Karate vs. Shorinji Kempo
Quick answer
Karate and Shorinji Kempo are both Japanese budo, but karate grew in Okinawa from te and Chinese tode, whereas Doshin So founded Shorinji Kempo in 1947 by combining quan fa and jujutsu. Karate works mainly with strikes and kicks, while Shorinji Kempo combines the hard goho techniques with the throws and locks of juho and is at the same time the training of the religious organization Kongo-zen. Karate competes in both kumite and kata and was Olympic only in Tokyo 2020, whereas Shorinji Kempo competes only in embu demonstrations.
At a glance
| Karate | Shorinji Kempo | |
|---|---|---|
| Country of origin | Japan | Japan |
| Origin | 20th century (present form) | 1947 |
| Founder | Anko Itosu (codifier) | Doshin So |
| Contact | Semi-contact · Full contact (depending on style) | Light contact |
| Sparring | Medium contact · Full contact (depending on style) | Light contact |
| Competition format | Point fighting | Forms |
| Olympic status | Former Olympic sport | Not Olympic |
| Ranks | Yes (belts) | – |
| Rank recognition | fragmented | by federation |
| Attire | Gi required | Gi required |
| Weapons | No weapons · Weapons optional (depending on style) | Weapons optional |
| Forms | Forms at the core | Forms at the core |
| Relative cost | low | low |
| Katas and forms in the encyclopedia | 67 | 3 |
| Techniques in the encyclopedia | 230 | 2 |
Scales 1–5
Rated for the typical training of an adult beginner in an ordinary club, calibrated across all arts.
What each art is built from
Editorial rating 0–3: how much room each area gets in ordinary training.
History and relationship
Karate and Shorinji Kempo are Japanese budo arts with different roots. Karate arose in Okinawa from te and Chinese tode, and Gichin Funakoshi brought it to the main islands. Doshin So founded Shorinji Kempo in 1947 in Tadotsu by combining quan fa with jujutsu. We have not found a direct link between the two arts.
- 1922: Funakoshi demonstrates karate in Tokyo.
- 1946: Doshin So returns to Japan after the war.
- 1947: So founds Shorinji Kempo in Tadotsu, Kagawa Prefecture.
- 1970 and 1974: the world karate union WUKO (WKF since 1992) and WSKO are founded.
Technique
- Kihon (stances, strikes, kicks, blocks), kata and kumite.
- WKF kumite: 1 to 3 points, the head only with a light touch.
- Among other things, the WKF prohibits contact to the throat and attacks on joints.
- Locks and throws are found only in some styles, for example Wado-ryu.
- Goho: strikes, kicks, blocks.
- Juho: throws, locks, chokes, escapes.
- Seiho: healing techniques.
- Over 600 techniques in 25 series, appo only from 5th dan.
Shorinji Kempo combines goho and juho in every part of embu. Karate does not have healing seiho techniques as a separate group.
Training
| Karate | Shorinji Kempo | |
|---|---|---|
| Pillars of teaching | kihon, kata, kumite | self-defense, mental and health part |
| In pairs | from yakusoku to free jiyu kumite | paired hokei assembled into embu |
| Beyond technique | dojo kun and bows | samu service, chinkon gyo meditation |
We have not been able to document the training frequency or the structure of a lesson for either art.
Progression and ranks
| Karate | Shorinji Kempo | |
|---|---|---|
| Student grades | JKA 10 kyu, Kyokushin 11 kyu | we have not found the number of kyu or the belt colors |
| Master grades | 10 dan, higher ones are honorary | dan (bukai) and the doctrinal rank hokai, at most dai-hanshi 9th dan |
| Examination | by the style’s organization | 1st to 3rd dan in the prefectures, from 4th dan only in Tadotsu |
| Minimum times | JKA: 1 year between 1st and 2nd dan | we have not found them |
| Authorization to teach | Wado-ryu usually from 3rd dan | outside Japan from 3rd dan, in Japan from 4th |
Besides the combat grade and the doctrinal rank, Shorinji Kempo also has a priestly line, sokai, which karate does not have.
Physical load and risks
- Meta-analysis of 28 kumite studies (Lystad et al., BJSM 2020): 88.3 injuries per 1,000 starts.
- Most often the head and neck, mostly contusions of the mildest severity.
- Sumida et al. (2012), 16 university athletes: 7 (43.8%) had a traumatic fracture.
- In the same group 4 had low bone density, all below the recommended calcium intake.
Who it suits
| Karate | Shorinji Kempo | |
|---|---|---|
| Competition age | WKF: U14 (12–13 years), cadets 14–15, juniors 16–17, seniors from 18 | we have not found the age categories |
| School teaching | we have not found the figure | Busen High School since 2002, the All Japan high school federation since 2008, university athletes |
| Women | at the world championships since 1980 | we have not found the figure |
| Higher age | veteran categories of Shotokan SKDUN up to over 68 years | we have not found the figure |
Children
| Karate | Shorinji Kempo | |
|---|---|---|
| Lowest competition category | WKF U14 (12–13 years), Shotokan SKDUN from 10 years | we have not found it |
| Protection in competition | WKF up to 14 years: helmet and body protector, bout of 1.5 minutes | we have not found rules for children, tournaments consist only of embu |
| At school | we have not found it | high school federation since 2008, Busen High School since 2002 |
| Injury study | Slovak children’s tournaments: 45.3 injuries per 1,000 starts | we have not found a study of children |
Self-defence
- Kumite from agreed attacks to free sparring.
- In the WKF, resistance is limited by points and a light touch to the head, Kyokushin fights at full contact.
- Principle: defense first, then counterstrike.
- Hokei have a prescribed attack and defense, free counterattack ren-han-ko only after the prescribed form.
We have not found in the sources on Shorinji Kempo a test of technique against a fully resisting attacker. Karate has it in free kumite, and the degree of contact differs by style.
Practical use
| Karate | Shorinji Kempo | |
|---|---|---|
| Older age | 89 people around the age of 70, 5 months (Witte et al. 2016): improved reactivity and attention | we have not found a study |
| Balance | 16 people aged 59–90, 5 weeks: faster dynamic balance, no control group | we have not found a study |
| Professional use | we have not been able to document it | we have not been able to document it |
The studies concern small groups and short programs. No general conclusion about suitability can be drawn from them.
Competition
| Karate | Shorinji Kempo | |
|---|---|---|
| Disciplines | kumite, kata of individuals and teams | only embu: kumi, tandoku, dantai with 6 or 8 people |
| Scoring | kumite 1 to 3 points | five, sometimes three judges |
| Free fighting | shiai kumite | tachiai hyoka-ho without points |
| World championship | WKF every two years | once every four years |
| Olympic Games | only Tokyo 2020 | no |
Gear and costs
| Karate | Shorinji Kempo | |
|---|---|---|
| Clothing | karategi and belt | doi with a belt, with embroidered logos since 2008 |
| Sign of affiliation | belt color by grade and style | color of the sleeve emblem: red Kongo-zen temple, blue federation branches, purple WSKO |
| Protection | WKF kumite: gloves, mouthguard, body, shin and instep protectors | free sparring: helmet, body protector, groin guard |
| Relative costs | low | low |
Availability and organisations
| Karate | Shorinji Kempo | |
|---|---|---|
| World organization | World Karate Federation | WSKO since 1974 |
| Other organizations | JKA, JKF, IKO and many branches of styles | BSKF, split off in 2010, International Kempo Association since 2015 |
| Who awards dan grades | the organization of the style, there is no central register | the group based in Tadotsu |
| Recognition of grades | we have not found a general rule | we have not found it between WSKO and the split-off organizations |
Both arts are members of the Japanese Budo Association. Higher dan grades of Shorinji Kempo are examined only in Tadotsu, and since 2020 the third shike has been So Koma.
Switching and combining
- Dojo etiquette and dan remain.
- Strikes, kicks and blocks have a counterpart in goho.
- New: throws, locks and escapes from juho and paired embu.
- Etiquette and dan remain.
- Goho builds on kihon.
- New: solo kata and free sparring with scored contact.
On the left the transition from karate to Shorinji Kempo, on the right the opposite one. We have not found a person who would connect the two arts.
Philosophy
- The suffix do: a path with a spiritual dimension, the dojo kun stresses character, effort and courtesy.
- Funakoshi’s Niju kun: humility, respect, patience.
- Training of the religious organization Kongo-zen, the aim is self-establishment and mutual happiness.
- Principles: unity of ken and zen, strength and love, non-killing, kenzen ichinyo.
Shorinji Kempo has chinkon gyo meditation with recitation of the principles in regular practice, karate does not list it as a part of teaching.
Forms and terminology
Karate puts solo kata at the center of teaching, the WKF list recognizes roughly one hundred of them, and their meaning is analyzed through bunkai. Shorinji Kempo has its main form in pairs: embu in six parts, where partners exchange the roles of attacker and defender, lasts 1.5 to 2 minutes.
Training culture
- The Shotokan dojo in Tokyo’s Mejiro, built in 1936, was destroyed by an air raid in 1945.
- In WKF team kata, the opening and closing bow are compulsory.
- The gassho rei bow: palms joined in front of the face.
- In 2005 the double circle soen replaced the manji emblem, among other reasons because of its similarity to the swastika.
Common misconceptions
- Shorinji Kempo comes directly from the Shaolin monastery: the claim of the Yihe Quan title from 1936 is only a statement by Doshin So, Donn Draeger questions it and evidence of a visit to the monastery is missing.
- Doshin So was a student of Hakko-ryu jujutsu: some sources state this, the Shorinji Kempo headquarters does not document it and Hakko-ryu records show only a few of his visits.
Which to choose
Frequently asked questions
Is Shorinji Kempo a kind of karate?
No. Karate arose in Okinawa, and Doshin So founded Shorinji Kempo in 1947 by combining quan fa and jujutsu. Both are members of the Japanese Budo Association, and we have not found a direct historical link.
Is Shorinji Kempo competed in like karate?
No. Shorinji Kempo tournaments consist only of embu demonstrations, and the world tournament is held once every four years. Karate competes in both kumite and kata.
Is karate or Shorinji Kempo Olympic?
Karate was on the program only in Tokyo 2020, and the 2024 and 2028 Games do not include it. Shorinji Kempo is not in the Olympic program.