5. DOJO-KUN

What is Dojo-Kun?

Dojo-Kun is basically a set of guidelines for karetekas to follow both in the dojo (a training hall) and out of the dojo, in a kareteka’s everyday life. Generally accredited to Gichin Funakoshi (but rumored to have been created by Sakugawa, an Okinawan karate master in the 18th century) the Dojo Kun, or dojo rules, serves as a set of five (5) guiding principles, recited at the end of each Shotokan training session, intended to frame the practise within an ethical context.


1. HITOTSU JINKAKU KANSEI ni TSUTOMURU KOTO.
2. HITOTSU MAKOTO no MICHI o MAMORU KOTO.
3. HITOTSU DORYOKU no SEISHIN o YASHINAU KOTO.
4. HITOTSU REIGI o OMONZURU KOTO.
5. HITOTSU KEKKI no YU o IMASHIMURU KOTO.

1. First: seek perfection of character
2. First: defend the paths of truth (be faithful)
3. First: foster the spirit of effort (endeavor to excel)
4. First: respect the rules of etiquette First: refrain from violent behavior (guard against impetuous courage)

Note: The prefix HITOTSU (variously tranlated as one or first) is used to indicate that all five principles are equally important. The suffix KOTO which ends each rule means “thing” and is used as a conjunction between rules.