Why study Shorinji Kempo? Well, if you’re a fan of multitasking you’re going to love this one. Shorinji Kempo does not one, not two, but three things all at the same time!
Healthy Body
We all know that we should exercise more. Depending on who you listen to, you need 150 minutes of moderate exercise per week, and strength training at least twice a week, and you should stretch regularly, and… the list seems endless.
The trouble is, going to the gym is not everyone’s cup of tea. Some people find it boring, some find the environment intimidating. Some people love it, but don’t have time to go as often as they’d like.
Team sports can be the answer for some people; they are more social, and are usually fun. Depending on which teams you join they can be anything from relaxed to uber-competitive. But as you get older you start finding it challenging. Maybe you’re more prone to injury, or finding that you can’t keep up with the younger players any more.
Martial arts (slightly counter-intuitively) have a very low risk of injury. I think it’s because we all know that it could be dangerous, so we pay attention and try to do things right. You’ll be in a class with other people, helping each other improve, so it’s very friendly and social. But at the same time there is no requirement to “keep up” with everyone else. As long as you’re doing your best to improve over time, that’s enough.
We also have a clear route to progression. If you’re playing a team sport with your local club, then it’s not always clear how to get better at it, or even what “better” is. In Shorinji Kempo, there is always a next thing to learn, and a teacher who is interested in seeing you improve.
Learning things is a great way to keep your mind active, which brings us to item number two.
Healthy Mind
Learn something new every day is an often quoted piece of advice. It’s not that easy to follow, surprisingly. Or at least, it’s not easy to know if you’re following it. Is the thing that you learnt today actually new information, or did you just forget that you knew it?
With a martial art, you can see yourself improving over time. You know when you’ve learnt a new technique, or a new kata, or how to make an old technique work on that one person in your dojo whose arms bend in odd ways.
But learning things isn’t the only impact of martial arts on your mental health.
Overcoming frustrations and persevering through difficulties are good life skills, which you can develop through practice. The dojo offers ample opportunity to practice!
Punching things may not be the best way of dealing with long term stress, but it can definitely help in the short term. In the dojo you can punch and kick your way to a calm mind safe in the knowledge that you’re not going to be arrested for property damage or assault. Just make sure to warn your training partner before you start so they can prepare!
And talking of partners, working with one will help you develop empathy and teamworking skills, which should make the rest of your life go much more smoothly.
Shorinji Kempo also places emphasis on philosophy. Learning how to think about thinking, and exploring other points of view, will broaden your mind and make you open to new experiences – which has to be a good thing, right?
Philosophy also helps you decide when is the right time to use the skills you’re learning, bringing us neatly to…
Self Defence
We are learning to fight. We are doing this for a reason. And that reason is to keep us (and the people we care about) safe.
We should not be going around starting fights – for multiple reasons, legal, ethical and technical – but if we end up in one it is wise to know how to get out alive.
But knowledge is not enough. We must also have the willpower to follow through and a body that can perform the techniques… Which, coincidentally, we have been developing through our practice.
Multitasking for the win
Your practice of Shorinji Kempo, and your life, will be better if you multitask. Develop your body, mind, and skills together.
Be better at being you.
If you want to take advantage of this opportunity in your own life, why not book a class?