Everyone who trains in Shotokan karate must know the dojo kun. At the end of each training session – whether it be at the dojo, after class, or after a tournament, which I always call “special training” – the dojo kun is repeated by the students, in unison, as a reminder of why we train. The dojo kun embodies the basic philosophy of karate, according to its founder Master Gichin Funakoshi. Master Funakoshi believed that, for the true karate-ka, or karate student, the dojo kun should not merely be a set of rules to be observed in the dojo, but a guide to everyday life. Everything we learn in the dojo, we should apply to everyday life.

Master Funakoshi further explained his philosophy of karate, in greater detail, in the twenty lessons called niju kun. Throughout his life, Master funakoshi emphasized the importance of spiritual over physical matters, and believed that it is was essential for the karate student to understand why – not only in the context of training, but in the way the student lived every moment of his life. In his book, Karate-do Kyohan, Master Funakoshi discussed the positive and negative aspects of karate, warning us that karate-do can be misused if misunderstood. He felt that who wanted to learn karate should understand what karate really is – what its purpose, its ultimate objective, should be. Only then could a karate student understand how to use karate techniques and skills properly.

The niju kun is, for the most part, an explanation or expansion of the dojo kun. Of the five objectives stated in the dojo kun, the last four are really an explanation of how to realize the first and most important objective: Seek perfection of character.

When we get to the very essence of karate, to the singular purpose of training – that’s what it’s all about: Improving ourselves. By taking the responsibility, each of us, to make ourselves the best human beings we can be, we will make the world a better place. We will bring peace. That was master Funakoshi’s ultimate goal – to make peace in the world by helping people develop themselves, as individual human beings, through karate-do. It is every instructor’s duty to help realize this goal.
And so too, is it the responsibility of every student. When you repeat the dojo kun after class. And you are saying it from the heart, you’re acknowledging that responsibility.

The principles of dojo kun are simple, and very basic. They are simply stated, and so require little explanation, the message behind each of the niju kun is often more difficult to understand, however, and so I will explain in more detail # 12 of the Niju kun: Katsu kangae wa motsuna, makenu kangae wa hitsuyo – Do not think you have to win, think, rather, that you do not have to lose.

The basic principles of the dojo kun are part of principles of the niju kun – in fact, the dojo kun is the foundation of the niju kun.

When we explain the meaning of the niju kun, you will see the basic, simple ideas of the dojo kun everywhere. And again, the last four parts of the dojo kun reflect the very first, the most important principle of all: Seek perfection of character.

Always remember: the most important thing you can do as a true student of karate is to seek perfection of character. The dojo kun and the niju kun explain the broad terms of life, generally.

Of course, there is no substitute of training. However, it is important to understand why we train. Karate, more than anything else, is a spiritual endeavor. It is a way to develop a person as an individual. If a karate student does not understand this basic objective, then he is not practicing karate. Helping you to become the best person you can be is what karate is all about.

"Katsu kangae wa motsuna, makenu kangae wa hitsuyo"

Do not think you have to win, think, rather, that you do not have to lose.

Here Master Funakoshi is saying not to measure success by something outside yourself. Develop inside, and all the rest will follow. This principle is basically a formula for clearing your mind, for accepting what is and therefore optimizing your ability to react.

Wanting to win is human nature. But if you desire this too much, you will become unbalances. Again, we are talking about our “old friend” the ego here. To the calm, clear mind, the desire to win does not exist. Desire always puts you off balance. When you lose balance, you also lose understanding. You lose vision. You lose judgment. You even lose movement. When you compete or when you are defending yourself, your body won’t react naturally.
With a clear mind, with balance, you can move in any direction, at any time.

You need balance in all aspects of life. With inner balance, you can control your actions and appearance. You will be able to get the most of your experiences, so that you can learn from them and develop yourself. This all starts when you leave behind concerns about winning or losing. A true karate student is training to live. A person who trains only to win tournaments is only building conflict within his self, rather than learning how to resolve conflict.

Too much emphasis on competition starts you thinking about winning and losing. Then you begin comparing yourself to others. Very often we see a competitor defeat himself by thinking an opponent’s strength or weakness. If you think you’re better than your opponent, you have already lost. This is not our way.

On the other hand, Master Funakoshi also reminds us that you cannot think that you are weaker either. Then, too, you are surely lost. That is why he tells us, “think that you do not have to lose”. Such a mind set is clear, it is pure. Think about it: What, in your mind, has to happen if you think, “I do not have to lose?” Nothing has to happen! Nothing at all!
By saying “I don’t have to lose”, you have unburdened yourself of any expectation. You are allowing the flow of life” to sign of a clear mind, an open mind. When you empty yourself of intentions you can see every intention of an opponent. You don’t have an unnatural plan and your moments are spontaneous. You move freely and openly.

Each effort should be a hundred percent. Then you will accomplish your best. At the moment of truth the strongest balance will win. If you are doing your best, then accept the outcome, win or lose. Always think that any outcome is own self, your own level of effort.

The reason tournaments are so important for training is that they give you an opportunity to test your own inner balance. The test of your physical skill is something important, though it is secondary.

In training, don’t think about becoming a champion or getting a black belt. Just keep on making a one hundred percent, clear mind effort. And do the same in every facet of your life. In karate training, and in life, strive everyday to improve yourself. If you do this, you will learn balance, and you will move – through your karate techniques and through your interactions with the rest of the world – freely and correctly. Then, and only then, you will be able to win naturally.

Biography:

Master Teruyuki Okazaki was born in 1931 in Fukuoka Prefecture Japan, to parents of the Samurai class.
Throughout his childhood, he studied judo and kendo. He began studying aikido and karate when he entered Takushoku University at the age 16. It was there that he studied karate with Master Gichin Funakoshi, the father of modern karate, and with master Masatoshi Nakayama, Master Funakoshi’s first assistant and co-founder of the Japan karate Association (Chief Instructor JKA,1955-1987). Master Okazaki graduated in 1953 with a degree in economics, and subsequently became the coach of the University’s karate team. Master Okazaki traveled extensively with Masters Funakoshi and Nakayama teaching and demonstrating karate to help promote and build the JKA. In addition to his teaching and coaching responsibilities, Master Okazaki helped develop the JKA’s first instructor training program.

In 1961, Master Okazaki came to the United States on a six-month teaching assignment in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He ultimately made Philadelphia his home and has been teaching and training at the same location for more than 40 years. In 1977, he founded the International Shotokan Karate Federation and, as its chairman and chief instructor, has built it into a premier karate organization with over 50,000 members in over 30 countries worldwide. He has attained the highest level ranking throughout the world to teach the technical and philosophical principles of karate to his thousands of students.