Mizuno-sensei

Hombu - Anders and John study technique at Yokota's

Hombu - reunion with Cailey and Joe at Yokota's

Hombu - inevitable trip to Yokota's okonomiyaki

Hombu - meeting with Hiate-sensei, our great supporter

Hombu - Arai-sensei looked after us well!

Hombu - use of multi-angle video to improve technique

Steve and Nick from Australia provided a highly refined and informative narrative during the 7 hour drive to Tadotsu ("Datta...").

Hombu - we arrived in Tadotsu on Oct. 11 for the WSKO Study Session (Oct. 12-14)

World Taikai - Hayashi-sensei (Ayase), J. McCulloch (Toronto), Hiate-sensei (Atsugi) and Noda-sensei (Alberta)

Koi at the hotel

Awara Onsen Hotel - accommodation for WSKO members during Taikai

World Taikai - Toronto Branch received a Certificate of Commendation from the Shorinji Kempo Group Sosai, Ms. Yuuki So.

World Taikai - youngest participant?

World Taikai - waiting their turn...

World Taikai - more embu

World Taikai - unyoho

World Taikai - embu

World Taikai - Slava, Ryoichi, John & Bevin

World Taikai 2005 - Fukui Sundome

World Taikai - Hiate-sensei and John at the Japanese preliminary heats

Taikai Eve Festival

Taikai Eve Festival - hands across the sea

Taikai Eve Festival - address by Sosai

Taiki Eve Festival - stunning taiko performance

WSKO Council Meeting

A meeting of the WSKO Council was held on October 8, 2005 in Fukui, Japan.

Councilors from Japan, Indonesia, UK, Sweden, Italy, USA, Brazil and Canada provided feedback on a host of proposed changes for WSKO Branches.

The meeting was also attended by Ms. Yuuki So (ShorinjiKempo Sosai), Arai-sensei (WSKO Chairperson) and a representative from Kongo Zen Sohonzan Shorinji. 

Visit to Glasgow University Branch

On Saturday Sep. 24, 2005, John McCulloch of Toronto Branch visited Glasgow University Branch in Scotland. It was at this dojo that John started studying Shorinji Kempo in 1982 .

The class was the first practical experience of Shorinji Kempo for many new students. The format of the class was as follows:

• Warm up (including basic pairform drills)
  
• Kihon (this was directed mainly to newcomers and focussed on basic movements)
  
• Chinkon
  
• Philosophy ("The Essence of Shorinji Kempo")
  
• Techniques (okuri gote, katate maki nuki, tsukiten ichi, hantenshin geri, yokotenshin geri, oshi gote, kotemaki gaeshi)
  

Many thanks to Tony Leith, Niall Anderson-sensei and the members of GUSKC for providing such a warm welcome.

Gassho

Starting out in Shorinji Kempo (GUSKC)

Kumite shutai at Glasgow Uni. Branch

Training at GUSKC (24.09.2005)

Godorenshu at Huronia Branch

On the afternoon of Saturday August 27, Shorinji Kempo Ontario members gathered at the Renseikan Aikido Dojo in Barrie, Ontario for a Godorenshu (group training event).  The Renseikan Dojo has a beautiful tatami floor and this allowed us to focus on certain technical aspects more deeply than usual (see later).

Branches represented at the Godorenshu included Huronia (the host Branch), Eglinton, North York and Toronto.

The theme of the Godorenshu was on nage (throwing) and how to make an effective ukemi (breakfall) to escape injury. 

Fontaine-sensei (Huronia Branch) led us through a structured series of exercises to develop the foundation skills to make ukemi safely and effectively.





Following this practice, we split into groups according to rank and studied how to apply ukemi in relation to our curriculum techniques.

Newer members had the opportunity to develop confidence in their ukemi and were able to apply those skills quickly.  For the more senior members it was a valuable chance to fully practice techniques which can be fairly dangerous on a hard surface.

We wish to express our gratitude to Fontaine-sensei and the members of Huronia Branch for allowing us to participate in such a valuable practice.

J. McCulloch
Toronto Branch