Dojo Kun

Everyone who trains in karate should know the Dojo Kun. At the end of each training session—whether at the dojo, after class, or following a tournament—students recite the Dojo Kun together as a reminder of why we train. It expresses the foundational philosophy of karate as taught by its founder, Master Gichin Funakoshi.

Master Funakoshi believed that for a true karate-ka, the Dojo Kun should serve not only as a code of conduct within the dojo, but also as a guide for daily life. The lessons we learn in the dojo should be applied to our everyday lives, reinforcing values that transcend the practice of karate. Next to each principle, you'll find the phonetic pronunciation in Japanese.