Shorinji-ryu karate-do Renshinkan was started by soke founder Isamu Tamotsu, 10th-dan (hanshi), in Kagoshima City, Japan, in 1955. Mr. Tamotsu was born in Naze City, Kagoshima Prefecture in 1919. He was given elementary lessons of karate by fishermen in Itoman, Okinawa in his boyhood and moved to Taiwan when he was 17. Tamotsu learned Kodokan judo and acquired Chinese Shorinji Nampa (southern) Kempo from roshi Chin at the same time. After the World War II, he acquired Kyan Chen Mie (legendary karate-ka) meijin jikiryu (traditional school) in Okinawa.

Integrating these martial arts with houen-ryu-taijutsu (houen-ryu gymnastic art), kensou-ryu-jujutsu (kensou-ryu yawara), hakkou-ryu-jujutsu (hakkou-ryu yawara), bo (long baton), sai (short sword-like weapon), jo (short baton), ancient Chinese martial arts, etc., and establishing his own viewpoint, Tamotsu started Renshinkan Shorinji-ryu karate-do.

With excellent techniques and high spirituality, Renshinkan has been spreading quickly all over Japan and the world for the last 43 years. Renshinkan boasts of 1,000 branches and 300,000 students in Japan.

Renshinkan is also proliferating in many foreign countries {ﾐepublic of China, USA, Philippines, India, Puerto Rico, Dominica, Finland, Sweden, Russia, Mexico, Brazil, and Panama.

In "Black Belt" an American martial arts magazine, a great number of Syorinji-ryu kata's and sparring techniques from the second soke, Iwao Tamotsu were introduced.

★ How to join Shorinji-ryu Renshinkan karate-do

　 Just make a phone call first! All you need is karate-gi!
　

	You first learn kukan-zuki. Hold both of your fists firm, thrust one of your hands with speed and power, pull the other backwards and strike with the elbow. It is important to maintain your axis and turn your shoulders and waist quickly.
	Mae-geri is a technique to kick the opponent with the upper part of the foot. It is the basic technique of various kicks. Continue training to kick as far as you can to the extent you don't lose your axis. Kicks vary a lot, but the basic kick remains to be mae-geri.
	Sokuto-geri is the technique to kick the opponent with the side of your foot. Techniques with elasticity and power of the entire body in the waist have big destructive power and characterize Renshinkan Shorinji-ryu karate-do.

These three basic techniques are the essence of all. Those practicing Renshinkan Shorinji-ryu karate-do are advised to practice these techniques every day. Explained next are zenshin (forward) and kotai (backward), basics of shubi-gata (defense forms).

★ Kenshuho is the collection of basic offense techniques to be learned before kata.

These techniques are demonstrated before moving on to kata.

Kata is called seiryu-shichihou (seven ways of correct styles) in Renshinkan Shorinji-ryu karate-do. Those who join us must work the forms throughout their life. People in Okinawa, the home of karate, say that one form must be practiced for seven years. This means that it takes 49 (7 x 7) years to learn all the forms. Our members should learn the wisdom and thoughts of predecessors towards the martial arts which are hidden in the forms, develop the ribs necessary for karate, and repeat practices heartily to accumulate true abilities. The seven forms are taught in the following order:

Two people are divided into an offense and a defense. They train themselves by instantaneously exchanging offense and defense techniques which are arranged in advance.

The offense punches and kicks the sore spots of the defense seriously and the defense evades the attack just before the impact. The defense, while evading the offense, moves on to offense already. Taking turns of and repeating these movements, students acquire the body movements required for Renshinkan Shorinji-ryu karate-do.

Yakusoku kumite shodan (1st dan) includes 37 yakusoku kumite shodan techniques. The senior course includes yakusoku kumite nidan (2nd dan), tanken-sabaki(defence for short-sword), zaho (sitting style), and many more.

After practicing prearranged sparrings and form lessons, students start free sparring practices when they are 16 years old or over.

Of course, protectors are worn in sparrings. Some say that the sparrings lack power if protectors are worn and safety is guaranteed. But they are far from correct.

When the occasion arises, you can't fight in karate-gi. You may wear work uniforms or business suits in daily life. You have the same difficulty as when you wear protectors.

A direct impact is made when protectors are worn. The damage on the opponent would be more than you could imagine if it were not for the protectors.

It causes no problems to train in sparring without protectors during youth when they enjoy quick recovery. At some stage, however, they are certain to face after effects .

This is a natural consequence. There is no replacement for a human body. It would be meaningless to train a body and study karate-do in such a way.

It takes the whole life to attain karate-do since it is not a martial art only for young people.

Some do sparring where one stops the offense just before the impact inpossible to do only when a man of high expertise is practicing the sparring with a man by far inferior to himself.

You can understand how difficult it is to stop the speed?

It is hard to accept that you lose on account of the violation of rules when you fail to stop just before the impact, cause the opponent to bleed, hurt him, or launch an attack. The distinction between winning and losing is ambiguous.

Renshinkan Shorinji-ryu karate-do has asserted and practiced the protector-worn sparring system all the time.

Watched sparrings of Renshinkan nearby. You may know which one without the knowledge of karate. Swift and elegant movements of the body, skillful kicking techniques which characterize the Shorinji Nampa Kempo, Kosa-ho which evades the attacking opponent just before the impact, a single fatal attack while receding, etc., would impress you without failure. Wouldn't you like to acquire these techniques by yourself?

300,000 friends and dojo look forward to your visit. Just come and see us!

Contact dojo, first! 　All you need is karate-gi!