Dojo kun
道場訓
A short set of dojo principles that practitioners recite at the end of training. The best known is the five-point dojo kun of Shotokan karate.
Quick Facts
Word breakdown
Definition
Dojo kun (道場訓) means “dojo teaching”. It is a short set of principles that practitioners usually recite in seiza at the end of training. The leader says each point and the others repeat it. Each begins with the word hitotsu, “firstly” or “one thing”. The most widespread dojo kun is the one linked to Shotokan karate. It has five points: to strive for perfection of character, to be true to the way of truth, to foster the spirit of effort, to respect etiquette and to refrain from violent behavior. Other schools, such as Kyokushin, have their own dojo kun. In the Korean arts, a similar set of principles takes the form of dojang hun.
Relations to other terms
See also
Hall where Japanese martial arts are practised. Literally “place of the way”, with its own etiquette, cleaning and a fixed arrangement of the space.
Wude武德Chinese martial morality, literally “martial virtue”. A set of principles that master and student should observe so as not to misuse martial arts.
Reiho礼法A set of rules of proper conduct, literally “law of respect”. In the martial arts it governs bowing, sitting, dressing and the handling of weapons.
Dojang도장Training hall of Korean martial arts, mainly taekwondo and hapkido. Written with the same characters as the Japanese dojo (道場).