STUDENT GUIDE TO DOJO KUN AND NIJU KUN
Dojo Kun
Dojo Kun are certain precepts of all traditional Karate styles which are, in many cases, displayed in the dojo on a sign. These precepts are the code of the school – Dojo Kun.
The true way of martial arts such as Karate-Do is summarized by
the precepts of; Character, sincerity, effort, etiquette, and self-control.
The Dojo Kun, which may be repeated either at the beginning of
end of class, is as follows:
Seek perfection of character.
Although these precepts are repeated one after another they are
equally important and should each be exemplified by the students of the dojo at
all times.
An Okinawan Karate master, Sakugawa Sensei (1733-1815) is often
credited with the origin of the Dojo Kun.
The following brief explanation may help you to develop your
understanding of the ideas of each aspects of the Dojo Kun.
Seek perfection of character
The first, “seek perfection of character,” indicates that
karate-Do is more than just physical. Through rigorous training, the spirit to
improve and succeed will be developed. Along with this fierce competitive
spirit one should come to the realization that your strength is great, and to
use it and your karate against the uninitiated is unjust.
Karate-ka should seek to focus their minds as well as their body
movements. Forging of the spirit in the face of adversity will provide a
lifetime of benefits. Even in old age, when the body is no longer able to
perform well, your character will continue to grow.
Be faithful
To “be faithful” reflects the strong samurai traditions and by
extension a Confucianism in the martial arts. In a sense, the faith to be shown
is faith in your instructors and seniors. Students must always be faithful to
them and just as the samurai followed their feudal lords.
While this may seem unusual today, it is unreasonable to expect
instructors to extend themselves fully and teach all they know to students who
are likely to leave for the slightest reason. The faith extended to instructors
will be rewarded by a continued transfer of knowledge to students. This bond
between teachers and student is extremely valuable and is the basis of the learning relationship.
Endeavour
The “Endeavour” of the Dojo Kun refers to the complete
dedication to the effort necessary to achieve mastery of Karate-Do. In no case
is mastery possible without strenuous effort on the part of the practitioner.
The endeavour must be sincere and not just a pretence. Serious students are
easily recognized by instructors.
Respect others
Respect for others is common to all Japanese fighting systems.
Martial arts begin and end with courtesy, reflecting the formal nature of the
Japanese people, and are observed in the manner in which they conduct
themselves in training sessions and generally in the presence of one another.
Dojo etiquette is particularly well defined; requiring that all
that enter the dojo pause and bow to the memory of past masters, whose photographs
or paintings are usually at the front (the West facing wall). Prior to the
beginning of class, students and instructors line up before the photographs,
kneel, and meditate (mokuso). They bow to the memory of past masters and then
to one another from the kneeling position (seiza).
This courtesy continues throughout the training session.
Whenever an exercise, drill, or kata that uses two people or more is performed,
it always begins and ends with a bow (rei). Additionally, the bowing ceremony
is repeated at the end of training after a closing period of meditation a
review of the session (hansei).
Refrain from violent behaviour
It is the responsibility of all trained Karate-ka to “refrain
from violent behaviour” since a trained fighter can inflict serious injury upon
others. The goal of Karate training is self-mastery, including mastery of your
own behaviour. In some situations where it becomes necessary to defend
yourself, no non-violent alternative may be possible.
However, the tradition handed down by great teachers indicates
that after a life of training, they felt they had failed if they were forced to
resort to violent action against their fellow man, no matter how justified such
actions might have been.
In the present day, refraining from violence is often hard to
explain. Many people take up the art of Karate-Do with the purpose in mind of
hurting others and they wish to learn how to do so as quickly as possible. It
is therefore necessary for students to remember the Dojo Kun and to impress it
upon their juniors.
Niju Kun
Master Gichin Funakoshi’s
Twenty Precepts of Karate-do written to
help the student understand how they should conduct themselves in karate, and
in everyday life.
1. Never forget: Karate begins with rei and ends with rei. (rei has
the meaning of courtesy, respect).
2. There is no first hand in Karate. (There is no first attack in
Karate.)
3. Karate supports righteousness.
4. First understand yourself, then understand others.
5. The art of mind is more important than the art of technique.
6. The mind needs to be freed.
7. Trouble is born of negligence.
8. Do not think Karate is only in the dojo.
9. The training of Karate requires a lifetime.
10. Transform everything into Karate; there lies the exquisiteness.
11. Genuine Karate is like hot water; it cools down if you do not
keep on heating it.
12. Do not hate the idea of winning, while the idea of not losing is
necessary.
13. Transform yourself according to the opponent.
14. The outcome of the fight all depends on the maneuver.
15. Imagine one’s arms and legs as swords.
16. Once you leave the shelter of home, there are a million enemies.
17. Postures are for the beginner, later they are natural positions.
18. Do the kata correctly; the real fight is a different matter.
19. Do not forget the control of the dynamics [of power], the
elasticity [of body] and the speed [of technique].
20. Always be good at the application of everything that you have
learned.
Gichin Funakoshi also wrote:
"Master Gichin Funakoshi called people vain who took pride in
physical demonstrations of brute strength, like breaking of boards or smashing
of tiles, or people who exaggerated their destruction of the human body. He
professed that they knew nothing about the noble art of Karate-do. He compared
it with playing around in the leaves and branches of a great tree without the
slightest perception of the main trunk."
And
Thanks for reading
Ylli Sensei
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