THE WAY OF THE SHORIN-JI (SMALL FOREST TEMPLE)
SHORIN-JI RYU KARATE AND JUDO IS ABOUT TRAINING IN THE TRADITIONAL
METHODS THAT HAVE BEEN USED FOR HUNDREDS OF YEARS. THE WAY IS ABOUT THE
DEVELOPMENT OF THE INDIVIDUAL’S CHARACTER. THIS IS ACHIEVED
BY ON-GOING REPETITION OF MOVEMENT DEVELOPING THE BODY’S MUSCLES
AND THE EDUCATION FOR THE WAY OF THE EMPTY HAND (KARATE &
JUDO). THE TRAINING CAN BE VERY HARD, BUT WITH A STRONG WILL,
SPIRIT, AND DETERMINATION, ONE CAN NOT ONLY ACHIEVE THE STATUS OF
MASTER, BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY ENLIGHTENMENT OF ONESELF, THEIR
ENVIRONMENT, AND THE SATISFACTION OF YOUR ACCOMPLISHMENTS.
YOU CAN START TRAINING FROM A VERY EARLY AGE AND CONTINUE TO PRACTICE
UNTIL YOUR MID NINETIES. THE ULTIMATE AIM IS INDEED
SELF-ENLIGHTENMENT, AND SELF-DEVELOPMENT WITH THE EMPHASIS ON
INDIVIDUAL FORMS. LEVELS OF ETIQUETTE, DISCIPLINE, AND RESPECT ARE VERY HIGH
AND YOU SHOULD BE PREPARED TO ACCEPT THIS BEFORE COMMENCING
TRAINING. THE TRADITIONAL STYLES OF SHORIN-JI RYU KARATE AND JUDO
ORIGINATES FROM OKINAWA.
THIS ARTICLE WAS WRITTEN BY WARREN BERTO.