Seek perfection of character - Jinkaku kansei ni tsutomuru koto
This is the ultimate goal of karate. The other four principles of the dojo kun, as well as the entire nijyu kun, all tell us what it means to seek perfection of character - how we can go about pursuing this highest objectives. But this is the most important thing. We seek perfection of character from the inside out. It is something we should do every moment of every day of our lives.
This means we should never stop learning. Karate training, like life itself, is an ongoing process of growth and personal education, a process that lasts for a lifetime. It is good to set goals, but as soon as we accomplish them, it is important to set our sights on the next goal, to improve. To seek perfection of character is to always seek to improve oneself, to always endeavor to learn and grow.
Be faithful - Makoto no michi o mamoru koto
To be faithful means to be sincere in everything you do. Here we are talking about making a total effort, all the time, in whatever you do. To be faithful of course means that you have to be true to other people, to your obligations - but it also means you have to be true to yourself. And to do so means you have to do your best in everything you do. When you are faithful to yourself, others will have faith in you. This creates mutual trust between people. Being faithful to yourself is essential to realizing the first goal of being the best person you can be.
Endeavor - Doryoku no seishin o yashinau koto
Try hard at everything you do. no matter what you are doing, whether it’s training, working, having a relationship - give it one hundred percent. to do anything else is to cheat yourself and others. if you don’t endeavor to do your best, you are not being faithful to yourself and others, and you are not trying to seek perfection of character.
Respect others - Reigi o omonzuru koto
A true martial artist always shows respect to other people. and it is something you ought to feel in your heart. showing respect is a sign of humility, and humility is necessary for an open mind, which it turn is necessary to learn, to grow. you can always learn something from every person you meet. likewise, every person you encounter is a possible opponent of some kind, and that opponent can pose a threat to you, physical or otherwise. in either case, if you respect everyone, you will more clearly see things for what they are, and you will be able to get the most of every experience.
Refrain from violent behavior - Kekki no yu o imashimuru koto
This is a reminder to keep calm inside. Control yourself at all times, from within. Conflict within is a form of violence. It leads to violent actions, which is something you should try to avoid at all costs. A martial artist should always be in control, and that begins with an inner calmness, with peace of mind. If you are forced to defend yourself as a last resort, then it is all right to do so. But you will only be successful defending yourself when you maintain a calm, clear mind, in which case using karate technique to protect yourself will truly be your reaction of last resort.
Niju Kun
In addition to the Dojo Kun, Master Gichin Funakoshi also outlined the twenty precepts of which ever student should strive to follow:
1. Karate begins with a bow and finishes with a bow
— Karate-do wa rei ni hajimari rei ni owaru koto a wasaru na
2. In karate, never attack first
— Karate ni sente nashi
3. One who practices karate must follow the way of justice
- Karate wa, gi no taske
4. Know yourself first, then you can know others
— Mazu onore o shire, shikashite ta o shire
5. Spirit and mind is more important than technique
— Gijitsu yori shinjitsu
6. Be ready to release your mind
— Kokoro wa hanatan koto o yosu
7. Misfortune comes out of idleness
— Waza wai wa ketai ni seizu
8. Don’t think that what you learn from karate can’t be used outside the dojo
— Dojo nomino karate to omou na
9. It will take you entire life to learn karate
— Karate-do no shugyo wa isssho de aru
10. Put karate into your everyday living; that is how you will see its true beauty
— Ara yuru mono o karateka seyo; sokoni myomi ari
11. Karate is just like hot water; if you do not give it continuous heat, it will become cold
— Karate Wa Yu No Gotoku Taezu Netsu O Atae Zareba Motono Mizuni Kaeru
12. Do not think that you have to win; think, rather, that you do not have to lose
— Katsu kangae wa motsuna; makenu kangae wa hitsuyo
13. Move according to your opponent
— Tekki ni yotte tenka seyo
14. In conflict you must discern the vulnerable from invulnerable points
— Tattakai wa kyo-jitsu no soju ikan ni ari
15. Consider you opponent’s legs and arms as you would lethal swords
— Hi to no te-ashi wa ken to omoe
16. Be aware at all times that you have millions of potential opponents
— Danshi mon o izureba hyakuman no teki ari
17. For full awareness in natural stance, you must practice ready position as a beginner
— Kamae wa shoshinsha ni atowa shizentai
18. Practicing kata is one thing; engaging in a real fight is another
— Kata wa tadashiku, jisen wa betsumono
19. Do not forget: (1) strength and weakness of power; (2) contraction and expansion of body; and (3) slowness and speed of techniques
— Chikara no kyojaku tai no shinshuku waza no kankyu
20. Always create and devise
— Tsune ni shinen ku fu seyo
