KENKON

Kenkon means ‘heaven and earth’ and it depicts two of the most polar forces that shape the world we live in. A harmonious interaction, a natural alternation and a firm balance between the two antipodes is an ideal that’s central in many oriental disciplines. Heaven and earth symbolically stand for the many forces we engage in life. Change and development are the outcome of this process.

In western societies, this philosophy is known to many as ‘yin and yang’.
Change becomes development once room exists for the other and for alternatives. Realising that, our own self will emanate and communication emerges. A better part of reality is revealed and set in motion.

CENTRE

Kenkon is a ‘centre of training’. That means people will train or practice together. What is trained or practiced are disciplines that stimulate health and development of human beings and the world they live in. Since long Kenkon accommodates many oriental types of practice like karate, zen, qigong, aikido or Tibetan meditation. Besides that an increasing share of attention exists for non-oriental or integrated types of discipline like meditative dance, workshops on singing bowls or bodywork therapy.

TRADITION

Kenkon embodies appreciation for the maturity and depth of tradions from several cultures. Kenkon wants to embed these traditons in the community of Wageningen and its surroundings and take part in its development. In the past thirty years Kenkon built up experience in offering these disciplines and gathered an extensive network of experienced teachers and influential organisations.

INNOVATION & INTEGRATION

Simultaneously, we value the translation, renewal and integration of methods; based on expert knowledge, creativity and also on scientific insights. KenKon wants to express this by offering training and events in which encountering, interaction and integration are core concepts. In the past this was realised by hosting seminars like ‘Ken Zen Ichinyo’ (‘Karate and Zen are the same’) and the ‘Experimental Integral Learning Day’. Leading edge examples of this development are the seminars given by some of the top instructors of Ken Wilbers’ Integral Institute, like Diane Hamilton and Terry Patten.

APPLICATION

In addition to offering training to the general public, KenKon offers and develops programs for specific target groups in the social sphere. Examples from recent times are the introduction of ‘Rots en Water’ training to primary schools, introductory training in karate or self defense classes for secondary schools and training in handling aggression for caretakers of mentally challenged persons.

TRANQUILITY AND HEALTH

Being facilitative, KenKon makes a sustained effort to create an atmosphere for people to reflect upon life, both personal and professional. The present KenKon building is already used in many forms and purposes and by guests from home and abroad. In the curriculum many activities are listed that promote tranquility and health.

COMMUNAL

Kenkon wants to contribute to the development of a communicative culture and community, next to being a home to teachers and programs. A community that enables people to find inspiration for life together, and where they can devote themselves to their path of education and the disciplines that may help them with that. At the same time, Kenkon is also a platform where an effort is made to help the world beyond our own scope. One way of doing this is by supporting an organisation for Tibetan fugitives called TERA.

SYDNEY LEIJENHORST AND OTHERS

KenKon dates back a long time. History started with ‘Ta Mo’, a school for Kempo karate, around 1975. Since 1988 atmosphere, content of the classes and the level of quality have been improved constantly by the efforts of Sydney Leijenhorst, who took charge of ‘Ta Mo’ in that year. Always being supported in that by a group of advanced and committed students, the present Training Centre was finally built and mainly financed by a support group. For a few years now, a wider network of instructors and trainers, coaches and teachers is evolving. At present these teachers play a major role in offering and supporting the disciplines KenKon offers:

Peter Slenders (Karate and various other activities), Wijnand Meurs (Karate, youths), Lotte Paans (Qigong), Bart Pekel (Karate), Berry Trip (various) and Olaf van Kooten (Zen meditation). Apart from that, other teachers are renting rooms from Kenkon for their courses. For example Dirk-Jan ter Haar (Taijiquan and Qigong), Jacqueline van Steenbrugge (Yoga), Jan van der Stappen (Singing Bowl workshops) and Edy Kamalski and Eltje Boons (Aikido).