The Dojo Kun is a set of statements repeated at the end of each training session.

These statements are intended to guide not only our training but also our everyday lives. Each statement is preceded by the Japanese number 1, Hitotsu. This may seem odd, but it reminds us that each statement is equally important. The IOGKF Doju Kun is written by its Supreme Master, Higaonna Sensei.

Children’s/English Version

Hitotsu Respect others

Hitotsu Be courageous

Hitotsu Train your mind and body

Hitotsu Practice daily and protect traditional karate-do

Hitotsu Strive to teach the essence of Goju-Ryu

Hitotsu Never give up

Adult’s/Japanese Version

Hitotsu Reigi o omonzuru koto

Respect others

Hitotsu Yuki o yashinau koto

Be courageous

Hitotsu Dento karate o mamori hibi no tanren o okotarazu tsune ni kenkyu kufu o suru koto

Practice daily and protect traditional karate-do

Hitotsu Shinshin o renmashi Goju Ryu karate no shinzui o kiwameru koto

Train your mind and body . Strive to teach the essence of Goju-Ryu.

Hitotsu Futo fukutsu no seishin o yashinau koto

Never give up

What does the Dojo Kun mean to us?

Respect Others

We are all aware of the importance of showing respect to our fellow karate-ka in the dojo, this respect should be sincere and not just a show of going through the motions. Respect should transcend our actions in the dojo and spill over into our everyday lives, this will help in our daily routines at home, work or school.

Be Courageous

We need courage in the dojo in equal amounts to the courage we need to face situations in our day-to-day lives. If we don’t face these situations using our courage and hide from them, then we are not developing our sense of courage or ourselves.

Practice Daily and Protect Traditional Karate Daily

practice of karate obviously will bring better and stronger technique whilst at the same time bringing discipline and order to each day. It is very hard to practice every day in our hurried modern lives but even a short time found to stretch or practice Sanchin kata will be beneficial. The protection of the karate handed down from Chojun Miyagi Sensei to An’ichi Miyagi Sensei in its original form is what Higaonna Sensei meant when he wrote this line of the Dojo Kun. The kata and unique traditional aspects of the system should be kept intact for future generations.

Train Your Mind and Body. Strive to Reach the Essence of Goju Ryu Karate

In the dojo we all learn to kick, punch and block to the best of our abilities. In karate- 24 do we also strive to train the mind to make us better individuals. “As supple as a willow, as solid as Mount Tai” this line of poetry taken from Miyagi Chojun Sensei’s Okinawan Goju Ryu precepts epitomises the ideal of Goju Ryu. The connotations of this line regarding our training are that we should train to achieve power (Go) but also strive to be flexible and soft when needed (Ju). There are many ways we can interpret Go and Ju. The Goju karate-ka should be aware of the Go and Ju in everyday life, for example having a strong opinion on something but understanding the opposite, try to achieve a balance.

Never Give Up

Spirit is of utmost importance, when our Sensei pushes us to our limits we should try to endure, be it in exercise, kata or kumite. The reason behind them pushing us does not seem clear at the time, but many karate-ka have said that without ‘spirit training’ they would have gone on to fail in challenging mental or physical situations outside the dojo.