Nicola Higgins

Seiho in the time of Covid

How do you do seiho when you can’t touch each other?

Book Review: Principles and Concepts for Martial Arts

This book, by Sylvain Galibert, is aimed mainly at grapplers, but contains concepts useful to those who prefer punching too.

“The Prisoner” as Zen

Who am I? What is this place? Who is number one?

Juho in the time of Covid

Juho is the part of Shorinji Kempo which is all about grabbing people. Covid, as we all know, is about not grabbing people. So is it possible to teach juho at the moment? Should we even try?

Film Review: Martial Arts of Shaolin

Martial Arts of Shaolin is a 1986 film about Zhi Ming, who is training at the Northern Shaolin Temple. One day, he discovers that the magistrate who killed his parents has come out of hiding…

Why is Shorinji Kempo like a plunger?

I know, it’s an odd question, but bear with me. The humble sink plunger is in some ways the perfect metaphor for Shorinji Kempo.

The Shaolin Kid (AKA A Boy in China) is a 2012 documentary about an American boy named Andre. As a young child he was diagnosed as being extremely hyperactive – the treatment prescribed was lots of exercise. After seeing a Jackie Chan film when he was three years old, he got interested in Kung Fu,Continue reading “Review: The Shaolin Kid”

Buying a dogi

You’ve been coming to class for a few weeks now. You’re really enjoying yourself, but there’s one problem. You feel so… underdressed.

Karate in the Time of COVID

This article says exactly what I feel at the moment. I usually feel like I can absorb a ridiculous amount of information. I studied English literature and History as my majors, and absorbed tomes and … Karate in the Time of COVID

Coming together for violence and friendship

Last weekend Shorinji Kempo kenshi from all over the UK came to Bristol to train together. Here we are proving that no matter how many people you put in a room, somehow there is always a gap that nobody is in. Sensei Rob Villiers (6th Dan) and Sensei Richard Jarman (5th Dan) taught sessions onContinue reading “Coming together for violence and friendship”