003 — Dōjōkun: The Ethos of Karate Practice
Seated in seiza on the dojo floor.
The Dōjōkun is a set of ethical principles that form the foundation of our training and behavior. Each begins with Hitotsu(一つ), meaning “First” or “One,” to emphasize that no principle holds more weight than another. These are not rules to memorize, but values to embody—within the dōjō and in everyday life.
The Dōjōkun that follows originated at the Jundōkan in Okinawa, founded by Miyazato Eiichi Sensei, the senior student of Gōjū-Ryū founder Miyagi Chōjun Sensei. It reflects the moral and philosophical teachings passed down through that lineage—teachings I received from Chinen Teruo Sensei and now share with my students.
Many dōjō have their own Dōjōkun. If you’re training in a traditional art, it’s worth asking: What values guide your practice? Without a clear ethical foundation, martial arts risk becoming little more than empty movement—technique without principle, power without purpose.
道場訓
Dōjōkun
一、謙虚で礼儀正しくあれ
Hitotsu, kenkyō de reigi tadashiku are
Be humble and polite
一、自分の体力に応じて鍛錬せよ
Hitotsu, jibun no tairyoku ni ōjite tanren seyo
Train considering your physical strength
一、誠意をもって創意工夫しながら練習せよ
Hitotsu, seii o motte sōi kufū shinagara renshū seyo
Practice earnestly and with creativity
一、冷静にして敏速であれ
Hitotsu, reisei ni shite binsoku de are
Be calm and swift
一、健康に留意せよ
Hitotsu, kenkō ni ryūi seyo
Take care of your health
一、質素な生活をせよ
Hitotsu, shisso na seikatsu o seyo
Live a plain life
一、驕らず卑下せず
Hitotsu, ogorazu hige sezu
Do not be too proud or modest
一、根気よく鍛錬を続けよ
Hitotsu, konki yoku tanren o tsuzukeyo
Continue your training with patience
Hitotsu – Be humble and polite
Karate begins and ends with humility. The more one learns, the more one realizes how much remains to be discovered. In the dōjō, humility creates an atmosphere of mutual respect. Politeness is not formality - it is the outward expression of inner character. When we bow, we do not lower ourselves; we elevate the moment, the space, and the people within it.
In life, humility invites growth and earns trust. Politeness smooths conflict and opens doors. Together, they are the foundation of harmony - both within the self and with others.
Hitotsu – Train considering your physical strength
Everyone's body is different—shaped by age, experience, injury, and temperament. Karate is not about forcing the body into a mold, but discovering how to express strength through one’s unique form. To train wisely is to listen to your body, to challenge it without abusing it. Power is not raw; it is refined.
Outside the dōjō, this principle teaches self-awareness, moderation, and sustainability. Strength is not only how much you can do, but knowing when to rest, when to recover, and when to persist.
Hitotsu – Practice earnestly and with creativity
Sincerity in training brings depth. It means showing up, staying present, and giving effort without ego. But karate is not mechanical—it is a living art. To practice creatively is to explore, to question, to imagine beyond the surface of technique.
This is the balance of form and freedom. We repeat drills to learn discipline, and we apply them with insight to learn expression. In life, earnestness creates integrity. Creativity brings vitality. Together, they help us meet each moment with both structure and spontaneity.
Hitotsu – Be calm and swift
Calmness is not passivity—it is readiness without panic. In the dōjō, we train to stay centered even when the pressure builds. From stillness comes clarity. From clarity, swift and decisive action. When the mind is clouded, the body falters. When the spirit is calm, the body flows.
This principle echoes through life: in moments of conflict, stress, or uncertainty, do not react blindly. Be still. See clearly. Move purposefully. Calmness sharpens our response. Swiftness gives it power.
Hitotsu – Take care of your health
Our body is not just a tool for karate - it is the vessel for our entire life. To train without regard for health is to miss the point of training. Strength, flexibility, and endurance are cultivated not only through repetition, but through nourishment, rest, and respect for limits.
In daily life, health is the ground from which everything else grows. Without it, we cannot serve others, fulfill our responsibilities, or enjoy the fruits of our efforts. Taking care of the body honors the gift of life itself.
Hitotsu – Live a plain life
Simplicity is clarity. The plain life is not empty - it is spacious. When we reduce distractions, we make room for focus. In the dōjō, this means arriving without pretense or attachment to outcome or status. It means placing practice above performance.
In the wider world, this principle reminds us to resist the clutter of excess, vanity, or needless comparison. A plain life invites depth. It aligns us with nature, with rhythm, with gratitude for the essentials: breath, effort, kindness, and purpose.
Hitotsu – Do not be too proud or modest
Pride and modesty, when out of balance, both become distortions. Too much pride blinds us. Too much modesty diminishes us. Karate calls us to cultivate honest self-knowledge: to acknowledge our strengths without arrogance, and our weaknesses without shame.
This precept is the middle path - standing tall, but not above others. In the dōjō, it means offering your best without boast. In life, it means allowing yourself to shine when needed, and to step back when appropriate. Know yourself, and be unshakable in that truth.
Hitotsu – Continue your training with patience
Karate is not a race. It is a lifetime path. Mastery is not reached through shortcuts or sudden leaps, but through steady, patient, often invisible progress. There will be plateaus. There will be frustration. But the act of returning - again and again - is the heart of the Way.
Outside the dōjō, patience allows us to endure hardship with grace, to build relationships that last, and to pursue meaningful goals without giving in to despair or distraction. Growth that is slow is often the most enduring. The bamboo grows quietly, bends when necessary, and stands tall through storms.
The Dōjōkun is not just a tradition - it’s a ethical compass for becoming the best version of yourself. In the dōjō, it shapes our mindset. In every day life, it shapes our character. At The Karate Workshop, we train to be strong and kind, focused and flexible, disciplined and creative. This is the essence of Okinawan Gōjū-Ryū - and the purpose of our practice.