Sabi — The Beauty of Experience 寂
Sabi is the beauty inherent in the people, things, and places around you. This is a beauty of experience, based on the history and development of skills that is part of those people, things, and places.
Giri — Duty and Obligation 義理
Giri 義理 is hierarchical duty and obligation in karatedō and in life. With it as part of your life, your days can be filled with a sense of purpose and your actions fueled with the energy that you are making a significant impact in the lives of those who matter all around you.
Shuhari — The Stages of Learning 守破離
Shuhari describes how we learn and the stages that we must pass through to gain skills and knowledge in every part of our life, including in our karatedō.
Jison (Jisonshin) — Self-Respect 自尊 (自尊心)
Jison (sometimes written as Jisonshin) is self-respect. Self-respect is a key characteristic of the successful karateka and must be trained, nurtured, and protected.
Kizuna — Community 絆
Kizuna represents the community that is our dojo, and the bonds that we form and nurture with our fellow karateka. But it also represents the greater communities we inhabit outside the dojo.