How to join
To learn Shorinji Kempo with the BSKF, you will need to visit one of our clubs in person. Most branches will offer a free introductory lesson and welcome beginners to any of their regular sessions, and some will also occasionally run dedicated beginner sessions.
You can find our list of branches here. If you'd like to join or try a class out, you can drop them a line directly using the contact details provided, or request a trial class and more info below.
At your first session you will be asked to sign a membership form. This will provide you with provisional insurance for the first 30 days (as described below) as well as membership of the BSKF for 5 years (allowing you to attend seminars, gradings and also other BSKF and IKA branches).
You can find our list of branches here. If you'd like to join or try a class out, you can drop them a line directly using the contact details provided, or request a trial class and more info below.
At your first session you will be asked to sign a membership form. This will provide you with provisional insurance for the first 30 days (as described below) as well as membership of the BSKF for 5 years (allowing you to attend seminars, gradings and also other BSKF and IKA branches).
Insurance
When you first join, your membership includes 30 days of accident and member-to-member liability insurance. This is so you can try out Shorinji Kempo safely for a few sessions before deciding whether to commit.
If you're unsure, we encourage you to try a few lessons before making your mind up. You'll get to experience a fuller range of our practice and you'll be surprised how quickly you start to feel more confident with the movements.
Once your first 30 days are up, if you'd like to continue training you will need to pay the full insurance and membership fee. This is a mandatory requirement for everyone who trains with us, for your own safety and the safety of those you practice with.
Annual insurance and membership runs for 12 months from the date you sign up, and will auto-renew every year until you cancel.
If you're unsure, we encourage you to try a few lessons before making your mind up. You'll get to experience a fuller range of our practice and you'll be surprised how quickly you start to feel more confident with the movements.
Once your first 30 days are up, if you'd like to continue training you will need to pay the full insurance and membership fee. This is a mandatory requirement for everyone who trains with us, for your own safety and the safety of those you practice with.
Annual insurance and membership runs for 12 months from the date you sign up, and will auto-renew every year until you cancel.
Annual renewals
Insurance is renewed every 12 months from the date you joined. It will continue to auto-renew on the card details you've provided, until you request to cancel. You will receive a reminder email (including cancelation details) about about a month before the renewal and then again a few days before.
If you have any questions, please speak to your branch master or contact the BSKF directors.
The BSKF treats data privacy seriously, and all personal information is handled in accordance with the General Data Protection Regulations.
If you have any questions, please speak to your branch master or contact the BSKF directors.
The BSKF treats data privacy seriously, and all personal information is handled in accordance with the General Data Protection Regulations.
There isn't a branch near me but I really want to learn...
Occasionally people ask us if they can join the BSKF to learn Shorinji Kempo remotely. Because of the physical dynamic nature of martial arts you will need a partner to practice with - it's difficult (if not impossible) to learn effective self-defence by yourself. And more importantly because learning a martial art can be dangerous if not done properly, it should be practiced under the supervision of a trained instructor. For this reason we don't teach remote courses and will only accept new members if they can visit us in person first.
Over the years there have been a number of successful branches started by overseas students (including in Karlovy Vary and Dingle). They joined a UK branch in person, and visited the UK regularly for training, until they graded up to a sufficient level to apply to start their own branch.
The British Shorinji Kempo Federation (BSKF) exists to provide teaching in the UK. However, we are part of an international organisation called the IKA (International Kempo Association), and if you live outside of the UK but still want to learn Shorinji Kempo or open a branch, we'd encourage you to get in touch anyway. We can often put you in touch with an IKA branch nearer you, or otherwise if you are able to travel to the UK occasionally we may be able to support you directly.
Over the years there have been a number of successful branches started by overseas students (including in Karlovy Vary and Dingle). They joined a UK branch in person, and visited the UK regularly for training, until they graded up to a sufficient level to apply to start their own branch.
The British Shorinji Kempo Federation (BSKF) exists to provide teaching in the UK. However, we are part of an international organisation called the IKA (International Kempo Association), and if you live outside of the UK but still want to learn Shorinji Kempo or open a branch, we'd encourage you to get in touch anyway. We can often put you in touch with an IKA branch nearer you, or otherwise if you are able to travel to the UK occasionally we may be able to support you directly.