Shorinji Kempo

Shorinji Kempo headquarters, Tadotsu, Shikoku. (Courtesy of Kati Mäki-Kuutti.)

Here are some Kempo pics. Most of it is from my second week after arriving in Japan, which I spent at Honbu (the Shorinji Kempo headquarters on the island Shikoku). Some pics are from the dojo here in Kyoto, Rakutodoin. I can totally recommend kenshi from all over the world to try some training at Honbu or other places in Japan. It is inspiring!



Big drums are used for the Shinkon - opening ceremony for training sessions - both at Honbu and Rakutodoin. We need a big drum in Stockholm. Big drums are awesome! (Courtesy of Kati Mäki-Kuutti.)



Timo Mäki-Kuutti socializing with his daughter and his niece. There was a bunch of foreigners training at Honbu. These are from Finland and they were behind the cameras when the pictures for this blog post were taken. (Courtesy of Kati Mäki-Kuutti.)



This rough looking guy is one of the two guarding deities who overlook the entrance to Honbu. (Courtesy of Kati Mäki-Kuutti.)



Two happy Japanese university students! (Courtesy of Kati Mäki-Kuutti.)



Meditation every morning before training starts. (Courtesy of Kati Mäki-Kuutti.)



Me training at Honbu. A little clarification regarding the swastikas in the background: The one to right in the picture represents love and mercy, and is often used as a symbol for Buddhism. It can be found on Japanese maps to show the location of a temple, or on Chinese food packages to show that the content is 100% vegetarian and therefore okay for a hardcore Buddhist to eat. The swastika to the left is also an old symbol from Buddhism, but a little less commonly used. It represents strength and intelligence. (Courtesy of Kati Mäki-Kuutti.)



Evandro Schuster, branch master from Brazil, in a friendly hug with Timo Mäki-Kuutti. (Courtesy of Kati Mäki-Kuutti.)



Some of the more inspiring evening sessions took place at "Yokota" the local restaurant. (Courtesy of Kati Mäki-Kuutti.)



View from Honbu. (Courtesy of Kati Mäki-Kuutti.)



The entrance to Rakuto-doin in Kyoto. This is where I practice Shorinji Kempo three times a week in Kyoto. It is run by the Morikawa family, father and two sons. A Buddhist temple and the home of the Morikawas are located in direct connection to the dojo. Old Morikawa-sensei and his eldest son, Katsuhito-sensei are also priests in the temple. (Courtesy of Timo Mäki-Kuutti.)



Rakuto-doin. Old Morikawa sensei with the huge beard in the center. (Courtesy of Timo Mäki-Kuutti)



Shinkon at Rakuto-doin. (Courtesy of Timo Mäki-Kuutti)