The Elite Karatedo Dojo

Subscribe

karatedo

Giri — Duty and Obligation 義理

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 — 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 (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 — 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.

Hana Yori Dango — Dumplings over Flowers 花より団子

Hana Yori Dango — Dumplings over Flowers 花より団子

Substance over style, necessities over luxuries. Karatedō teaches us to deeply consider true value and to prefer it to empty cosmetics and shallow things and people. A karateka is a man or woman of substance, as well as style — but substance first.