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Junior sections are currently run at the
Southampton, Bournemouth and Poole Dojos.
Training times can be found on the club pages. Both clubs have a good mixture of
girls and boys of various ages who train on a regular basis.
See the Gallery page for photos of Bournemouth Juniors taking part in the British 30th Anniversary Taikai. Video clips are also available on the Video page.
Grades and Syllabus
Children from around 7 to 12 years old follow the Junior syllabus with the first grade starting at 8th Kyu. The junior syllabus avoids introducing throwing and locking techniques at an early stage to prevent injury to children's wrists, and instead concentrates on eluding techniques and Goho (punching, kicking and blocking) techniques.
Until the juniors attain the level of 4th Kyu they wear a white belt adding coloured tags to both ends of the belt as higher grades are achieved. See the diagram below.
For older children the senior syllabus is followed with the first grade starting at 4th Kyu (yellow belt). However, care is taken to ensure that no excessive pressure is used when practicing throwing and locking techniques.
Lesson Structure
All lessons start with a warm up to loosen up joints and muscles followed by practice of basic moves such as punches, kicks and blocks. These are usually done in lines with the whole class (adults and children).
This is then followed by technical training where the children work in pairs of the same grade learning techniques from their syllabus.
All lessons will end with warm down exercises.
Benefits of Training
Shorinji Kempo teaches self defence, and develops the body and mind.
Through Shorinji Kempo training children will learn to co-operate with others and help each other. They will gain the courage to stand up against bullying and attacks and how to avoid trouble.
Safety
Shorinji Kempo has an excellent safety record, due mainly to the emphasis on co-operation and not competition.
As mentioned above the Junior syllabus has been designed so that children do not practise techniques that involve twisting or locking joints, since these techniques can damage growing bones.