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.

He was a perfectionist, a disciplinarian and a traditionalist. But, at the same time, an innovator, an internationalist and a man of great generosity. More important, he was a famous educator and the father of modern sports in Japan. But above all, Jigoro Kano was the founder of judo!

He was born on October 28, 1860, when Japan's feudal period was rapidly drawing to a close. He was born into a family that was reasonably well off, at least well enough placed to get Jigoro into the elite Tokyo Imperial University. His grandfather had launched the family…

"It was awfully chilly in Korea in December 1980. Then we went to Taiwan at the end of January 1981 but it was heavily raining almost everyday. It was so bad we went back to Hong Kong to look for a better location but couldn't find any.... After the rain came the hot days consecutively.... Many people were injured during the tough action scenes and I really had a hard time. Even my manager Willie was really concerned and told me that I should step back from the directors' chair next time. But because I had a tough time making…