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shorinji kempo in lebanon

[Photo:two kenshi, wearing protective equipment, sparring.] [Photo:Mizuno sensei, head of the British Shorinji Kempo Federation, performing sokuto geri to the stomach of another kenshi.] [Photo:head shot of the founder of Shorinji Kempo, Doshin So.] [Photo:two kenshi prepare to begin randori, as a third kenshi acts as judge.]
Calligraphy, which reads "half for your own happiness, half for the happiness of others"

Sam Majed Sensei

Sam sensei first started training in Shorinji Kempo at University College London (UCL) and within weeks he was hooked, quickly increasing his level of training from once a week to three times a week. In 1997, he made his first trip to Japan to take part in the celebrations for the 50th anniversary of Shorinji Kempo. Whilst there, he trained in Tokyo, Kyoto and the headquarters in Kagawa prefecture, Shikoku. sensei Sam was so inspired by this trip that by the time he was doing his masters degree, back in London, he was attending seven or eight training sessions a week and, still not satisfied with this, had made up his mind to travel to Japan and live at the headquarters in order to be able to dedicate all his time to the study of Shorinji Kempo.

[Photo: Head shot of Sam Majed sensei.]

In April 2001, Sam sensei entered the Nihon Shorinji Budo Semmon Gakko (now known as Zen Rin Gakkuen) and enrolled on a two-year course designed to teach the technical aspect of Shorinji Kempo as well as the philosophy of Kongo Zen, leadership skills and their applications in modern society.

[Photo: Sam Majed sensei taking part in a Charity Event Demonstration. He is stood on a matted area facing another kenshi, while spectators sit on the floor in the background.]

In addition to the invaluable physical and mental training that took place daily, there were opportunities to put the philosophy of Kongo Zen into practice within the local community. On numerous occasions Sam sensei and his fellow students helped to organise and perform shows at orphanages, old people's homes and homes for mentally disabled people and participated in many community service programs. The course itself involved a lot of traveling within Japan for demonstrations and seminars and on an international level included a visit to France for the World Taikai in 2001 and China for a seminar, as well as a visit to the Shaolin Temple in 2003.

[Photo: Sam Majed sensei's Graduation Ceremony at the Shorinji Kempo headquaters in Japan. sensei Sam is on the right, dressed in a suit, and is waiting to receive a certificate from a man standing behind a lecturn.]

In March 2003, Sam sensei left the headquarters in Japan having received the rank of 3rd Dan and after a brief stay in the UK, moved to Beirut to teach Shorinji Kempo.