London Universities Shōrinji Kempō Group
Frequently Asked Questions
What about women?
Any age restrictions?
When can I join?
How much does it cost?
What should I wear?
What's with all the Japanese words?
More FAQs : Questions & Answers for Current Members (incl. Fee structure)
Is it OK for women?
Yes, of course ! As the techniques require skill and not muscle power, it doesn't matter what height or weight you are, or how large or small your muscles are. And it's fun being able to bring somebody to their knees who is twice your size without even hurting them. We have a large number of female members - approx. 40% of the membership is female, in some classes it's 50-50 male-female.
Are there any age restrictions?
There is a minimum age requirement. To join one of the Shorinji Kempo Societies that comprise LUSKG you must be 18 years old or over. As Shorinji Kempo is not about physical strength it is suitable for people of all ages, shapes and sizes. All you need is a very basic level of fitness. If you have any concerns about your fitness or have medical problems you are aware of, please contact your GP first or discuss this with the Instructor (for contact details see the "Contact" page)
When can I join?
You can join any session. New members are always welcome throughout the year. Your training partners will all help you.
How much does it cost?
You will need to pay £4 to cover insurance for the first month of sessions. If you decide to continue training and join a Shorinji Kempo Society, costs differ slightly between clubs. Please contact the society you wish to join directly for information on session fees. You will also need to become a member of the British Shorinji Kempo Federation (£25 per year), which covers your insurance for a year.
Your instructors are not paid for the classes they give - Shorinji Kempo is taught solely by volunteers. The costs above are to cover insurance, while session fees cover some of your teacher's expenses and subsidise social events.
If you train at the UCL Dojo in the Bloomsbury Fitness Centre (BFC) you will need either full or day membership of the BFC. This cost is outside of the control of the UCLU Shorinji Kempo Society. Currently it's £4, which you pay on entry to the Fitness Centre. This covers your use of the facilities as well as the Shorinji Kempo training session you are attending.
What should I wear?
For your first sessions, please wear loose clothing, such as for example a t-shirt and track-suit bottom.
- Training is done in bare feet - please always take off your shoes before entering the training area (Dojo).
- Remove all jewellery, watches, etc. - this is to prevent injury to yourself or your partners.
Once you have decided that you wish to continue training and want to join the Shorinji Kempo Society, you can buy a white suit (as also used for Judo, Karate, etc) from us. The cost is approximately £15 and includes your first, white belt. Please contact your Branch Captain after the training session.
What's with all the Japanese words?
All techniques names and many of the instructions are in Japanese. The reason for this is two-fold:
- Many of the technique names or philosophy elements do not translate well or easily into equally simple words. It is therefore better to leave the words as they are and explain what they are all about.
- The advantage of all is that you can travel to Japan or anywhere else in the world and train at a Shorinji Kempo dojo. The instructions will be in Japanese and therefore already familiar to you.
Do I need to learn Japanese?
No. The only thing you do need to learn initially is the numbers from 1-10 - you can do this simply parrot-fashion from the other club members. Other than that, the technique names and instructions you will pick up as you go along. In order to help with memorising words and techniques there is an extensive vocab file on this website. Knowing what certain techniques actually mean may help in memorisation.
