Beirut - another flower blooms

[Tripitaka of AA]

A poetic title perhaps, but not without cause. Sam Majed has opened the first Shorinji Kempo club in Beirut, Lebanon. He first began Shorinji Kempo in London and went on to join the Busen Academy training scheme at the Headquarters in Japan. After the intensive (full-time) course, which lasts 2 years, he is qualified as instructor 3rd Dan.

Taking your dogi and setting up a club in a virgin location is a brave and arduous task. We wish him well. For people like me, whose only knowledge of Beirut came from TV pictures of civil war and armed conflict, it sounds strange to hear that Beirut was a modern and beautiful city. It still thrives and is regaining the affluence and prestige that it formerly held...

[David Dunn]

Beirut was indeed a prosperous Meditteranean city before the 1980s. Sam was a kenshi of ours at UCL dojo before deciding to take the busen course, telling Mizuno Sensei that his ambition was to start a dojo in Lebanon. His family is from Lebanon, and they left for obvious reasons, so it is not so strange after all. He applied for a job in the Japanese embassy there and got it, so ambition realised. One day in the not too distant future we will visit him. He's promised us fine food and entertainment.

[Ewok85]

Sounds like a brave move.

And of course you are all welcome to come start a branch here in sunny-always-warm-temperate-decent-prices-safe-yet-not-boring Adelaide. You have one kenshi garanteed! :D

[Tripitaka of AA]

Keep the faith Leon, you never know... :D