Ilmu bela diri tertua bersumber pada Zen Buddhisme
Many have concluded that KEMPO's martial arts originate from mainland Tiongkok. But such assumptions are not all true. Around 550 AD, the 28th Buddhist priest named Dharma Taishi moved from his home in Bharamon (India) to mainland Tiongkok. He settled in a temple named Siauw Liem Sie or known as Shorinji located in the province of Kwa Nam.
Based on Buddhism which is forbidden to kill and injure, in all Kenshi (players / pupils of kempo) is prohibited to attack first before being attacked. This is also the doctrine of kempo that is "fight yourself before being changed by others". In addition, the Kempo organization also uses the MANJI symbol, which is a kind of swastika sign that turns to the left which means affection and strength. And this is in accordance with the Shorinji doctrine that reads "affection without power is weakness, power without affection is injustice.
This doctrine also influences the composition of KEMPO's martial techniques so that its technical movement always begins by avoiding and then parrying and then retaliating. For that kenshi are required to master the Goho (hard) technique that includes punches, kicks, and tangkisan. And also Juho (soft) technique that includes bribes, folds, and keys. The teaching of Shorinji Kempo especially Goho's technique also influenced the martial arts in Okinawa namely Okinawa-te (later known as Karate). While Juho's techniques affect the martial arts of Jiu-Jitsu, Aikido, and Judo.
The development of Shorinji Kempo in Indonesia
The development of Shorinji Kempo in Indonesia begins with the existence of Indonesian students who get scholarships for study in Japan. They use free time or holidays to learn martial arts, such as Karate, Judo, Jiu-Jitsu, and also Kempo. One such student named Utin Syahraz (now deceased). Then he and his two colleagues named Indra Kartasasmita and Ginandjar Kartasasmita were determined to give birth to a container named PERKEMI (Persaudaraan Bela Diri Kempo Indonesia/Kempo Indonesia martial arts fraternity) on February 2, 1966.
Now PERKEMI has spawned thousands of kenshi spread all over Indonesia. In addition to being a member of the Joint Organization of the National Sports Committee of Indonesia, PERKEMI is also a full member of the Kempo World Federation or WSKO (World Shorinji Kempo Organization) centered in Shorinji Kempo temple in Tadotsu city, Japan.
That is the short history of the development of kempo in Indonesia.
Thank you for reading
