Dojo Kun

The Dojo-Kun is the oath of the karate ka. Even today, it is recited at the end of each lesson.

• To Strive For The Perfection Of Character : Hitotsu jikaku kansei ni tsutomuru koto
• To Defend The Path Of Truth : Hitotsu makoto no michi o mamoru koto
• To Foster The Spirit Of Effort : Hitotsu doryoku no seishin o yashinau koto
• To Honour The Principles Of Etiquette : Hitotsu reigi o omonzuru koto
• To Guard Against Impetuous Courage : Hitotsu kekki no imashimuru koto

The word Hitotsu means "one" or "first" and is prepended to each rule to place it at the same level of importance as the others. The word Koto which ends each rule means "thing" and is used as a conjunction between rules.

Niju Kun

Shotokan Karate also has another set of training maxims from Funakoshi Gichin, the Niju Kun.

• Karate-do begins and ends with bow : Karate-do wa rei ni hajimari rei ni owaru koto a wasaru na
• There is no first strike in karate : Karate ni sente nashi
• Karate stands on the side of justice : Karate wa, gi no taske
• First know yourself, then know others : Mazu onore o shire, shikashite ta o shire
• Mentality over technique : Gijitsu yori shinjitsu
• The mind must be set free : Kokoro wa hanatan koto o yosu
• Calamity springs from carelessness : Wazawai wa ketai ni seizu
• Karate goes beyond the dojo : Dojo nomino karate to omou na
• Karate is a lifelong pursuit : Karate-do no shugyo wa isssho de aru
• Apply the way of karate to all things. Therein lies its beauty : Ara yuru mono o karateka seyo; sokoni myomi ari
• Karate is like boiling water; without heat, it returns to its tepid state : Karate wa yu no gotoku taezu netsu o atae zareba motono mizuni kaeru
• Do not think of winning. Think, rather, of not losing : Katsu kangae wa motsuna; makenu kangae wa hitsuyo
• Make adjustments according to your opponent : Tekki ni yotte tenka seyo
• The outcome of a battle depends on how one handles emptiness and fullness (weakness and strength) : Tattakai wa kyo-jitsu no soju ikan ni ari
• Think of hands and feet as swords : Hi to no te-ashi wa ken to omoe
• When you step beyond your own gate, you face a million enemies : Danshi mon o izureba hyakuman no teki ari
• Kamae is for beginners; later, one stands in shizentai : Kamae wa shoshinsha ni atowa shizentai
• Perform kata exactly; actual combat is another matter : Kata wa tadashiku, jisen wa betsumono
• Do not forget the employment of withdrawal of power, the extension or contraction of the body, the swift or leisurely application of technique : Chikara no kyojaku tai no shinshuku waza no kankyu
• Be constantly mindful, diligent, and resourceful, in your pursuit of the Way : Tsune ni shinen ku fu seyo

Training Precepts

• Since karate is a martial art, you must practice with the utmost seriousness from the very beginning
• Try to do exactly as you are taught without complaining or quibbling
• When you are learning a new technique, practice it wholeheartedly until you truly understand it
• Don't pretend to be a great master and don't try to show off your strength
• Remember that you must always have a deep regard for courtesy towards your seniors, and you must be respectful and obedient
• You must ignore the bad and adopt the good
• Think of everyday life as karate training

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KARATE BELIEFS

The Dojo Kun embodies all we trying to achieve through the physical efforts of Karate training, and is one of the many things that makes Karate-Do much more than just a sport and/or an exercise system.

The Oath should always be chanted with strength, never mumbled in insincerity. Just as Karate movements should become automatic and reflex, the simple truths of the Oath should also become part of the belief system of the Karate practitioner.

Niju Kun is an Okinawan martial arts term which literally translates to twenty rules. Created by Gichin Funakoshi in the late 1800's, the kun refer to twenty principles by which all students of Shotokan karate are encouraged to live, practice, and teach to others.

The Training Precepts are a shorter and more common sense set of ideas, a sort of general rules of training which can, and should, be applied to life generally.

The ultimate goal of karate is to make you a better person, and if you follow the various "Kun" or beliefs then you won't go far wrong!