Dan ranks beyond shodan require significant teaching activity and philosophical essays.
“Shorinji Kempo,” Kenji said, “is not about learning to fight. It is about learning to live. The curriculum is not a cage. It is a key.”
The Shorinji Kempo curriculum is divided into three major domains:
Shorinji Kempo is a unique Japanese martial art that balances (hard techniques like strikes) and Juho (soft techniques like grappling) with a deep focus on Kongo Zen philosophy.
Shorinji Kempo’s kumite is non-competitive. It is called Yakusoku kumite (agreed sparring) and Jiyū kumite (free sparring). However, even jiyū kumite is not competition; it is a mutual training session where power is controlled and intent is cooperative. Strikes are pulled ( sun dome ). The goal is not to win but to test waza against a resisting partner while maintaining rikai (understanding).