Nicola Higgins

Sensei’s birthday bash

What happens if you go to training on your birthday… and you’re the teacher?

Three daily exercises to improve your martial arts – and body

We all know that we should do more exercise. Our once- or twice-a-week martial arts classes are not enough to balance out our long days of sitting at a desk hunched over a keyboard. But what should you do to maximise the impact in the time you have available?

BSKF All-Grade Seminar

Bristol played host this weekend to the British Shorinji Kempo Federation for a seminar for all members – from white belt to 8th dan black belt.

With people coming in from all over, it was a brilliant opportunity to meet old friends, make new ones, and get some top-quality teaching.

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.

Review: The Shaolin Kid

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”