Shorinji Kempo traces its origins more than five thousand years to ancient India. Though it experienced a long period of development in China, its present form is the result of Founder's genius.
Shorinji Kempo was founded in 1947 by Doshin So (usually referred to 'Kaiso' which approximately translates as 'the founder'). Kaiso spent a number of years during and preceding the Second World War in China. He experienced the suffering and misery of a occupied nation where power and authority of the occupying forces came above the considerations and rights of the defeated people.
In June 1946, Kaiso returned to Japan and found the country demoralised and dispirited. Society had become inconsiderate and selfish. The young especially, their future looking bleak, had abandoned traditional morals and values in search in short term pleasures and instant gratification. Kaiso resolved to help and do all he could to rectify the situation. He began to give philosophical lectures based on his life experience and the Zen philosophy he had studied whilst in China. He found no-one would listen so began to teach martial arts techniques in addition. Shorinji Kempo is the result.
